Beetlejuice musical adaptation gives Kansas City more “Day-O”, more character, and more chaos

Justin Collette (Beetlejuice) and Tour Company // Photo by Matthew Murphy

Beetlejuice, Beetlejuice… dare I say it again? As it sits on the tip of my tongue, I already know it’s too late. The agent of chaos is traipsing through the frozen tundras of the Midwest as we speak.

Tim Burton’s 1988 hit film gets a theatrical facelift in the Broadway musical adaptation set to haunt Kansas City Feb 18-23. It’s a souped-up version with “little elements where they’re paying homage to the film,” says Sarah Litzsinger who plays fan-favorite Delia.

But she cautions anyone expecting the film to be regurgitated scene-for-scene on the stage. Think of it as an elaboration of the film’s original groundwork.

We still get to follow teenage psychic medium Lydia Deetz and the deceased owners of the farmhouse as they grapple with Beetlejuice and his ominous shenanigans, but with the extended run times found in live theatre, musical adaptations are an opportunity to rummage around the characters’ brains to get more out of the story. Some scenes are new, some are left untouched. It’s a way to revamp the tale to enhance the agent of chaos that is Beetlejuice. There’s more perversity and plenty more adventures into the lands of purgatory, Hell, and the Hell above ground we all know too well.

Sarah Litzsinger (Delia) and Jesse Sharp (Charles) // Photo by Matthew Murphy

Litzsinger shares how her character’s depth is explored through a change of profession yet still manages to hold onto the foundation of Catherine O’Hara’s iconic performance. “She is a life coach in the musical and she’s been hired by Charles Deetz to come and life coach Lydia Deetz because she’s just lost her mom,” explains Litzsinger. She says that this Delia is “a little more bumped up from the movie” and “just delusional enough” to please those who fell in love with O’Hara’s performance as a querulous creative.

Details may differ, however, the heart is still there. In true Delia fashion, her quirks coincide with her bottled-up love for Charles and Lydia. Her delusion grapples with her complexity, and according to Litzsinger, attendees are “going to laugh so hard that your face is gonna hurt.” Beetlejuice wouldn’t want it any other way. Dealing with pain is part of his schtick, and Delia is here to deliver it.   

Litzsinger says “What’s funny about Delia is that she’s not the best life coach, but boy, she’s really going to try to put it out there.” Delia is an amalgamation of quippy one-liners smashed together with a longing for family and acceptance. Litzsinger believes that this take on Delia’s character keeps the character grounded because “Delia can be a little bit flighty and a little bit kooky.”

Kooky is why the crowd loves her; So much so that they’ve taken their love of the character to a new level. Litzsinger wasn’t aware there was a cult following that had latched onto the production until they took it on tour.

“I’ve never been in a show where the fan base is so strong,” she says. “People come to our shows oftentimes dressed as different characters.” She raves over the fans who dedicate what little free time they have to study the costumes worn on stage and recreate the looks.

It’s a lot like Comic-Con—An environment where people are consumed over the iconography that has only grown more popular with time, turning it into competitions and a wildly entertaining form of self-expression. Entities like Marvel and the Star Trek franchise are more than just shows, they’re hobbies. So why not bring the same spirit to the stage with Beetlejuice?

Since the movie’s release nearly forty years ago, Beetlejuice is a trend we can’t shake, as seen in the film’s sequel Beetlejuice Beetlejuice that hit theaters just last fall, starring Jenna Ortega and original cast members Michael Keaton and Catherine O’Hara.

On stage, Beetlejuice has evolved into a costume event where the call to arms requires the best combination of black and nausea green attire paired with an open mind to its perversity. So, come in costume and come for the vulgarity because whether we like it or not, our twisted and beloved Beetlejuice and his realm of chaos are coming for us next.

Beetlejuice runs Feb. 18-23 at the Kansas City Music Hall. For more information, including tickets, visit their website.