Sensational Hadestown Blows the Roof Off at The National Theatre
Hadestown
Broadway at The National
National Theatre
Jordan Wright
November 19, 2025
 Jose Contreras (Orpheus) and Hadestown North American Touring Company, 2025. (Photo/Evan Zimmerman for MurphyMade)
If you haven’t brushed up on your Greek mythology lately, you may be easily excused. Yet surely you recall the parable of the doomed lovers Orpheus and Eurydice, Hades, God of the Underworld, and his Goddess wife, Persephone. Hades forced his lady love to live with him in hell for half the year and in sunlight for the other half — a seasonal arrangement that strained their unique marriage. Hadestown, the massive 8-time Tony Award-winning musical, borrows from these myths to create a sensational story of love, loss and the power of dreams.
This colorful, theatrical carnival evokes Thomas Hart Benton’s paintings of everyday American life, the unfettered dancing of Josephine Baker, the ground-breaking jazz of Louis Armstrong, the soft sultry ballads of American folk music and the syncopated rhythms of Basin Street’s Afro-Caribbean diaspora with its familiar syncopated “strut.” It’s a fascinating polyglot of N’awlins’ roots and shoots plunked down into a parable as old as time.
This wildly exciting piece of musical theater, offers up a huge dose of consciousness-raising. Note the reference of a “wall” to keep the ‘others’ from taking their wealth. Hades (Nickolaus Colón), King of the Underworld, is as ruthless as the early American coal and oil barons, recklessly stripping the earth of precious resources (reference the current fight for precious metals) and enslaving miners when union-busting proved deadly. Quinn’s magnificent powerhouse baritone is hauntingly evil… in a good way. Defending his unmitigated power, he sings of the need for a wall in “Why We Build the Wall” to keep the haves from the have-nots. “The enemy is poverty. We build the wall to keep us free. To keep out poverty.” Sound familiar?
 Megan Colton (Eurydice) and Jose Contreras (Orpheus). (Photo/Evan Zimmerman for MurphyMade)
With his extraordinary, multiple-octave range, Jose Contreras as the guitar-strumming poet and heartthrob, Orpheus, sings of his love for the beautiful waif, Eurydice (Megan Colton), whose honeyed voice will give you goosebumps in her plaintive ballads. As poor Orpheus, who despairs of the deplorable conditions of the workers and the destruction of the Earth by power-mad Hades, promises Eurydice a boundless love.
Hadestown is a social and moral construct cleverly tucked into a brilliant musical with music, lyrics and book written by Anaïs Mitchell with all the original Broadway direction by partner Rachel Chavkin. At its heart is a tender love story (two, in fact) cleverly cached in the universal struggle for freedom from oppression and the quest for basic human rights. Be careful or you’ll miss it, wooed as you will be by the harmonizing harpies – The Fates – a stewpot of Cajun and Creole; the red-hot sexpot Persephone (Namisa Mdlalose Bizana); Hermes (Rudy Foster), the slithery, smooth, storytelling dandy. The Fates are played melodically by Miriam Navarrete, Alli Sutton and Jayna Wescoatt.
 Hadestown North American Touring Company, 2025. (Photo/Evan Zimmerman for MurphyMade)
As in several modern musicals, the musicians are on stage throughout, affording us a close-up of the shiny glint and soulful wah-wahs of trombonist Haik Demirchian who racks up some mean solos; the beautiful strains of Jessie Bitner’s violin; with Lydia Paulos on cello; Nya Holmes on double bass; Sam Wade on guitar; drums and percussion by Lumanyano Mzi; haunting honky-tonk accompaniment by Cole P. Abod on upright piano; and one of the Fates on accordion, an important component in New Orleans Zydeco music. With the stunning harmonies and fierce dance component of the Workers Chorus featuring, Jonice Bernard, Ryaan Farhadi, Erin McMillen, Miracle Myles and Joe Rumi, the score is filled with minor chords adding to the heart-rending sense of longing and doom.
Directed by Keenan Tyler Oliphant; Choreography by T. Oliver Reid, based on the original Broadway choreography by David Neumann; Scenic Design by David L. Arsenault, based on the original Broadway Scenic Design by Rachel Hauck; Costume Design by Michael Krass; Lighting Design by Aja Jackson, based on the original Broadway Lighting Design by Bradley King; Co-Sound Design by Nevin Steinberg and Jessica Paz; Hair & Wig Design by Jennifer Mullins; Arrangements & Orchestrations by Michael Chorney and Todd Sickafoose; Music Direction by Cole P. Abod.
