Hello, this is Mizuki from staff.
The hotly anticipated musical “Beetlejuice” began previews on the March 28, and I went to check it out.
Based on the beloved hit film, it is a must-see for fans of director Tim Burton. I even met the lead producer and heard behind-the-scenes stories you won’t hear anywhere else. Here is a full, no-spoilers overview of why this show is a blast.
Table of Contents
About Beetlejuice
Then there comes Lydia, a girl who has pondered over death after losing her mother so much that she can literally see the dead. When she arrives, the living and the dead collide, and a gloriously weird world explodes onstage.
For plot, key characters, and highlights, see the detailed show page below.
Watch Tim Burtons film first
The big draw is how faithfully the stage recreates Tim Burtons aesthetic.
Though the movie premiered in 1988, its look hasn’t aged. Without spoiling, several iconic moments are staged almost beat for beat. If you can, watch the film before the musical; it pays off. I watched it the night before on Netflix.
I was invited to a Beetlejuice reception!
I was lucky to attend an invite-only reception and then see the show right after. The lead producer spoke, and I grabbed a rare interview. Here are the bite-size takeaways.
What the producers want you to notice
1) Built to stand on its own as a musical
This isn’t just an extension of the film, but a self-contained stage work. You can feel this in the re-shaped story threads.2) Music matters
Beyond needle-drops from the film, many new numbers were written for this production. “Going Home,” a song that anchors the family arc, was reportedly finished right before opening.Quick Q&A with the executive producer
Q1: Is there a language barrier for visitors to anticipate?
“Sets switch constantly, puppets and effects fly around, and it is a joy to just watch, so even if your English isn’t strong, you can enjoy it.” In short, don’t worry too much.Q2: Honoring Tim Burton while making something new?
“We aimed for a stand-alone musical, but never lost our deep respect for Burton.” As a Burton fan, that sealed my excitement.Now playing at the Winter Garden Theatre
Winter Garden Theatre
Address: 1634 Broadway, New York, NY 10019
See the theater page for seating charts and venue quirks.
What to check inside the Winter Garden
Think theme-park photo ops before you even take your seat. It gets you in the mood fast, and this venue is the reason for it.
Color-wise it is classic Beetlejuice: black-and-white stripes with lime-green accents. Perfect souvenirs.
Click to enlarge
Our seats
How to read the ticket: ORCHO S 5
Row S (19th row), seat 5 (third from the aisle)
The Winter Garden orchestra is known for a gentle rake and fairly flat rows, but legroom is generous compared with many houses, so my view wasn’t blocked at any point.
After the show at stage door
We raced to the right of the 7th Ave exit to stage-door and get our Playbill signed.
Head straight there when the bows start
No selfies this time, but everyone was selfie-friendly. Try, “Can I take a picture with you?” I was especially charmed by Lydia, played by Sophia Anne Caruso.
Click images to enlarge
Post-show impressions
Tim Burton energy, full blast
From warped houses to twitchy props, it is all there. Like “Corpse Bride” and “The Nightmare Before Christmas,” a huge moon looms upstage. Each recreated moment drew cheers. If you don’t know Burton, go browse his official site and you will see what I mean.
Iconic scenes, lovingly staged
Moment 1: the first Beetlejuice – Lydia meet
Their classic “say my name three times” standoff becomes the number “Say My Name.” Onstage, Lydia arguably steals the scene even more than in the film.Moment 2: the home party meltdown
Adam learns to spook the living that attempt to purchase his house and turns a house party upside down, puppeteering the guests and, yes, pushing them into a “banana boat” groove.Moment 3: denizens of the dead
Pure Burton: the green-skinned assistant, the shrunken head guy, the football team, the boss Juno. The rogues gallery appears just as fans remember them.Underneath the weird, it is a family story
Her father, meanwhile, moves on and plans to remarry, so she plunges into the Netherworld to find her mom. When reconciliation with her dad finally comes, “Going Home” lands as a warm, cathartic release. Keep an ear out for it.
Surprisingly, Beetlejuice gets moving and moving
He stays a lovable menace, but everyone around him learns something because of him.
Tiny spoiler: he becomes human for a heartbeat. Looking back he says, “Living means riding the highs and lows, and it is tough.” it is somewhat hard to hate a guy who admits that. The final party blowout to “Shake Senora” channels the films joy and gets the crowd swaying.
Two weeks after I went, the 73rd Tony Awards nominations dropped and Beetlejuice scored eight nominations, including Best Musical!
Alex Brightman was nominated for Best Performance by a Leading Actor in a Musical. The show also picked up nods for Best Original Score, scenic design, orchestrations, book, lighting, and best costume design of a musical.
The creators promised a musical that stands on its own while honoring the film, and those nominations back it up.
It carries Burton’s wonderland intact, yet works as its own stage musical that delights film fans and newcomers alike.
Read our Beetlejuice part 2 report
This was our April 2019 visit. Another staffer returned in September 2019 with fresh tips and angles. Pair it with this page for the full picture.
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