With just weeks until the ghost-with-the-most arrives at Brisbane’s Lyric Theatre – QPAC, the countdown is officially on for the return of the eight-time Tony Award®-nominated Broadway hit Beetlejuice The Musical to Australia.
The Brisbane season will be led by Broadway star Andy Karl, best known for his work in Groundhog Day, Rocky the Musical, Pretty Woman the Musical, Legally Blonde the Musical and Moulin Rouge.
Joining the company for the Brisbane and Perth seasons as Barbara Maitland will be acclaimed Australian performer, Jenni Little while original cast member Elise McCann takes parental leave.
A graduate of the Victorian College of Arts, Jenni has quickly emerged as one of Australia’s most exciting music theatre performers, with credits including Titanique, The Lovers, Tina – The Tina Turner Musical, Jagged Little Pill, Falsettos, School of Rock and Kinky Boots.
“Joining Beetlejuice The Musical for Brisbane is an absolute dream. Barbara is such a beautifully funny and heartfelt character and getting to step into this wildly imaginative world alongside such an incredibly talented company is so exciting,” said Jenni Little.
“The show is hilarious, and unexpectedly moving, and I know Brisbane will embrace the production. I also just LOVE Brisbane and can’t wait to be back in the beautiful Lyric Theatre at QPAC.”
Reprising their roles from the Melbourne and international seasons of Beetlejuice The Musical are Karis Oka as the gothic teen Lydia Deetz, Rob Johnson as the sweet but clueless Adam Maitland, Erin Clare as the zen but zany Delia Deetz, and Tom Wren as Charles Deetz, the Dad who desperately needs a holiday from ghosts.
Brisbane local Angelique Cassimatis will return as the beloved Miss Argentina, alongside Andy Conaghan as Otho, Adam Lyon as Maxie Dean, Noni McCallum as Maxine/Juno, and Rebecca Ordizas Girl Scout.
Rounding out this ghoulishly delightful cast are Fiorella Bamba, Kelsi Boyden, Louis Fontaine, Kerrie Anne Greenland, Sara Haruta, James Haxby, Brady Kitchingham, Noah Missell, Daniel Raso, Callum Ryan, Taylor Scanlan, Rose Shannon-Duhigg and William Tukia-Edwards.
Beetlejuice The Musicaltells the story of Lydia Deetz, a strange and unusual teenager obsessed with the whole “being dead thing.” Lucky for Lydia, her new house is haunted by a recently deceased couple and a degenerate demon with a thing for stripes.
When Lydia calls on this ghost-with-the-most to scare away her insufferable parents, Beetlejuice comes up with the perfect plan, which involves exorcism, an adorable girl scout who gets scared out of her wits and a whole (nether)world of pandemonium.
Beetlejuice The Musical is directed by two-time Tony Award-winner Alex Timbers (Moulin Rouge!, Just In Time), with an original score by Tony Award-nominee Eddie Perfect (King Kong), a book by Scott Brown & Emmy Award nominee Anthony King (Broad City), choreography by Connor Gallagher (The Robber Bridegroom), and music supervision, orchestrations and incidental music by Kris Kukul (Joan of Arc: Into the Fire).
The Australian production was awarded four Green Room Awards, including Outstanding Production and Outstanding New Australian Writing for Eddie Perfect.
Beetlejuice The Musical is based on the 1988 Academy Award-winning Geffen Company motion picture with story by Michael McDowell and Larry Wilson. The smash-hit comedy was directed by Tim Burton.
Beetlejuice The Musical will play the Lyric Theatre – QPAC, Brisbane from 7 June, before playing Crown Theatre Perth from 16 August, Festival Theatre – Adelaide Festival Centre from 10 October, Sydney’s Capitol Theatre from 21 November 2026. For more information, visit: www.beetlejuicethemusical.com.au for details.
Image: Beetlejuice The Musical (Australian Production) – photo by Eugene Hyland