Academy Youth Productions stages "Beetlejuice Jr." for Halloween
The 60-minute youth production runs October 29 and 30, with actors ages 11 to 17 performing the Tony-nominated musical.
Academy Youth Productions will stage a Halloween-themed production of "Beetlejuice Jr." on October 29 and 30 at the Academy of Music in Northampton. The 60-minute adaptation features young actors ages 11 to 17 performing the story of a grieving teenager named Lydia Deetz who encounters a mischievous demon in her new haunted house.
The show runs at 6:30 p.m. on both nights, and tickets range from $15.20 to $23.95 including fees. Tickets can be purchased online at aomtheatre.com, by phone at 413-584-9032 x105, or in person at the box office Tuesday through Friday from 3 to 6 p.m.
The musical was written by Tony Award nominees Anthony King and Scott Brown, with music and lyrics by Tony Award nominee Eddie Perfect. The production was nominated for eight Tony Awards in 2019, including Best New Musical. Academy of Music Education Director Kyle Lawrence directed and choreographed the show.
According to Lawrence, the production explores themes of grief and the importance of discussing difficult topics. The musical differs from the original film by focusing more deeply on Lydia's mourning after her mother's death, a theme Lawrence said resonates with older young people.
"The musical dives more into that; it's a more recent event, and Lydia's still grieving and processing that," Lawrence said. "Her father won't talk about it, and Lydia feels very unseen and invisible."
Lawrence noted that adding a second fall show specifically tied to Halloween gives the Academy's youth program more variety. "We wanted to bring something more spooky, more eerie, something specifically for the Halloween season," he said.
The Academy will host its first annual Thriller Parade on the plaza in front of the theatre at 5 and 5:15 p.m. on October 30, before the evening performance. The parade is free to attend, and many of the young actors will participate in costume. A giveaway will take place in the lobby before the show.
Limited Card to Culture seats are available. Call or visit the box office for information.