“Beetlejuice The Musical” – Say it Three Times if You Dare
- BEETLEJUICE
- Starlight Theatre, Kansas City, Mo.
- October 2, 2026
If you enjoy being outside in crisp fall evening air and you are looking for something to get you in the Halloween spirit, then “Beetlejuice – The Musical. The Musical. The Musical.” at Starlight Theatre may be right up your alley. A great set design and colorful lighting help amplify a solid evening’s worth of entertainment.
Based upon the classic 1988 Tim Burton film starring Alec Baldwin, Geena Davis, Winona Ryder, and Michael Keaton, “Beetlejuice – The Musical.” debuted on Broadway in 2019 with music and lyrics by Australian performer Eddie Perfect. While it does share some similarities with the original film, and none with the 2024 cinematic sequel, this stage version has enough variations to give it a different feel, which opens the door for a few surprises along the way.
During the October 2nd performance, Leianna Weaver as Lydia Deetz delivered a superb array of vocal performances that could have all been labeled as showstoppers. Ryan Stajmiger as Beetlejuice was equally fantastic and captivating. His comic timing was spot on while the charisma he projected drew in the audiences’ attention, although his makeup, hair and costume design were nothing to write home about. It was fun to watch him break through the fourth wall with the audience, but it was overdone, causing it to lose its luster after a while.
The overall story is stronger during the first act, but the cast remains steady throughout. There are a few bursts of extremely bright light that may be issue for those with light sensitivity issues.
Parents should take into consideration that “Beetlejuice – The Musical” is not as appropriate for young children as its cinematic predecessor. There is some profanity, obscene gestures, sexual innuendo, drug references, and a couple of gory moments, such as when a minor supporting character has their arms ripped off.
If you missed “Beetlejuice – The Musical” while it was in Kansas City, then no worries. It will be in Springfield, Missouri, on October 27 and 29 at the Juanita K. Hammons Hall. For tickets to this and future performances, click HERE.