Beetlejuice announces Australian premiere

Beetlejuice is heading Down Under!

Based on Tim Burton’s macabre 1988 film, Beetlejuice is about a young woman who summons a mischievous ghost after meeting the recently deceased couple who previously inhabited her big, creepy house.

It played a total of 679 performances on Broadway, completing its season there in early 2023.

This musical comedy is directed by two-time Tony nominee Alex Timbers, with original music and lyrics by Eddie Perfect. The book is by Scott Brown and Emmy nominee Anthony King. In addition to Brightman’s nomination, Beetlejuice earned seven other Tony nods, including Best Musical.

It will play its Australian premiere in Melbourne at the Regent Theatre in April 2025, with tickets available from 2024.

Australian producer Michael Cassel said: “This wickedly funny show is at the top of so many Aussie music theatre fans’ wish list to play here and we are delighted to bring it to its natural home – the Regent Theatre – where audiences will be transported to the netherworld for a night they will never forget. The fan support for Beetlejuice resonated around the world and we can’t wait to see how fans respond to it here.”

Beetlejuice is directed by Tony Award winner Alex Timbers, with an original score by Tony Award nominee Eddie Perfect (who hails from Melbourne), a book by Tony Award nominee Scott Brown and Tony nominee Anthony King, music supervision, orchestrations, and incidental music by Kris Kukul, and choreography by Connor Gallagher.

Beetlejuice features scenic design by three-time Tony Award nominee David Korins, costume design by six-time Tony Award winner William Ivey Long, lighting design by Tony Award winner Kenneth Posner, sound design by Tony Award winner Peter Hylenski, projection design by Tony Award nominee and Drama Desk Award winner Peter Nigrini, puppet design by Drama Desk Award winner Michael Curry, special effects design by Jeremy Chernick, illusions by Michael Weber, hair and wig design by Drama Desk Award nominee Charles G. LaPointe, make-up design by Joe Dulude II, physical movement coordinator Lorenzo Pisoni.

A UK production had been rumoured pre-pandemic, though further plans have yet to be revealed.