Having seen both Tim Burton’s 1988 classic “Beetlejuice” and this year’s sequel “Beetlejuice Beetlejuice,” I walked into Centennial Hall on opening night of Broadway in Tucson’s “Beetlejuice the Musical” feeling confident in what to expect. Despite never having seen the stage adaptation, I assumed it would follow familiar territory. Instead, what unfolded over the two and a half hour span became a unique but newfound favorite version of the Beetlejuice story — a vibrant exploration of life’s most avoided subject: the complexities and inevitabilities of death.
One of the first elements to captivate me was the set design. The intricacy and creativity presented in the set designs was clear, not only for important places such as the living room of Barbara and Adam Maitland’s home, but also for other spaces such as the attic of the building and the waiting area of the Netherworld. Slanted and distorted designs were a nod to the original film’s surreal aesthetic. In this production, even the Maitland’s living room — occupied by the living at the start of the show — had a crooked appearance, blurring the boundaries between the worlds of the living and the dead.
The costuming also paid homage to the source material while adding fresh touches. Barbara and Adam’s costumes were kept close to the original styles but were both green, echoing the color scheme of Beetlejuice himself. Lydia Deetz’s costume and demeanor were nearly identical to her 1988 portrayal, minus some modern tweaks with her hair. Different from the original film, Beetlejuice sported his iconic black-and-white striped suit all throughout the show, only switching to his equally recognizable red wedding attire for one key scene. The most notable departure from the 1988 film was Delia, Charles Deetz’s mistress. Unlike the film’s more mature and subdued version of the character, this Delia was younger, more vibrant and dressed in bold colors — especially pink — reflecting her rewritten, livelier persona.
While the visuals were stunning, the sound design and vocal performances stole the show. Every cast member brought strong, clear voices to the stage, but Isabella Esler, who played Lydia Deetz, was a standout. Her range and emotional depth were mesmerizing, creating a collective energy that captivated the audience during numbers like “Dead Mom” and “Home.” Esler’s performance was nothing short of transformative, bringing genuine emotion and power to Lydia’s journey and forming a true bond with audience members, especially those that had experienced the loss of a loved one.
The production’s technical precision added an extra layer of magic to the experience. Carefully choreographed movements and perfectly timed tricks — like props flying across the stage and landing perfectly in cast members’ hands — added to the illusion of supernatural forces at work. Perfectly executed prop throws weren’t the only thing that made the show feel seamless. During the marriage scene between Lydia and Beetlejuice, the choreography and blocking were so precisely timed that they naturally drew attention away from the characters being locked up by Beetlejuice’s magic. The effect was so convincing that it genuinely felt like magic — I never once noticed any crew members assisting with the trick.
A hallmark of this Beetlejuice adaptation was the title character’s frequent breaking of the fourth wall. While this could have felt gimmicky or a cheap way to get a laugh, the actor’s delivery ensured it never felt forced or bothersome. Whether riffing on earlier moments in the show or calling out specific audience members repeatedly, Beetlejuice’s asides consistently drew laughter from the crowd. His sharp wit and self-aware humor added an extra layer of comedy that fit seamlessly with the show’s tone.
Broadway in Tucson’s “Beetlejuice” wasn’t just a musical — it was a genuinely unforgettable experience that honored the legacy of its predecessors while standing firm on its own as a theatrical masterpiece. With dazzling visuals, powerhouse performances and a clever script, this rendition breathed new life into a story about the afterlife while also addressing some ignorance in the original film. For fans of the original and newcomers alike, this production was a must-see that left audiences laughing, reflecting and perhaps even embracing the realities of life and death just a little more openly.
