Character Breakdown
1 Lydia Deetz: Whip-smart, grieving fifteen- year-old whose dark sense of humor helps her cope with the loss of her mother, Emily. Lydia is unfazed by Beetlejuice’s antics and easily holds her own against both him and all things Netherworld.
2. Charles Deetz: Lydia’s father. He wants to help her get over the loss of her mother, although the ways he tries to “help” aren’t really what Lydia needs. Charles is under a lot of pressure between his concerns over Lydia, his secret relationship with Delia, his professional life, and his own grief (which he tries to ignore).
3. Beetlejuice: The dead guy of the hour! This titular character is zany, spooky, and absolutely hilarious. Though Beetlejuice exists in a morally gray area, he’s more of a trickster than a malevolent threat. He’s happy to align his interests with others, but ultimately, he’s looking out for himself.
4. Adam Maitland: Devoted husband of Barbara, just can’t catch a break. While life’s stresses were getting to him – renovation of the house, financial difficulties, and the decision about having a child – he certainly wasn’t ready for death.
5. Barbara Maitland: Barbara's stresses align with her husband’s, in life and death, although Barbara is a bit more adventurous than Adam. She is very kind but also strong-willed and a quick thinker. Barbara immediately bonds with Lydia.
6. Delia Schlimmer- Hopelessly (sometimes maniacally) optimistic. She believes fully in her guru, Otho, and considers herself a life coach, though underneath her façade she’s quite fragile and desperately wants to fit in with the Deetzes. Delia loves Charles and genuinely cares about Lydia’s well-being, even if her attempts to connect are somewhat misguided.
7. Maxie Dean- The business tycoon whom Charles hopes to impress.
8. Sky - A vocal soloist for the song “girl scout”
9. Miss Argentina - Former beauty queen, greets the recently dead in the Netherworld. She leads “What I Know Now”.
10. Maxine Dean- Maxie's fourth (or fifth) wife.
11. Otho - Delia's guru and occasional Exorcist.
12. Juno - Beetlejuice’s mother, runs the recents dead intake with an iron fist. She has “a voice like road tar” and no sympathy for anyone.
ENSEMBLE
Includes the Priest, The Recently Deceased (Parachute Jumper, Death by Toaster, Dead Cheerleader, Death by Fireworks, Cigar Mobster, Dead Jockey, Machete Groom, Dead Drill Team, and Hunter with a Shrunken Head), Mourners, Movers (Mover #1, Mover #2), Lawyers, Girl Scouts, Caiter-Waiter, Beetlejuice Clones (Clone #1, Clone #2), Cheerleaders, Studio Audience, Sandworm