The Beetlejuice musical first premiered on Broadway in April 2019. Since then, it has become a hugely popular show, garnering 8 Tony award nominations. In October 2022, the musical began its first national tour, kicking off in Detroit, MI. Fans are excited to see this hilarious and spooky show hit the road and come to their hometown. One common question is, how long is the Beetlejuice musical when it comes to Detroit? Let’s take a look at the typical runtime and what audiences can expect.
What is the Beetlejuice Musical?
For those unfamiliar, Beetlejuice the musical is based on the hit 1988 Tim Burton film of the same name. The show features music and lyrics by Eddie Perfect and a book by Scott Brown and Anthony King. The story centers around a deceased couple, Adam and Barbara, who haunt their former home. When a new family moves in, Adam and Barbara try to scare them away with the help of a rambunctious ghost named Beetlejuice.
The musical stays faithful to the quirky and offbeat humor of the film while also expanding on the relationships between the characters. Fan favorite numbers include “Day-O (The Banana Boat Song)” and “Say My Name.” In addition to the lively musical numbers, the show features elaborate costumes and illusions to create the ghostly world on stage.
Runtime of the Broadway Production
When Beetlejuice first opened on Broadway in 2019, it clocked in at 2 hours and 20 minutes including one 15 minute intermission. This runtime allowed for a full experience of the story with time for the elaborate production numbers.
Most Broadway musicals tend to range from 2 to 3 hours in length. At 2 hours and 20 minutes, Beetlejuice falls right within the typical range. Audiences can expect a fully satisfying show without it feeling too rushed or drawn out.
Will the Touring Production Have the Same Runtime?
For the national tour, it is expected that Beetlejuice will retain the same runtime of 2 hours and 20 minutes that it had on Broadway. This allows the performance to stay consistent from one production to the next.
It takes a lot of work to recreate the blocking, choreography, costumes, and sets for a touring show. The producers have a vested interest in maintaining the integrity of the original production. As such, major changes like cutting down the runtime would be unlikely.
The national tour features the same creative team and direction as the Broadway production. So audiences in Detroit can count on seeing the full show in its original length.
Context for the Runtime
To give some context, here is how Beetlejuice compares to other popular musicals in length:
Musical | Runtime |
---|---|
The Lion King | 2 hours 30 minutes |
Wicked | 2 hours 45 minutes |
The Book of Mormon | 2 hours 15 minutes |
Beetlejuice | 2 hours 20 minutes |
As you can see, Beetlejuice falls right in the typical range for a musical. It is longer than something like The Book of Mormon which has no intermission, but shorter than shows like The Lion King. This makes it accessible for audiences of all ages.
Breakdown of Runtime
To give a more detailed breakdown:
- Act 1 is approximately 1 hour and 15 minutes
- There is a 15 minute intermission between acts
- Act 2 runs approximately 1 hour
Again, this follows the standard structure of most two act Broadway musicals. The intermission provides a nice break between the longer first act and slightly shorter second act.
Consistency Across Performances
It’s also worth noting that the runtime should remain very consistent across performances. That’s because live theater requires meticulous planning, rehearsals, and technical cues. The show is carefully constructed to fit the 2 hour 20 minute timeframe.
Unlike a movie or concert, a Broadway-style musical production does not tend to vary night-to-night. The producers aim to deliver the same show to every audience for consistency.
So whether you see Beetlejuice on a Wednesday matinee or Saturday evening, you can expect the runtime to be the same.
Why the Runtime Matters
As a theatergoer, the runtime is good to know for a couple reasons:
- Planning – You know how long you need to budget for the full experience including transportation and dining before/after.
- Bathroom breaks – For longer shows, you can plan accordingly and know that you have an intermission for a bathroom break. You won’t need to disturb other audience members by leaving mid-act.
- Engagement – For younger viewers, it’s helpful for parents to know how long they’ll need to keep them engaged and focused.
Also, if a show is exceptionally long like over 3 hours, some people may avoid it for that reason. But at 2 hours 20 minutes, Beetlejuice is family-friendly and easy to sit through.
Will Runtime Change in Future Productions?
Looking ahead, it’s always possible that future productions could slightly alter the runtime – but unlikely. Regional and amateur productions may need to make small tweaks depending on their venue and technical abilities.
For the Broadway production and national tours, the expectation is the 2 hour 20 minute runtime will be preserved. Because the creators have designed the show specifically for that length, making major changes would disrupt the integrity of the production.
However, down the line if revisions are made to the script and score, that could naturally extend or shorten the runtime. But the original production will stay true to form.
Conclusion
To summarize the key points:
- Beetlejuice the musical runs approximately 2 hours and 20 minutes including a 15 minute intermission when performed in its full original production.
- This runtime matches the length of the show during its Broadway run.
- The national tour and future productions are expected to keep the same runtime to preserve the integrity of the show.
- At 2 hours and 20 minutes, Beetlejuice has a typical runtime for a Broadway-style musical.
- Knowing the length allows audiences to plan accordingly for bathroom breaks, dining, and keeping young viewers engaged.
- While future productions may tweak the runtime, the original show is designed to specifically fit this 2 hour 20 minute timeframe.
So for those excited to see Beetlejuice live on stage in Detroit, you can expect a solid 2+ hour evening of ghostly musical fun. Arrive early, get comfortable in your seat, and enjoy the hilarious spooky ride – complete with intermission bathroom break. This perfect runtime will introduce you to the Netherworld in entertaining fashion!