Welcome to the Netherworld,
Beetlejuice Jr. was written by Scott Brown and Anthony King. When directing the musical, Alex Timbers found it very important for Beetlejuice to appear as a “conman”. This inspired the breaking of the fourth wall and addressing the audience directly, acting as a chaotic narrator who bridges the gap between the audience and stage. The music and lyrics were written and produced by Eddie Perfect. Eddie Perfect was inspired by the idea that Beetlejuice lived through centuries, leading to a score that jumps between rap, vaudeville, and traditional Broadway. The musical is loosely based on the Geffen company film that was directed by Tim Burton in 1988 (MTI, 2026).
In 2016, a musical adaptation of the 1988 film Beetlejuice (directed by Tim Burton and starring Geena Davis as Barbara Maitland, Alec Baldwin as Adam Maitland, Winona Ryder as Lydia Deetz and Michael Keaton as Beetlejuice) was reported to be in the works. By 2017-2018 it was being rehearsed and the musical had a tryout at the National Theatre, Washington, D.C., in October 2018, prior to opening on Broadway at the Winter Garden Theatre on April 25, 2019. It is produced by Warner Bros. Theatre Ventures (a unit of franchise owner Warner Bros.). Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the show played its final performance at the Winter Garden on March 10, 2020. It reopened at the Marquis Theatre on Broadway on April 8, 2022, and closed on January 8, 2023. The show reopened again at the Palace Theatre on October 8, 2025 in a limited engagement that ran until January 3, 2026. A US national tour of the production ran from 2022 to 2025. The youth-oriented adaptation of the Broadway musical, became available for licensing and was widely produced by youth theaters in 2025 (Broadway.com, 2026)
We have always been fans of the original movie and when it was made into a musical we were very excited. I have never had the opportunity to see it performed but when I read the script, I fell in love with the songs. Mrs. Chodos has seen it on Broadway and was thrilled when we started talking about it in the fall. The musical provides a score that jumps between rap, vaudeville, and traditional Broadway and it is truly appealing. The essence of the show is somewhat of a rebirth of a young girl who acknowledges her grief, recognizes her strength, repairs her relationship with her father and accepts a new life with her new family. Throughtout the four months of rehearsal we have really been able to see our student actors blossom into these characters. Totally embracing them while filtering their own personas through their acting. I have been able to look at directing this musical in a different light as I complete my last Theater certification class at GMU. With the help and support of Mrs. Chodos it has made this journey the most rewarding.
We thank you so much for coming to see the show and supporting your students, our Theater Department, Glasgow Middle School and our community. It is our sincere hope that you enjoy the show!
Warmest Regards,
Taina Smits (Theater Director)
Dana Chodos (Asst. Director)
Glasgow Theatre Group
Glasgow Middle School
