Warner Bros. Theatre Ventures Present Pre-Broadway World Premiere of New Musical Comedy "Beetlejuice"
(March 28, 2018 – New York, NY) – Warner Bros. Theatre Ventures (Mark Kaufman) and Langley Park Productions (Kevin McCormick) announce today that the new musical comedy “Beetlejuice” will make its world premiere in a Pre-Broadway engagement at the National Theatre in Washington D.C. in October 2018. Directed by two-time Tony Award nominee Alex Timbers (“Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson,” “Peter and the Starcatcher”) and choreographed by Connor Gallagher (“The Robber Bridegroom”), “Beetlejuice” features an original score by Eddie Perfect (“King Kong”) and a book by Scott Brown and Emmy Award nominee Anthony King (“Broad City”).
Lock up your kids, folks, he’s back! Beetlejuice is ruder, raunchier and frankly, more repellant than ever in this original musical based on Tim Burton’s wonderfully demented film. Directed by Alex Timbers, “Beetlejuice” tells 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 who happens to have 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, arranged marriages and an adorable girl scout who gets scared out of her wits. Plus singing and dancing, of course.
“Beetlejuice” features scenic design by two-time Tony Award nominee David Korins (“Hamilton”), costume design by six-time Tony Award winner William Ivey Long (“The Producers”), lighting design by Tony Award winner Kenneth Posner (“Kinky Boots”), sound design by four-time Tony Award nominee Peter Hylenski (“Frozen”), projection design by Drama Desk Award winner Peter Nigrini (“Dear Evan Hansen”), puppet design by Drama Desk Award winner Michael Curry (“The Lion King”), special effects design by Jeremy Chernick (“Harry Potter and the Cursed Child”), illusions by Michael Weber (“Forrest Gump”) musical direction by Kris Kukul (“Joan of Arc: Into the Fire”), casting by Telsey + Company and Rachel Hoffman, CSA; Associate Director Catie Davis, Associate Choreographer Nancy Renee Braun and Line Producer Jenny Gersten.
Casting, performance dates and ticket information will be announced shortly.
“Beetlejuice” is based on the 1988 Academy Award-winning Warner Bros. motion picture with story by Michael McDowell and Larry Wilson. The smash hit comedy was directed by Tim Burton and starred Michael Keaton, Alec Baldwin, Geena Davis, Jeffrey Jones, Catherine O’Hara and Winona Ryder.
For more information visit www.BeetlejuiceBroadway.com.
The National Theatre:
Managed and programmed by Jam Theatricals since 2012, the National Theatre is located on Pennsylvania Avenue near the White House. The National Theatre opened in 1835 and is one of the country’s oldest continuously operating theaters. During its storied history, the National has served as one of the country’s leading pre-Broadway venues, hosting legendary world premieres such as “Show Boat,” “West Side Story” and “Crazy For You.” Many of the world’s leading performers have graced the “Stage for a Nation,” including Washington, D.C.’s own Helen Hayes, Audrey Hepburn, Katharine Hepburn, Eartha Kitt, Ian McKellen, Sir Laurence Olivier, Robert Redford, Chita Rivera, Will Rogers, and George C. Scott to name but a few. Jam Theatricals, under the direction of Steve Traxler and Arny Granat, introduced Broadway at the National, a new and exciting subscription series. In addition to the world premieres of “If/Then” and “Mean Girls,” recent theatrical presentations include “Blithe Spirit” starring Angela Lansbury, “Jersey Boys,” “Les Miserables” and the Washington premieres of “Motown The Musical,” “American Idiot,” “Fun Home,” “Something Rotten!” and “Newsies.” In addition, the National has recently presented many special events and concerts, including Kacey Musgraves, Dave Koz, Bryan Adams, Bill Burr, Eddie Izzard, Savion Glover, The Irish Tenors and ThePianoGuys.
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