Through November 23rd at The National Theatre, 1321 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20004. For tickets and information visit www.BroadwayAtTheNational.com or in person at the box office.
The Magical, Fantastical Epic Production From J. K. Rowling’s “Harry Potter and the Cursed Child” Soars into the National Theatre DC and You Don’t Want to Miss This!
Harry Potter and the Cursed Child
National Theatre DC
Jordan Wright
July 18, 2025
 Cast of Harry Potter and the Cursed Child (North American Tour) at the National Theatre DC. (Photo/Matthew Murphy)
For all you Potter fans out there, and there are legions of you who have read all the novels, (some of you have pored over them multiple times in search of clues) this masterful, come-to-life production is for you. Do not miss it. I say this up front because once the word gets out, you’ll be mightily crushed if fellow Potterheads tell you how amazing it is, and you neglected to hop on board and hit that “order tickets now” button. So, brush up on your British accents and go!
The good news is the production is not a matinee plus an add-on return for the evening show as it was in its two-part Broadway incarnation. It has been condensed into two and half hours, which makes it fly by along with the dialogue that’s at racehorse pace and so are the set changes, but you’ll easily follow it if you’ve boned up on the plot in advance.
 John Skelley (Harry Potter) and Emmet Smith (Albus Potter). (Photo/Matthew Murphy)
John Skelly plays the lead. He’s Harry Potter all grown up and the father of young, Albus Severus Potter (Emmet Smith), who is off to Hogwarts to make his mark into Slytherin and create new friendships which, as you may have experienced, is tricky at best in any new school. Soon he meets and bro-befriends Scorpious Malfoy (Aidan Close), who may or may not be the son of Voldemort, the Dark Lord. Although their parents strive to keep them apart, this oddest of friendships becomes their strongest connection as arm-in-arm the boys fight the dark forces. Through thick and thin, the boys stick together through countless dangerously fraught adventures as they try desperately to solve the riddle.
 Julia Nightingale (Delphi Diggory), Aidan Close (Scorpius Malfoy), and Emmet Smith (Albus Potter). (Photo/Matthew Murphy)
All the notable characters are here in this massive cast as the years toggle back and forth – Severus Snape, Hagrid, Dumbledore, Lord Voldemort, Hermione Granger, Rose Granger-Weasley, Ron Weasley, Ginny Potter, Draco Malfoy, James Potter Sr., Hagrid, Professor McGonagall, Amos Diggory, Delphi Diggory, Cedric Diggory, Polly Chapman, Madam Hooch and more.
Battles have the characters airborne, capes swirling, chairs flying and wands clashing. The wizardry is spectacularly unimaginable. Every pyrotechnic trick is employed, plus aerial components, a revolving stage, magical fireplaces, bookcases that talk, a spinning sink for Moaning Myrtle, flying suitcases, Dumbledore morphing into a talking portrait, countless illusions, rotating stairways, a disembodied narrator and terrifyingly ghostlike spirits that float from on high. Whenever there is a time warp (bear in mind the twenty-year gap), the backdrop shimmers and there is a powerful bass drone that literally rattles your seat.
 Matt Mueller (Ron Weasley), Ebony Blake (Hermione Granger), and the Company of Harry Potter and the Cursed Child. (Photo/Matthew Murphy)
Christine Jones’ design of the Wizarding World is miraculously clever as we are led through a myriad of intriguing settings – Hogwarts’ library, a cavernous Romanesque structure with flying buttresses and massive arches, to include a hazy underwater scene as Harry and Scorpious dive into a lake and swim to the bottom, and that’s just in the first act!
All will be revealed in this monumental interpretation of J. K. Rowling’s classic novel which Rowling notably said would “explore the previously untold story of Harry’s early years as an orphan and outcast” and which unsurprisingly won “Best Play” at the Tony Awards.
Wear your capes and bring your wands. Highly recommended!!!
