Beetlejuice The Musical North American Tour
Beetlejuice The Musical is currently bringing its hilarious and absurd charm to Seattle's Paramount Theatre until April 7, 2024. With low expectations as my usual approach to live shows—especially when I adore the story in another form, like the movie—I found myself delightfully surprised.
Fair warning, this review is filled with excitement and exclamations, but that's because I haven't laughed so much during a live performance in a long time!
Walking to The Paramount Theatre with Brandon, I reminded myself to let go of any expectations that the stage musical would be a direct recreation of the movie. Instead, I embraced it as a unique experience that lives within the same beloved universe.
To my surprise, Beetlejuice The Musical has become one of my favorite live performances of the past decade! I can’t wait for another chance to see this incredible show in the future.
The musical retains the movie’s irreverent spirit while creating a distinct identity on stage. Its humor, weirdness, and manic energy had the audience laughing loudly, often, and uncontrollably, especially during a scene that redefines "break a leg."
The cast and performance were phenomenal. Justin Collette, in particular, was magnetic and hilariously perfect as Beetlejuice. His comic timing and ability to gauge the audience’s reactions were exceptional.
I’m amazed at how Collette maintains the demanding vocal and physical energy of Beetlejuice night after night. His blend of charm, ick-factor, talent, and hilarity would surely make Michael Keaton proud.
Kudos to Collette’s skilled diction and the impressive sound teams at The Paramount and on tour. Despite the rapid-fire, clever lyrics—one laugh leading into another—I was able to understand everything, even without prior familiarity with the soundtrack.
Special mention goes to Isabella Esler for her powerful vocal performance as Lydia. The entire cast, along with William Ivey Long (Costumes), Charles G. LaPointe (Hair and Wig Design), and all the creatives, brought this musical to life brilliantly. Broadway at the Paramount's inclusion of this show in their current season was a fantastic choice, and it was delightful to see many audience members in Beetlejuice-inspired outfits. Kudos, Seattle!
Beetlejuice The Musical continues its tour to Portland, Oregon, and will visit Costa Mesa, CA, Albuquerque, Louisville, Mexico City, Fort Worth, Lincoln,Vancouver BC (January 2025), and Miami.
For tickets to Broadway at the Paramount in Seattle, click here. Upcoming shows at The Paramount include Disney’s Aladdin in April and Girl from the North Country in June 2024. Find the 2024/2025 season show list here.
For more tour info, click here.