ST. LOUIS — It’s a modern, musical take on the cult classic: Tim Burton’s 1988 film Beetlejuice.
Beetlejuice The Musical tells the story of Lydia Deetz, a strange and unusual teenager whose whole life changes when she meets a recently deceased couple, Barbara and Adam.
The neurotic, dead husband, Adam is portrayed by Will Burton.
And no, he’s not related to Tim. I asked.
"He's my uncle. No, no, he's not. That's a joke," Burton said.
Burton has an extensive list of broadway credits from Hello Dolly to An American in Paris, but, the first time he saw Beetlejuice on Broadway, he knew, one day, he would land the role of Adam.
"I saw this guy who loves hobbies, he's like crafting this crib at the beginning of the show and is super into that. And they've got this attic full of all of their hobbies and they're sort of avoiding having kids. They're nervous about it, so they're diving into all this stuff. I was like, Whoa, that guy sounds a lot like me," Burton explained.
Lydia is portrayed by recent high school graduate, Isabella Esler. The 19-year old is a powerhouse. "I was just so struck by how mature she is. She's fantastic. She is a star in the making," Burton said.
And the demon with a thing for stripes?
"Justin, who plays Beetlejuice, you couldn't find someone more perfect for this role." Burton explains Justin's improv background helps to keep each performance fresh. "We're 330 something shows in and it's just never the same. Every night he throws in new lines, he throws in new beats, new staging. So, it's a pretty wild experience being on stage with him."
A wild experience that makes audiences howl with laughter, and maybe even shed a tear. While they make it very clear from the opening number, “It’s a Show About Death!” It’s also a show about family, healing, and love. You will walk away from this raunchy, modern comedy with a heartfelt message, too.
"You come for Beetlejuice. You come for the laughs, but you also you get that, and I think that that's so wonderful," Burton said.
Don’t miss out on your chance to catch Beetlejuice, Live in the Lou! Shows run through Sunday October 22.
Tickets are available online. Interested attendees can also call 314-534-1111 to purchase. Groups bigger than 10 should call 314-535-2900 for assistance.
"Beetlejuice" is the first show to kick off the 2023-2024 Broadway season. Take a look at the full schedule.
For more information, visit the Fox Theatre's website.
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