In case you missed it, Beetlejuice is a show about death, as the opening number aptly reminds the audience. And the junior version of the show is coming to the stage at McLoud High School this weekend.
From stellar makeup to flashy costumes and over-the-top numbers, the musical has plenty to see and enjoy. The cast and crew features about 40 or so students under the leadership of drama teacher Shonna Vandivort.
It’s one of the biggest productions the cast said they’ve been part of at the school, which has staged the likes of “Mean Girls Jr.” and others, but about a week out from opening night, they were excited and just a bit nervous.
“We’re in a crunch way more than we were last year,” said senior Braydon White, who plays Charles Deetz. “Last year, the set was pretty much done right now, and this year it’s just now starting to look finished.”
Of course, last year’s set wasn’t as complicated, his co-star Avree Haney, who plays Lydia Deetz, reminded him. However, everyone agreed that things were coming together and always sort themselves out.
They are most looking forward to making people laugh, which shouldn’t be much of a stretch. The entire show is filled with jokes, puns about death, and plenty of laughs for the audience. However, getting the show together wasn’t without some struggles.
“I think dancing was my biggest challenge,” Haney said, adding that the numbers are more complicated. Others in the cast, such as Indie Comer, who plays Barbara Maitland, agreed.
For Eli Ford, who plays the titular Beetlejuice, it was lines and getting the voice right.
Regardless of the challenges, the cast said this is the musical they wanted to do, when given a choice. Somewantedtodo“Beetlejuice” to play specific roles, but also, simply because “it’s cool.”
“It’s Beetlejuice,” White said.
“It’s a little edgy, but it’s fun,” Ford added.
There is plenty the cast is eager for the audience to see --White is excited about Haney’s duet with Alivia Aldord, who plays Delia. The others look forward to showing off the dinner scene.
Haney joked that everyone should come see the show because she has three solos as Lydia, though White backed her up, saying that he actually enjoys some of her renditions of songs over the original Broadway cast.
Ford just wants everyone to come see their hard work pay off.
“Most of the cast have put in a lot of really hard work, and I think everyone should come see it,” he said. “We’veallbeenworkingon it for the last four or five months.”
White said he felt they had a pretty solid play, with Ford adding they had a good cast.
“Our director is really good, and our crew is very solid,” Ford added.
“Beetlejuice Jr.” is showing in the Fine Arts Building atMcLoudHighSchool on April 30, May 1 and May 2 at 7 p.m. Tickets are currently available for $8.