 Cast of Harry Potter and the Cursed Child North American Tour. (Photo/Matthew Murphy)
Kaleb Alexander as Sorting Hat; Julianna Austin as Polly Chapman; Aidan Close as Scorpius Malfoy; David Fine as Yann Fredericks; Simon Gagnon/Travis Patton as Teacher; Alexis Gordon as Madam Hooch; Ebony Blake as Hermione Granger; Caleb Hafen as Cedric Diggory, James Potter Jr., James Potter Sr.; Matt Harrington as Ron Weasley; Nathan Hosner as Voldemort; Chris Jarman as Voice of the Phonebooth/Voice of the Bookcase; Torsten Johnson as Professor Mazoni; Katherine Leask as Professor McGonagall, Professor Umbridge; Mackenzie Lesser-Roy as Moaning Myrtle, Lily Potter Sr.; Trish Lindstrom as Ginny Potter; Naiya Vanessa McCalla as Rose Granger-Weasley, Young Hermione; Julia Nightingale as Delphi Diggory; Zach Norton as Karl Jenkins, Viktor Krum; Maren Searle as Trolley Witch; Timmy Thompson as Craig Bowker; Paul Thornley as Voice of Ludo Bagman; René Thornton, Jr. as Station Master; Benjamin Thys as Draco Malfoy; and Larry Yando as Albus Dumbledore, Amos Diggory, Severus Snape.
Based on an original new story by J. K. Rowling, Jack Thorne & John Tiffany. Directed by John Tiffany; Movement Director, Steven Hoggett; Costume Designer, Katrina Lindsay; Composer & Arranger, Imogen Heap; Lighting Design by Neil Austin; Sound Design by Gareth Fry; Illusions and Magic by Jamie Harrison.
Through September 7th at Broadway at the National, 1321 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20004. For tickets and information call the box office at 202.628.6161 or visit www.TicketMaster.com.
Ain’t Too Proud – The Life and Times of The Temptations
is 100% On Fire at The National Theatre
Ain’t Too Proud – The Life and Times of the Temptations
Broadway at The National
Jordan Wright
June 18, 2025
 Lowes Moore (Eddie Kendricks), Jameson Clanton (Melvin Franklin), Josiah Travis Kent Rogers (David Ruffin), Rudy Foster (Otis Williams), Bryce Valle (Paul Williams) from the National Touring Company of Ain’t Too Proud. (Photo/Joan Marcus)
With hot hits from America’s number one R&B/Soul/Funk/Pop group of the 50’s, 60’s and 70’s, this bio-musical from the Berkeley Repertory Theatre is a blast from the past jam-packed with 31 of their platinum hits. Told through the eyes of Otis Williams, the group’s founder, the story takes us on a top-of-the-pops journey from the original foursome’s Detroit roots through its heyday under record industry icon, Berry Gordy and songwriter Smokey Robinson. Through the years the group gained and lost members like David Ruffin, Eddie Kendricks, Melvin Franklin and Damon Harris.
Ain’t Too Proud – The Life and Times of the Temptations takes us through the headliners’ triumphs and tragedies, telling the stories of their lives and loves through their music. Expect the greatest hits from their extensive catalogue – hits that a generation of us danced to, made out to, and sometimes got married to. Don’t think for a minute that the audience was a bunch of aging baby boomers clinging to fond memories of their teen years. That couldn’t be further from the truth. I looked around to see who was there – who was tapping their toes, mouthing the lyrics and beat-bobbing their heads, and they were all ages. Because you just can’t sit still to this musical – certainly not while watching their highly choreographed, synchronized dance movements these polished showmen were known for.
 Jameson Clanton (Melvin Franklin), Josiah Travis Kent Rogers (David Ruffin), Lowes Moore (Eddie Kendricks), Rudy Foster (Otis Williams), Bryce Valle (Paul Williams). (Photo/Joan Marcus)
These were the tunes that backgrounded family BBQs, birthday parties, impromptu dance parties and early discos. Hot hits that were played in cars and sung on street corners where impromptu harmonizers would doo-wop the latest hits. There is joyful spirit in the early music – “My Girl”, “I Can’t Get Next to You”, “If You Don’t Know Me by Now”, “Cloud Nine” and so many more. Eventually though the scene changed with the death of Martin, Jack and Bobby, the Vietnam War and the group’s songs – “I Wish It Would Rain” and “Ball of Confusion” – reflected those politicly fraught days. Just as “Papa Was a Rollin’ Stone” reflected the psychedelic era. Ain’t Too Proud covers 31 of their chart-topping hits throughout the perils and pitfalls, loves and losses of their massive success culminating with their reunion tour included all seven of the original Temptations. The Temptations went on to be named the “Number One Group in America” and that’s why you can’t miss this exciting show.
