A Classic Haunts the Stage
BEETLEJUICE The Musical on Broadway will stop at the Marcus Performing Arts Center (MPAC) to kick off the Broadway season for Milwaukee. From October 1-6, 2024, the community can witness Lydia Deetz and Beetlejuice, the lead characters, creepy and comedic actions on the stage. The musical is based on the 1988 film “Beetlejuice” directed by Tim Burton, giving audiences nationwide an electric performance of the classic.
Milwaukee is the second stop on the national tour with two stops in Canada.
Who’s on the Playbill?
For the Milwaukee performances, the cast will feature Justin Collette as Beetlejuice and Nevada Riley as Lydia Deezt. Beginning on October 22, 2024, Wisconsin native Madison Mosely will be taking over the role of Deetz.
“I rewatched the original movie and I think just being able to tap into my teenage self, I feel like there’s definitely areas where I feel like I can kinda give that care to the character,” said Mosely. “I think it’s just playing around and finding what moments I can be more vulnerable and what moments to be that moody, gothy, edgy, teenager.”
Currently, Mosely appears in the musical as a Girl Scout and is an understudy for Riley.
The musical is making its visit to the city as old and new fans revel in the excitement of “Beetlejuice Beetlejuice” which was released in theaters on September 2, 2024, starring Michael Keaton, the original Beetlejuice, and includes new faces like Jenna Ortega who plays Deetz’s only child Astrid Deetz.
“It’s just a great, funny, fast-paced, spectacle of a musical and I think that that is why people enjoy it,” said Mosely. “I feel like we’re about to get a resurgence of old fans and new fans, and I think that’s really exciting that I’ll hopefully be able to be and perform for some people who are new to Beetlejuice and have never seen Beetlejuice before and I’ll be their first Lydia.”
Fun Before and After the Show
The opening show will feature Broadway Buzz: Cocktails to Curtain, a pre-show discussion for ticket holders. MPAC’s Vice President of Programming Jared Duymovic and Critics’ Choice Association member and entertainment journalist Ryan Jay will host the discussion, offering insights into the show.
A post-show Q&A with some cast members will be held on October 3, 2024.
To purchase tickets click here.
Maria Peralta-Arellano is a Milwaukee-native journalist who focuses on sharing news from her local communities. She dedicates her work to accessibility and producing bilingual coverage focused on arts, culture, and politics. She looks to explore her community through a journalistic and creative lens.
