A nice article about the show! It recounts the “ho-hum reviews and modest ticket sales” at the show’s original opening (something haters love to harp on) but then it talks about the show’s explosion in popularity via tiktok and how it encouraged and embraced its fans’ creativity (something haters refuse to acknowledge).
The fact that so many people have gotten into the fandom during lockdown and they’re being rewarded with the show returning is beautiful. Name another fandom that has constant resurgences like that. From the movie to the cartoon to the revue at Universal Studios to the musical to the musical again … Beetlejuice truly is the Ghost with the Most.
Alex getting that huge standing ovation with screaming, foot-stomping, sheer exuberancefrom that opening night audience–you’ve all seen it–almost made me cry with joy. And for those who still hate the show, still insist that “only Michael Keaton is Beetlejuice” (jesus fuck, do you say that about all roles that have ever been played by more than one actor?! That the first is the only?), I’d like to offer you this reminder:
I don’t get why this musical has haters, like, look, I’m a theatre nerd (recently but I went hard for it, yeah) and sure, I’ve seen lots of productions being criticised, but hating them??? I can only say that’s freaking ridiculous, and if you happen to hate it (not to not like it, that’s fine, but hate it) I automatically asume you’re what’s wrong in this world, there’s no point in between, nothing good comes from people like you , I said it.