The musical is backdropped with terrific period-centric projections by Peter Nigrini of Sponge Bob Square Pants and Amélie fame and choreographed to a gold standard by Sergio Trujillo known for his work on Jersey Boys and On Your Feet. Orchestrations are by the show’s veteran musical director, Harold Wheeler with music directed by the legendary Kenny Seymour. Multiple Tony Award-winning director, Des McAnuff, pulls the threads and it’s as tight as the group’s pegged trousers, sharkskin jackets and the sequin-gowns worn by Diana Ross and The Supremes who make a cameo appearance with Tammi Terrell. Costume designer and multi-Tony Award winner, Paul Tazewell, veteran designer of Hamilton, Suffs, MJ, The Color Purple and other blockbuster Broadway hits.
 Reyanna Edwards (Johnnie Mae/Mary Wilson), Rudy Foster (Otis Williams), Jamal Stone (Dennis Edwards), Lowes Moore (Eddie Kendricks), Jasmine Barboa (Diana Ross/Josephine), Jameson Clanton (Melvin Franklin), Bryce Valle (Paul Williams), Kaila Symone Crowder (Paul Williams). (Photo/Joan Marcus)
The only issue I have is why, oh why, were we teased with too brief solos by Jasmine Barboa’s heart-stopping voice on “If You Don’t Know Me by Now”, and Bryce Valle’s beautiful solo tenor on the ballad, “For Once in My Life”. Just when we had goosebumps.
Book by Dominique Morisseau. Based on the book “The Temptations” by Otis Williams with Patricia Romanowski. Music and lyrics from The Legendary Motown Catalog.
With Rudy Foster as Otis Williams; Bryce Valle as Paul Williams; Jameson Clanton as Melvin Franklin; Lowes Moore as Eddie Kendricks; Josiah Travis Kent Rogers as David Ruffin (played by Corey Mekell on opening night); Cedric Jamaal Greene as Slick Talk Fella/Smokey Robinson/Damon Harris; Mikey Corey Hassel as “Gloria” soloist/Interviewer/Delivery Man/Richard Street/Lamont; Robert Crenshaw as Al Bryant; Kaila Symone Crowder as Mama Rose/Florence Ballard/Tammi Terrell; Reyanna Edwards as Johnnie Mae/Mary Wilson; Kerry D’Jovanni as Berry Gordy; Jasmine Barboa as Diana Ross/Josephine; Colin Stephen Kane as Shelly Berger; Jamal Stone as Dennis Edwards.
Scenic Design by Robert Brill; Lighting Design by Ryan O’Gara; Music Direction/Conductor, Eli Bigelow; Sound Design by Jeff Human, Original Hair and Wig Design by Charles G. Lapointe.
Highly recommended! 100% on fire!!!
Through Sunday, June 21st at The National Theatre, 1321 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW, Washington. DC 20004. For tickets and information call the box office at 202.621.6161 or visit www.TheNationalDC.com.
Kimberly Akimbo, A Sweet, Quirky, Edgy Love Story with a Jeanine Tesori Score – Now at The National Theatre
Kimberly Akimbo
Broadway at the National
National Theatre
Jordan Wright
May 21, 2025
 Carolee Carmello (Kim) and Miguel Gil (Seth) in the National Tour of Kimberly Akimbo at the National Theatre (Photo/Joan Marcus) Social life for this close group of teens in suburban New Jersey centers around the school choir and a local ice-skating rink. It’s 1999 and an awkwardly nerdy yet adorable Seth runs Skater Planet’s activities. He likes to solve puzzles, make anagrams out of names (Kimberly Locaro becomes Cleverly Akimbo), play the tuba and speak in Elvish from The Lord of the Rings. He’s had a tough life with the death of his mother, an absent father and a brother in rehab. He’s determined to be the “good son”.
Soon Seth falls for Kimberly who has her own dismal home life. Kim suffers from the rare and debilitating genetic disease that speed-ages her. She’s 15, looks 60, and is already post-menopausal. Her life clock is ticking down. For science class the teens are assigned to write a paper on a disease. Seth partners up with Kim, choosing her disease so he can understand her better. With her life expectancy a mere 16 years, she wants to make the most of the time she has left. Seth fills the bill and becomes her ride-or-die partner in the sweetest, most unusual, and solidly quirky love story.
