I saw Beetlejuice at the Palace Theatre on October 8, 2025 at 8pm. I have honestly lost track of how many times I have seen this show. I think this was around my sixth time, mostly during its second Broadway run at the Marriott Marquis Theatre. I never got to see the original production at the Winter Garden Theatre, which still stings a little.
This third Broadway run came with controversy. A lot of people questioned whether this should count as a true Broadway engagement since it uses the touring cast and pays tour wages while charging Broadway ticket prices. Several Broadway performers even weighed in publicly, arguing that the cast and crew were being shortchanged. That debate hung in the air going into this run, whether you cared about it or not.
Controversy aside, the show itself was exactly as fun as I hoped it would be. The Ghost with the Most was played by Justin Collette, with Isabella Esler stepping into Lydia’s striped boots. I can now say, without hesitation, that Esler is my favorite Lydia. She has the voice, the emotional grounding, and the confidence to own the role without copying anyone else. Justin Collette absolutely nailed Beetlejuice. I loved his choices, his timing, and his energy. He felt fully present and in control of the chaos.
The production is scaled down a bit since it largely uses the tour’s sets and equipment. The house is smaller, some effects are missing, and the trap door is gone. The Maitlands die by electrocution instead of falling this time around. None of that ruined the experience for me. The heart of the show is still there, and the humor still lands hard.
It is worth noting how rare this kind of run is. Very few shows return to Broadway after closing. Even fewer manage to come back twice. A third Broadway engagement is almost unheard of and speaks to how durable and popular this show has become with audiences, even when critics or logistics get messy.
I walked out happy, energized, and reminded why I keep coming back to this show. Scale changes aside, Beetlejuice still delivers. I already had a magnet, so I did not purchase another.
