Beetlejuice

Who is Beetlejuice?

Beetlejuice is a self-described bio-exorcist, a demon and con artist stuck haunting the space between the living and the dead, forever scheming his way toward getting said three times so he can wreak havoc in the mortal world. He narrates and needles his way through the story, breaking the fourth wall and mocking the other characters as often as he helps them.

The musical draws on the same premise as its source film, following a grieving teenage girl who strikes up an alliance with him after her family moves into a house occupied by a pair of recently deceased ghosts.

Beetlejuice's role on stage

Beetlejuice is the title character and clear lead, essentially functioning as the show's host as much as its antagonist-turned-ally. The part demands a performer who can sustain manic energy for an entire show: rapid-fire patter, broad physical comedy, and belted, character-driven vocals that lean theatrical rather than pretty.

It is a famously exhausting role to perform because so much of the show's comic momentum rests on Beetlejuice's presence, whether he is center stage or lurking at the edges commenting on everything happening around him.

Why Beetlejuice resonates with fans

Audiences love the character because he gets to say the things a polite musical never would, gleefully undercutting sentiment with sarcasm before pivoting to real heart. That mix of anarchic humor and surprising warmth, paired with Eddie Perfect's score, has made the role one of the most sought after comic parts in modern Broadway.

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