 Laura Woyasz (Pattie), Emily Koch (Debra), Carolee Carmello (Kim), and Jim Hogan (Buddy) (Photo/Patrick Gray) Kim’s mother Pattie, currently pregnant and a narcissistic hypochondriac, is married to Buddy, a beer-swilling drunk and gas station attendant who’s going nowhere fast. The wear and tear of their issues cripples the family’s interactions. Pattie and Buddy have secrets… deep dark secrets, and family secrets have a way of coming out at the most inopportune time. Amirite? Can you spell highly dysfunctional? But wait! Let’s throw Debra, Kim’s aunt, into this potboiler of a sitcom.
Aunt Debra balances out this unique love story with hellfire crazy. She’s a no-nonsense, trash-talking ex-felon, thief and serial scammer who co-opts the kids into a check washing scheme so Kim can pay for a family trip and the teens can get flashy outfits for their statewide singing competition. What could possibly go wrong?
 Cast of the National Touring Company of Kimberly Akimbo (Photo/Joan Marcus) This national touring company shows it’s up to the challenge in this funny, fast-paced, edgy musical with a terrific score. Did I mention it stars heavy hitter and B’way alum, Carolee Carmello as Kim? In 2023 the musical won five Tony Awards in 2023 for “Best New Musical” plus four other Tonys for “Best Original Score”, “Best Book of a Musical”, “Best Actress in a Leading Role”, and “Best Featured Actress in a Leading Role”. Am I surprised? Not when Jeanine Tesori is the composer known for such Broadway mega-hits as Fun Home, Shrek, Caroline, or Change, plus the new opera Blue (reviewed here) and the new opera Grounded (reviewed here recently) seen at the Kennedy Center before heading off to the Metropolitan Opera.
With Miguel Gil as Seth; Laura Woyasz as Pattie; Jim Hogan as Buddy; Emily Koch as Debra; Grace Capeless as Delia; Darron Hayes as Martin; Skye Alyssa Friedman as Teresa; Pierce Wheeler as Aaron.
Books & Lyrics by David Lindsay-Abaire based on his play; Scenic Design by David Zinn; Directed by Jessica Stone; Choreographed by Danny Mefford; Costume Design by Sarah Laux; Lighting Design by Jeanette Oi-Suk Yew; Video Design by Lucy MacKinnon.
Through June 1st 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 www.TicketMaster.com.
Flashy, Splashy, Glam and Glitzy SIX the Multi-Award Winning Pop Musical Hits the National Theatre
SIX the Musical
Broadway at the National
Jordan Wright
November 13, 2024
 (Photo/Joan Marcus) Six Tudor “Roses” burst onto the stage with such fire and ferocity the audience breaks into cheers. It’s clear from those seat-dancing they’re mega-fans. From the opening number, the cast of queens holds “court” (that’s us!) in their regal thrall. Backed by a sizzling hot, five-piece band, the ex-wives of Henry the VIII seductively recount inglorious tales of their spousal experiences – “divorced, beheaded, died, divorced, beheaded, survived”. It’s a quirky mnemonic learned by British schoolchildren to recall the horrible fate of Henry’s wives.
It might seem a quantum leap to take a historic era in British royal history and turn it into a pop/hip-hop/rap musical, but here it becomes a catchy vehicle for female empowerment. Based on their marriages to Henry, the wives regale us with the cruelties, infidelities and vagaries of a notoriously nasty king. But, as we all know, payback’s a bitch. Suffice it to say the from the moment these hot exes step out onto the stage, the audience is in on the fun… and what fun this crazy, amazing show is. On the night I was there, as one of the wives is describing her marriage, a man from the crowd yells out, “F*** that dude!” The audience went absolutely wild.
SIX The Musical is a rock concert experience – a flashy, splashy, glam and glitzy, rap plus sing concert with nine memorable numbers betwixt the wives’ accounts of what they suffered under the king’s edicts. Laid out as a contest for the audience to vote on which of the ladies suffered the worst injustices and penultimate punishments, they each make their case in a mashup of street-smart jargon and Valley Girl slang – “Sorry, not sorry”, declares Anne Boleyn after stealing Henry away from his first wife. It’s “herstory” against “his-story” and here the ladies’ come back from the grave with a royal vengeance. Breaking the fourth wall to appeal to the audience, the Queens settle their scores with song and dance while vying to win our vote. As these divas say, they have “the riffs to ruffle your ruffs”.
