Beloved Australian performer Eddie Perfect will bring his Tony Award-nominated talents to Melbourne, starring as Beetlejuice in the Australian premiere of the hit Broadway musical.
The show will open exclusively at the Regent Theatre on May 7, 2025.
Perfect, who earned his Tony nomination for writing the music and lyrics for Beetlejuice, will now step into the role of the mischievous ghost, a character as chaotic and outrageous as Tim Burton’s original film.
Beetlejuice
- Regent Theatre, Melbourne
- From 7 May 2025
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An iconic role for an iconic performer
Eddie Perfect has long been a fan favorite on stage and screen, particularly for his role in the much-loved TV series Offspring. Now, he’s excited to play the character he helped bring to life through his music, having seen the role first crafted by Broadway star Alex Brightman.
“I had the privilege of watching Alex Brightman create the role of Beetlejuice from the ground up. Alex wasn’t afraid of anything in rehearsal. I’m hoping to harness some of that fearlessness when I rehearse the role for myself,” said Perfect.
“Beetlejuice is a taboo-busting, shape-shifting, fourth-wall-smashing, free-lovin’ ball of neediness and I’m excited (and a healthy amount daunted) to play the role and represent the wonderful work of my collaborators—Scott Brown and Anthony King who wrote the hilarious book, and Alex Timbers our visionary director. And I’m especially thrilled to be able to bring the world of Beetlejuice back to Melbourne, to share this strange and unusual tale with my home town.”
What to expect from Beetlejuice
Beetlejuice is an eccentric and hilarious musical based on Tim Burton’s 1988 film. The show follows Lydia Deetz, a teenager obsessed with the afterlife, who finds herself in a haunted house with a recently deceased couple and a devious ghost named Beetlejuice. Lydia’s attempt to scare away her parents with Beetlejuice’s help leads to a chaotic adventure involving exorcisms, ghosts, and a world of underworld antics.
The Australian production will retain its incredible Broadway team, including two-time Tony Award-winning director Alex Timbers (Moulin Rouge!), with choreography by Connor Gallagher and an original score composed by Perfect himself. Scenic design comes from two-time Tony Award nominee David Korins (Hamilton), and costume design from six-time Tony Award winner William Ivey Long (The Producers). Special effects, puppetry, and illusions will further add to the outlandish and otherworldly nature of the show.
A stellar team behind the scenes
Perfect is not the only big name involved in this Australian production. Executive Producer and Executive Vice President of Warner Bros. Theatre Ventures, Mark Kaufman, praised Perfect’s versatility as both a performer and composer. “Anyone who has seen Eddie perform will know that he is a consummate performer with a wildly mischievous sense of humor. For Australia to be the very first to see him play this role and perform the incredible music he created for Beetlejuice is a phenomenal opportunity,” Kaufman said.
Australian producer Michael Cassel echoed the sentiment, adding: “When we knew we were bringing Beetlejuice to Australia, we knew it had to be Eddie in the title role. When you listen to the songs you just know he was born to play the world’s favorite spook—it’s almost as if he wrote these songs for himself! Australia is in for a real treat when Eddie takes on this role.”
Tickets and show information
Tickets for the Australian premiere of Beetlejuice will be available to the public from November 6, with presale opportunities starting from October 31. Fans are encouraged to sign up to the waitlist at beetlejuicethemusical.com.au to secure their seats early and ensure they don’t miss out on one of the most anticipated productions of 2025.
For more information on Beetlejuice, visit beetlejuicethemusical.com.au.
