Beetlejuice Musical Arrives at Hobby Center with New Plot Details

Audiences in Houston will see a version of Beetlejuice that differs from the 1988 film in specific ways, starting with the amount of screen time the titular demon receives. In the movie, the character appears for only 17 minutes. In the stage adaptation, the striped figure is present from the opening scene and retains a softer demeanor than his cinematic counterpart.

The musical opens its Houston run at the Hobby Center on November 3. Kaitlin Feely, who plays Barbara Maitland, notes that the production changes how the couple meets their end. In the original Broadway play, the Maitlands die after falling through a trap door. For the touring version, which may not have the structural space for that set piece, the couple dies from an electrical shock in their home.

Feely, performing on her first national tour, describes her character as sincere, warm, and resilient. She explains that Barbara shares anxiety and fear with her husband, Adam, and the arc of the show involves them learning to conquer those feelings. Feely states that the character becomes the best version of herself by the end of the journey.

The story centers on Lydia Deetz, a 15-year-old goth teenager who has moved into a new house with her father, Charles, following the death of her mother. Lydia suspects her father intends to replace her. Her life shifts when she encounters the Maitlands in the residence. Feely points out that Lydia finds a kindred spirit in Barbara, who listens to her grief and accepts her emotions. Feely notes that other characters in the story have told Lydia to get over it, making the Maitlands the first to give her a space to process her loss.

The musical follows a plot line distinct from the film, with a more developed narrative that focuses heavily on Lydia's mourning process and her strained relationship with her father. Feely says the production retains the familiar characters but expands on the emotional core of the story.

Feely attributes the show's success to its visual spectacle and humor. She points to the special effects and the numerous Tim Burton Easter eggs embedded in the set and costume design. She describes the music and choreography as fantastic, noting that the combination leaves audiences in awe. The production has returned to Broadway twice before this current national tour.

The tour has cultivated a dedicated fan base. Feely observes that the show is a major event for cosplay, with attendees frequently dressing as Beetlejuice, Lydia, or wearing the black dresses and red wedding gowns associated with the characters. She says the show lives on because of this engagement, with fans finding personal connections to the themes of life and death.

Feely grew up in a northwest suburb of Chicago and discovered musical theater after seeing Wicked on Broadway. She attended Illinois Wesleyan University in Bloomington, Illinois, where she graduated in 2020 during the pandemic. She worked full time at a math tutoring center for two years after college, relying on her math minor while the theater industry remained closed.

Performances are scheduled for November 3 through November 9. Showtimes include 7:30 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday, 2 p.m. on Saturday, and 1:30 p.m. and 7 p.m. on Sunday. The venue is located at 800 Bagby Street. Tickets are available for purchase by calling 713-315-7625 or visiting thehobbycenter.org or broadwayatthehobbycenter.com. Prices range from $55 to $167.