Good news, ghoulish tweens 'n' teens—Beetlejuice JR. has been unleashed for licensing by theatrical licensor Music Theatre International. Part of the company's Broadway Junior collection, Beetlejuice JR. is an hour-long adaptation of the cult-favorite 2019 musical designed especially for performers 18 and under.
Based on Tim Burton’s 1988 film (also a cult favorite), Beetlejuice follows strange and unusual teenager Lydia Deetz, whose life changes when she meets a recently deceased couple and Beetlejuice, a demon with a thing for stripes. When Lydia calls on Beetlejuice to scare away anyone with a pulse, this double-crossing specter unleashes a (nether)world of pandemonium.
READ: Songwriter Eddie Perfect Shares Stories and Trivia About His Beetlejuice Score
The work premiered on Broadway in 2019, with songs by Eddie Perfect and a book by Anthony King and Scott Brown. The original production earned eight 2019 Tony Award nominations, including for Best Musical before closing with the COVID-19 shutdown in 2020. But then Beetlejuice has always been one for comebacks. The musical made a Broadway return in 2022, playing for nearly a year before embarking on a national tour. Beetlejuice JR. premiered to screaming audiences of theatre kids at this year's Junior Theater Festival, in both Atlanta and Sacramento. The Junior Theater Festival is presented by iTheatrics, who also supervise the adaptation of Broadway JR. titles.
"Beetlejuice thrilled Broadway audiences and built a large and fervent fan base among all age groups," says MTI President and CEO Drew Cohen in a statement. "We look forward to delivering this hilarious and touching adaptation for younger performers across the country. Bravo to Eddie Perfect, Scott Brown, and Anthony King for bringing the title character so vividly to life...figuratively speaking, of course."
Get Your Beetlejuice Musical Merch at The Playbill Store
Schools and theatre groups looking to create a Broadway-style Playbill program for their production of Beetlejuice JR. can use PLAYBILLDER, the only authorized way to get that iconic yellow-and-black Playbill logo on the cover of your program. Beetlejuice JR. will soon be part of the PLAYBILLDER Express library, which allows users to pre-load licensor-approved content for the show, including billing and licensing information, song and cast lists, and more. Start building your own fully-customized Playbill program at PLAYBILLDER.com.
The title is currently only available in the U.S. and Canada. For more information, visit MTIShows.com.
Alex Brightman and the company of Beetlejuice
Elizabeth Teeter, David Josefsberg, and Kerry Butler in Beetlejuice
Alex Brightman and Elizabeth Teeter in Beetlejuice
Alex Brightman and Elizabeth Teeter in Beetlejuice
Leslie Rodriguez Kritzer and Adam Dannheisser in Beetlejuice
Elizabeth Teeter in Beetlejuice
Elizabeth Teeter in Beetlejuice
Elizabeth Teeter, Michelle Aravena, Adam Dannheisser, and the company of Beetlejuice.
Zonya Love in Beetlejuice
