The touring production of Beetlejuice The Musical offered an unforgettable show with an unforgettable cast. 

The show played at the Benedum Center last week and the production was mind-blowing, with a fantastic cast, fun choreography, and unique set. 

Isabella Esler, playing female lead Lydia Deetz, had a beautiful voice that made songs such as “Dead Mom” and “Home” really come to life. 

Esler had wonderful chemistry with co-star Justin Collette, who played the role of Beetlejuice. The two had so much energy and used it to absolutely kill their two duets: “That Beautiful Sound” and “Say My Name.” 

The comedic timing of Collette was perfect. His execution of the character made the already funny show all the more entertaining. 

The ensemble members also did an amazing job, with group numbers like “What I Know Now.” There was so much attention to detail in the costuming, as each member had a unique outfit that fit with the actors’ “reason” for being in the netherworld. 

The bright set fit perfectly with the unusual Tim Burton-based musical, complete with a gigantic sandworm puppet that appeared multiple times throughout the show. 

Unlike most Broadway musicals, the set was frequently being altered with the use of lighting, minor prop switches, and projections. The constant scene changes kept audience members engaged in the plot and made it easier to follow the character’s movements throughout various scenes. 

However, there was an issue with the sound: It was very difficult to understand the lyrics to fast-paced songs like “Ready Set, Not Yet” and “The Whole Being Dead Thing.” The orchestra came off too loud, the actors’ microphones were too quiet, and the lack of pauses allowed the audience’s laughter to drown out some of the jokes. 

Still, the attention to detail throughout the production was noticeable and enhanced the already outstanding performance. Even though it is still only the beginning of the 2023 calendar, Beetlejuice was easily one of the best musicals to come to Pittsburgh this year.