Even if you don’t say his name three times, “Beetlejuice” will still appear because a musical based on the cult classic movie is coming to Detroit.
In 1988, Tim Burton and Michael Keaton introduced the world to Beetlejuice, and now the infamous character is being brought to life on stage in a musical that gives a nod to the original movie, but is also original in its own way.
An Ann Arbor native will be among the cast when the musical is performed at the Detroit Opera House. Britney Coleman plays the role of Barbara Maitland in the musical. The character is a ghost who haunts a home, along with Beetlejuice. You might remember actress Gina Davis played the role of Barbara in the movie.
Coleman says the musical is very similar to the movie, but she said, “I think we’ve taken a lot of liberties with the musical.” There are some technical elements that are very different from the movie to adapt it to the stage, she explained. Coleman called the projection design “absolutely phenomenal.”
“The songs are really, really fun, and it spans a whole bunch of different genres throughout the show,” Coleman said. She also added that iconic songs are still featured in the musical. “Those who know the movie will be pleasantly surprised when they see the show,” the actress said.
This is Coleman’s first time performing as a professional actress in Detroit, which she calls a “full circle moment.” You can see Coleman and the rest of the cast of “Beetlejuice” at the Detroit Opera House during their performances that span from January 31st through February 12th. Watch the video above to get a peek at Coleman’s character.