Beetlejuice the Musical is coming to Singapore!

Wondering “What is there to do at Esplanade Theatres?” After a critically-acclaimed run in Melbourne, Beetlejuice The Musical will stir up mischief in Singapore in January 2026! The eight-time Tony nominated Broadway production is based on Tim Burton’s 1988 film, but with more singing and dancing. Read on for our chat with the two leads, Broadway star ANDY KARL, who plays Beetlejuice, and breakout newcomer Australian KARIS OKA, who plays Lydia Deetz. And book a good seat now!

Movie vs musical at the Esplanade Theatres

If you’ve seen the film, you’ll recall the horror-comedy setting with Beetlejuice portrayed as a malevolent ghost. Things are markedly different in the musical, both for the two lead characters and the story arc.

The musical shines a bigger focus on Lydia Deetz, a teenager with a love for the dark and macabre who’s constantly misunderstood. Following the death of her mother, her father and her move into a home. Of course, the home is still occupied – by the recently deceased owners as well as a supernatural being with a thing for stripes.

For the musical, Beetlejuice is portrayed as more sympathetic – he’s a lonely ghost seeking companionship and forms an unlikely bond with Lydia. The audience journeys along with Lydia as she deals with the grief of her mother’s death, and her encounters with Beetlejuice.

At the heart of it, Beetlejuice The Musical is about the importance of family and dealing with loss.

Who’s in the cast of Beetlejuice in Singapore?

This Broadway production opens at the Esplanade Theatre in January 2026. There will be unexpected illusions and life-like props – including sandworms and skeletons!

The cast for the Beetlejuice Singapore run will include performers from the international tour. They join Andy Karl and Karis Oka who play Beetlejuice and Lydia respectively. During a brief media tour here, we asked Andy and Karis to spill some secrets about their characters and about the musical.

Meet Andy Karl, playing Beetlejuice

American Andy Karl is a three-time Tony nominee and Olivier Award winner. His Broadway career has spanned Rocky the Musical, Into the Woods, Groundhog Day, and Moulin Rouge! The Musical. You might also recognise him as Sergeant Mike Dodds, a recurring role on Law & Order: Special Victims Unit.

In your own words, tell us what the musical is about.

At its core it’s about death, life and everything that happens in between, and how we can bring family together and find ourselves in a very hilarious way. There’s so much about this that exists on a very human level.

The show is just bold with giant characters, and it’s hilarious and dark. So I really love the way it tells that story.

How is the musical different from the film?

This Beetlejuice obviously sings a little, but he still has a very strange voice! It’s a delicate balance between singing and not making it sound awful half the time. That’s one difference between the actual source material of the movie and now.

There’s something about the musical that honours the movie so well, while expanding on some of the ideas. It draws out a little bit more of what Lydia’s issues are in life, and how Beetlejuice can help her and how she can help Beetlejuice.

Everybody’s trying to be seen and heard, and it gives an opportunity for every character in the musical to have that arc. That’s something that doesn’t happen as much in the movie. With this stage musical, you really feel like you’re watching everybody’s story.

Which is your favourite scene in the musical, and why?

I would say the first part and the very last portion of the show. The first introduction of the character as Beetlejuice, this whole “being dead” thing and how he describes the night. It’s a really beautiful song and it sets the audience up to have so much fun.

At the end, Beetlejuice has a moment with each character that’s irreverent and silly, yet somehow heartfelt all wrapped up in one.

I really love the beginning and the end of the show but everything in between is a beautiful journey as well.

Do you see a bit of yourself in Beetlejuice?

I see a lot of myself in Beetlejuice! I want to be the naughty demon that plays pranks and wants his way, and is demanding and selfish. There’s definitely parts of me that I can drum up for the role.

I’ve done a few roles where I talk to the audience and Beetlejuice guides us through a lot of the show when he does asides to the audience. These are some of my favourite pieces. So I feel like there’s going to be a real connection between the role I’m playing and the audience who are watching the show.

Does Beetlejuice have a secret that only you know?

His middle name is Lawrence. I’ve also given him a last name, McGillicuddy – Beetlejuice Lawrence McGillicuddy!

Meet Karis Oka, playing Lydia Deetz

You may not have heard of Karis Oka yet, but she’s a rising star in the musical theatre circle back home in Australia. Her professional debut was as Katherine Howard, one of the five swings in the 2021-23 Australian tour of Six The Musical. She earned a Greenroom Award nomination for Best Leading Performer in 2021 for her portrayal of the principal role of Edna in Yve Blake’s critically acclaimed musical Fangirls. In 2022, she was nominated for a Film Critic’s Circle of Australia award for Best Actress in a Supporting Role as Lian in the feature film Girl at the Window.

In your own words, tell us what the musical is about.

It’s about a very human story, which kind of revolves around Lydia grieving her mum, all wrapped up in a very paranormal, not human sort of world. These characters are supernatural and spooky, but at the heart of it it’s very very human.

How is Lydia in the musical different from Lydia in the film?

In the musical, Lydia is a vlogger. She’s also the central character, the centre point of a lot of other people’s stories. So it’s kind of equal billing as Beetlejuice, which is different from the movie.

Do you see a bit of yourself in Lydia?

I definitely see myself in how Lydia is a kid who’s feeling a little bit out of place. She has a lot of people in her life but has the constant feeling of being misunderstood, which as a teenager is very consuming.

We both have a love for the dark and macabre, so that’s definitely a similarity!

Which is your favourite scene in the musical, and why?

My favourite scene changes all the time! Right now, it’s the start of Act 2. There’s a beautiful number with everyone and there’s so many different sections to it. There’s pranks, there’s people flipping off tables, there’s very traditional musical theatre happening and also really slapstick romance.

It’s just got a bit of everything. It always feels like you’ve just taken a tequila shot and you’re revved up for the rest of the act. It’s a perfect number to open the act!

Does Lydia have a secret that only you know?

I think that her dad and her are actually best friends. We start the story at her mum’s funeral, so we only see her interact with her dad in a very strained and argumentative way.

She’s an only child, so I think she actually would have been her parents’ best friend, in a way. I reckon they would have done really cool, fun things together.

Lydia is quite artsy. I don’t think she would be on social media or keeping up with celebrities. I think she idolises old artistic films and she watches a lot of foreign films. So I reckon she’d be easily influenced by that.

Watch Beetlejuice in Singapore at the Esplanade Theatres

Are you ready to call his name three times when he’s in Singapore? Beetlejuice The Musical runs in Singapore from 15 January to 15 February, 2026 at Esplanade Theatres on the Bay.

Showtimes:

• 8pm, Tuesdays to Saturdays
• 2pm, Saturdays
• 1pm and 6.30pm, Sundays (note: the performance on 17 January starts at 7pm)

Tickets range from $72 to $244 via Sistic.

beetlejuicesingapore.com

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