Beetlejuice – The Musical Brings the Crazy Amazing World of the Dearly Departed to National Theatre
Beetlejuice – The Musical
The National Theatre
Jordan Wright
July 8, 2026
David Wilson (Adam), Kaitlin Feely (Barbara), Leianna Weaver (Lydia) and Ryan Stajmiger (Beetlejuice) in Bettlejuice -The Musical (Photo/Matthew Murphy).
Backstory: After a brief tryout here at the National Theatre in 2018, Beetlejuice headed to Broadway and the famed Winter Garden Theatre in 2019. The show had less than a year’s run before the pandemic hit shutting down all productions in early 2020. Nominated for eight Tony Awards in nearly every category and garnering a win for “Outstanding Set Design”, it proved to be a huge success. Luckily for us it’s back in town after a 2023 DC booking at the National Theatre and killin’ it. All that goes to say that the audience, some garbed in the black-and-white stripes favored by Beetlejuice, consisted of legions of fans of the quirky-cool story with its rock concert vibe.
Reality: It’s a show about death and the newly dead – in the best possible way, I promise – with an utterly irreverent script, electrifying rock music and hilarious lyrics fronted by a tremendously talented cast of singers and dancers, a blazing rock band and dazzling light show. Be prepared to embrace the far side. Can you love the living dead? They’ll prove you can and will.
Ryan Stajmiger (Beetlejuice) and Beetlejuice North American Touring Company (Photo/Matthew Murphy).
The cast in this show is wonderful and totally in sync. From lead demon, Beetlejuice, played to the hilt and heavy on vaudevillian schtick by veteran improv comedian and rock singer, Ryan Stajmiger, to the breathtaking vocals of newcomer Leianna Weaver who plays young Lydia, the Goth-garbed daughter grieving the untimely death of her mother. Weaver has a stunning powerhouse voice tempered by an adorable sweetness that left me and my plus-one wide-eyed in its wake. Chills and thrills.
Picture a young couple, Barbara (Kaitlin Feely) and Adam (David Wilson) living in a decaying Victorian house longing for a child yet consumed with their individual hobbies. In an unfortunate incident in the dark of night, they accidently electrocute themselves and are banished to the netherworld. Beetlejuice, who is “dying” to return amongst the living, needs someone to say his name three times. He cajoles the couple into haunting their old house, so he can con the new homeowners. To accomplish his nefarious ends, this slippery, double-crossing, gravelly-voiced specter unleashes a crazy amazing world of pandemonium filled with dancing skeletons and singing zombies. Enter Delia (the delightful, scene-stealing Bailey Frankenberg), a guru-loving seductress accompanied by her business-obsessed lover and father of Lydia, Charles (Jeff Brooks), who buy the now-haunted house where Barbara and Adam have been studying “The Handbook for the Recently Deceased” and preparing to pounce on the unsuspecting trio with ghoulish abandon.
One of the funniest, most energetic, wonderfully choreographed shows and high praise for the endearingly creepy characters – this reviewer has ever seen. Schtick rules! And so does a healthy dose of political quips and topical humor. A huge cast propelled by a kick-ass band and rock star voices send this musical beyond the beyond.
Leianna Weaver (Lydia), Jeff Brooks (Charles), and Beetlejuice North American Touring Company (Photo/Evan Zimmerman for MurphyMade).
If I published all the bios of cast and crew, you would have a star-studded list of some of the best-known Broadway performers and designers, most notably Director Alex Timbers (Moulin Rouge!); Original Score by Eddie Perfect (King Kong); with Book by Scott Brown (Castle Rock) and Anthony King (Robbie); Choreography by Connor Gallagher (The Robber Bridegroom, Moana, Titanic); David Korins (Scenic Designer on Hamilton); Six-time Tony Award-winning Costume Designer William Ivey Long; Lighting Design by Tony Award winner Kenneth Posner (Kinky Boots, Wicked); with Sound Design by Peter Hylenski (Moulin Rouge!, Frozen); the fabulous projection design of Peter Nigrini (Dear Evan Hansen, Hell’s Kitchen, MJ); Puppet Design by Michael Curry (The Lion King, Cirque du Soleil); and Special Effects Design by Jeremy Chernick (Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, Hadestown)… to name but a handful of this extraordinary creative team.
With Dan Mason as Priest/Census Taker; Alessandra Casanova as Miss Argentina played by Carly Natania Grossman on opening night; Mai Caslowitz as Girl Scout; Da’Zaria Harris as Juno; Dan Mason as Otho; a 13-person ensemble and 7-person orchestra with searing synthesizers.
Drop dead fabulous! Snag your tickets while you can!
Through July 19, 2026 at The National Theatre, 1321 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20004. For tickets and information call the box office at 202.628.6161 or visit https://www.broadwayatthenational.com/BroadwayAtTheNational.com