‘Beetlejuice’ Musical Sets Pre-Broadway Run, Announces Creative Team

Broadway just got a step closer to summoning Beetlejuice: The stage musical adaptation of Tim Burton’s ’80s classic will make its world premiere next October in a pre-Broadway run at the National Theatre in Washington, D.C.

Directed by two-time Tony nominee (Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson, Peter and the Starcatcher) and Mozart in the Jungle co-creator Alex Timbers, Beetlejuice will carry a creative team that includes names from some of Broadway’s biggest recent hits, including Hamilton and The Producers.

Casting has not yet been announced.

Produced by Warner Bros. Theatre Ventures and Langley Park Productions, the musical will feature an original score by Eddie Perfect (King Kong) and a book by Scott Brown and Anthony King (Broad City). Connor Gallagher (The Robber Bridegroom) will choreograph, with scenic design by David Korins (Hamilton), costumes by William Ivey Long (The Producers), lighting design by Kenneth Posner (Kinky Boots), sound design by Peter Hylenski (Frozen), projection design by Peter Nigrini (Dear Evan Hansen), puppet design by Michael Curry (The Lion King), special effects by Jeremy Chernick (Harry Potter and the Cursed Child), and “illusions” by Michael Weber (Forrest Gump).

WBTV

Beetlejuice is one of two 2018 productions coming from Warner Bros. Theatre Ventures, the studio’s stage play division. Dave, a musical version of the 1993 Kevin Kline film comedy with Tina Landau directing, will debut this July at Washington D.C.’s Arena Stage. Drew Gehling (Waitress) will play the title role.

Producing Beetlejuice with WB Theatre Ventures is Langley Park Productions, the Warner-based production company of Kevin McCormick, who also serves as Executive Vice President Production & Senior Advisor, Warner Bros. Pictures and is overseeing films including The Goldfinch, Motherless Brooklyn, and The Mule.

Burton’s 1988 film made stars of Michael Keaton, Alec Baldwin and Geena Davis (and also starred Catherine O’Hara, Jeffrey Jones, and Winona Ryder). The musical, based on the film with story by Michael McDowell and Larry Wilson, will tell the tale of Lydia Deetz, a strange teenager living in a house haunted by a recently deceased couple and the “degenerate demon” who gives the play its title.