SAY HIS NAME—AND HOLD ON

A neon-charged national tour delivers
irreverent spectacle, sharp performances, and
just enough heart to make the afterlife feel alive

Any doubts that the Netherworld could thrive in the Coachella Valley heat were laid to rest at the McCallum Theatre’s opening night. The North American tour of Beetlejuice has officially haunted Palm Desert, and it’s a riotous, neon-soaked jolt of energy running through March 29.

For the uninitiated, this musical adaptation of the cult classic follows Lydia Deetz (Leianna Weaver), a “strange and unusual” teenager grieving her mother while trapped in a haunted house with her father (Jeff Brooks) and his life coach. When the home’s former owners—the delightfully square ghosts Adam and Barbara (David Wilson and Kaitlin Feely)—fail to scare the new tenants, they strike a dangerous bargain with the chaotic “bio-exorcist” himself. What follows is a descent into the afterlife where Lydia and the titular demon navigate their shared loneliness through ghostly pranks and soul-searching numbers.

Leianna Weaver

Ryan Stajmiger steps into the iconic stripes with gravelly, manic charisma, making the role entirely his own. Breaking the fourth wall with surgical precision and localized riffs, he maintains impressive vocal stamina during “The Whole ‘Being Dead’ Thing,” setting a bar that never wavers. Alongside him, Weaver is a revelation. While her “Dead Mom” is a soaring musical highlight, it’s her blend of sharp cynicism and raw vulnerability that anchors the show’s supernatural chaos. Their chemistry—a twisted, hilarious big-brother/little-sister dynamic—gives the story its emotional core.

Leianna Weaver and Ryan Stajmiger

As the “world’s most boring ghosts,” Wilson and Feely provide the perfect comedic foil, transitioning from stiff suburbanites to clueless haunts with pitch-perfect harmony. They’re joined by Brooks, who brings a sweet, high-strung sincerity to Charles, and a scene-stealing Bailey Frankenberg, who delivers a physical-comedy masterclass as the life coach from hell during the iconic “Day-O” possession.

Ryan Stajmiger and the Ensemble

But the secret weapon of this production is the tireless ensemble. They are the literal engine of the show, shifting seamlessly from mourning guests to Netherworld creatures with a bold wall of sound. Under Connor Gallagher’s vibrant and athletic choreography, the ensemble executes demanding movement that feels both spontaneous and precisely calibrated. Whether navigating rapid-fire prop handoffs or filling the stage with jittery, eerie energy, their collective execution ensures the world of the Deetz house feels more alive than dead.

Alex Timbers’ direction remains as sharp as ever, working in tandem with Gallagher’s staging to move the show from heartfelt ballads to strobe-lit spectacle without missing a beat. This synergy allows the Maitland house to become a character in its own right through David Korins’ scenic design, transforming from dusty Victorian to Deetz-ified nightmare to neon funhouse.

Ultimately, Beetlejuice is exactly the jolt the theater scene needs—loud, irreverent, and visually spectacular. It plays with themes of death and grief, yet somehow leaves you feeling more alive than ever. If you have tickets, consider yourself lucky. If not, you might need to summon a miracle—or just say his name three times.

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photos by Matthew Murphy

Beetlejuice
North American tour
McCallum Theatre, 73000 Fred Waring Dr.
reviewed March 25, 2026; ends on March 29, 2026 in Palm Desert
for tickets (starting at $35), visit McCallum

tour continues
for dates and cities, visit Beetlejuice

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