Get ready to scream for Beetlejuice The Musical

The globally renowned Beetlejuice The Musical has held its Australian premiere at Melbourne’s Regent Theatre and will run until August 3.

Based on Tim Burton’s 1988 beloved film, this musical, which has received eight Tony Award nominations, tells the story of a teen, Lydia Deetz, whose life is changed when she meets a recently deceased couple in a haunted house and a demon with a thing of stripes.

Beetlejuice The Musical is composed by Melburnian Eddie Perfect, who will also play the most mischievous corpse in the history of musicals.

“Bringing this show home to Melbourne, the city where I cut my teeth as a musician and writer, is a special, full-circle moment,” composer, lyricist and lead actor Eddie Perfect said.

Joining Eddie Perfect as Beetlejuice and Karis Oka as Lydia Deetz, music theatre royalty Elise McCann (Groundhog Day, Matilda) plays the adorably neurotic Barbara, alongside Rob Johnson (Calamity Jane, The Torrents) as the sweet but clueless Adam.

Starlet Erin Clare (9 to 5, Tell Me on a Sunday) will channel the zen but zany Delia, while stage and screen sensation Tom Wren (Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, Winners and Losers) joins her as Charles — the Dad who desperately needs a holiday from ghosts.

Joining the living (and the undead) party are Noni McCallum as Maxine/Juno, Rebecca Ordiz as the overly enthusiastic Girl Scout, and Angelique Cassimatis as the fabulously fiery Miss Argentina. Adding more spooky flair, Andy Conaghan dabbles in the paranormal as Otho, with Adam Lyon taking on the slick Maxie Dean.

Rounding out this ghoulishly delightful cast are Fiorella Bamba, Kelsi Boyden, Louis Fontaine, Kerrie Anne Greenland,
Sara Haruta, James Haxby, Brady Kitchingham, Noah Missell, Daniel Raso, Callum Ryan, Taylor Scanlan, Rose
Shannon-Duhigg and, William Tukia-Edwards.

The musical showcases stunning sets and visual effects with a score that is out of this Netherworld, and brings a touching performance about family, love and life to the audience.

“Melbourne is the perfect place for Beetlejuice to stir up some mischief in this wickedly funny, big Broadway production. We can’t wait to welcome audiences to the Netherworld in Australia’s theatre capital,” producer Michael Cassel said.

Victorian Government Minister for Tourism, Sport and Major Events Steve Dimopoulos added: “Beetlejuice The Musical is a global hit and we’re thrilled to bring this supernatural spectacle to Melbourne – boosting our local economy and providing a huge thrill for theatre lovers from across the country.”

“Melbourne is the cultural capital of the nation and securing the Australian premiere of Beetlejuice The Musical adds to an amazing array of cultural events around the state.”

Theatrical productions generate huge economic benefits for the state and contribute to Victoria’s record $40 billion visitor economy.

The forthcoming Beetlejuice The Musical will attract fans and tourists from all over Australia to Melbourne, and also adds vitality to other performances, such as Moulin Rouge! The Musical, & Juliet, Harry Potter and the Cursed Child and Groundhog Day.

“Major theatre productions like Beetlejuice The Musical not only entertain - they drive tourism, boost local businesses and add to our huge pipeline of events showcasing how our State is ‘every bit different’,” Visit Victoria CEO Brendan McClements said.