In sequential order we hear from Catherine of Aragon (Chani Maisonet) who channels Beyoncé and Shakira in “No Way”; to Anne Boleyn (Gaby Albo) whose inspiration is Lily Allen and Avril Lavigne in “Don’t Lose Ur Head”; to Jane Seymour (Kelly Denice Taylor) in “Heart of Stone” who is inspired by Adele and Sia to rap/sing her story; to fourth wife Anna of Cleves (Danielle Mendoza) in “Get Down” whose “Queenspirations” are Nicki Minaj and Rihanna; to Katherine Howard (Alizé Cruz) with “All You Wanna Do” who nails a mashup of Ariana Grande and Britney Spears; and lastly, the “soul” survivor Catherine Parr (Tasia Jungbauer) with the killer ballad “I Don’t Need Your Love”. Her avatars are Alicia Keys and Emeli Sandé. N. B. the six-part harmonies are gorgeous.
 (Photo/Joan Marcus) With book, music and lyrics by Tony Marlow and Lucy Moss and directed by Lucy Moss, SIX has garnered a total of 23 awards including the Tony Award for Best Original Score (Music and Lyrics) and the Outer Critics Circle Award for Best Musical and the show’s album has reached stratospheric streaming heights in its first month.
Originally performed in England by the Cambridge Musical Theatre Society, the costumes are shiny-punk sensational, the stage is laser-lit and the onstage band is insane. And although I thought I heard shades of Madonna in the Catherine of Aragon character and Lizzo in Mendoza’s portrayal of Anne of Cleves, you will no doubt detect the vocal stylings of your favorite pop stars.
Choreography by Carrie-Anne Ingrouille, Scenic Design by Emma Bailey, Costume Design by Gabriella Slade, Lighting Design by Tim Deiling, Sound Design by Paul Gatehouse and Orchestrations by Tom Curran.
Highly recommended!!! Jump on it. Tickets will be hard to come by.
Now playing through December 1st at National Theatre DC, 1321 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW Washington, DC 20004. For tickets and information visit www.TheNationalDC.com or call the box office at (877) 302-2929.
The Crazy Amazing World of the Dearly Departed Rocks the National Theatre in Beetlejuice
Beetlejuice – The Musical
Broadway at the National
National Theatre
Jordan Wright
May 17, 2023
Special to The Zebra
 (Photo /Matthew Murphy, 2022) Confession 1.0: I had never seen the 1988 Academy Award-winning Tim Burton movie, Beetlejuice, nor TV series based on it. Call me a Beetlejuice virgin.
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 and killin’ it on its first national tour. 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 and 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.
 (Photo /Matthew Murphy, 2022) The cast in this show is wonderful. From lead demon, Beetlejuice, played to the hilt and heavy on vaudevillian schtick by veteran improv comedian and rock singer, Justin Collette, to the breathtaking vocals of newcomer Isabella Esler who plays young Lydia, the Goth-garbed daughter grieving the untimely death of her mother. Esler 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 (Britney Coleman) and Adam (Will Burton) 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, the 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 Kate Marilley), a guru-loving seductress accompanied by her business-obsessed lover and father of Lydia, Charles (Jesse Sharp), who buy the now-haunted house where Barbara and Adam are merrily ensconced in the attic reading “The Handbook for the Recently Deceased” and preparing to pounce on the unsuspecting trio with ghoulish abandon.
 (Photo /Matthew Murphy, 2022) Truly one of the funniest, most energetic, wonderfully choreographed shows – high praise for the endearingly creepy characters – this reviewer has ever seen. Schtick rules! A huge cast propelled by a kick-ass band and rock star voices send this musical beyond the beyond. 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); David Korins (Scenic Designer on Hamilton); Six-time Tony Award-winning Costume Designer William Ivey Long; Tony Award winner Kenneth Posner (Kinky Boots); with Sound Design by Peter Hylenski (Moulin Rouge!); the fabulous projection design of Peter Nigrini (Dear Evan Hansen); Puppet Design by Michael Curry (The Lion King); and Special Effects Design by Jeremy Chernick (Harry Potter and the Cursed Child)… to name but a handful of the extraordinary creative team.
With Abe Goldfarb as Priest/Otho/Census Taker; Danielle Marie Gonzalez as Miss Argentina; Jackera Davis as Girl Scout; and the indelible Kris Roberts as Juno; plus a 13-person ensemble and 11-person orchestra with searing synthesizers.
Drop dead fabulous! Grab your tickets while you can!
 (Photo by Matthew Murphy, 2022) Through May 28th 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 www.TheNationalDC.com. (The show is recommended for 10+ due to mature references and strong language and as the press release says, “a lot of crazy, inappropriate stuff you would expect from a deranged demon.”)
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