TORONTO - Justin Collette, the actor behind the legendary role of Beetlejuice in "Beetlejuice: The Musical," has transformed his dressing room into a shrine dedicated to the beloved character. Rather than opting for a serene environment, his space is filled with fan sketches depicting the mischievous ghost and other characters from the show, including Lydia, his goth teen counterpart, and the bizarre sandworm that invades her home. With the music of the Italian rock band Måneskin reverberating in the background, Collette expresses his gratitude, stating, "This is like a fifth of fan art I've been given — so many cool, cool things." Due to the challenges of traveling with such items on tour, he often has to ship them back home.
As Collette prepares for the opening night at Toronto’s CAA Ed Mirvish Theatre, where the musical will run for six weeks until July 19, excitement fills the air. This engagement marks the longest stint for the traveling production, allowing Collette to perform in a city where he has personal connections and past experiences. He reflects on how routine has become essential on the road, especially as he interacts with the fan art and prepares for his nightly transformation into Beetlejuice with the help of makeup artist Andrew Ozbun.
After almost three years of playing Beetlejuice across North America, Collette has honed the high-energy performance that this role demands. He showcases a unique ability to quickly slip into character, adopting the gravelly voice and erratic movements that define the ghost. Collette remarks, "One of the things about doing this for like 900 shows is that my facial muscles are atrophying," highlighting the physical toll of the performance. The demands of the role include rigorous movement, and Collette often has to undergo physical therapy to alleviate the strain on his facial muscles.
Despite these challenges, Collette looks forward to entertaining Canadian audiences throughout the summer. Having developed his craft in Toronto as an improv comedian, he appreciates the warm reception from local fans. He reflects, “I feel like here I can relax into my own sensibilities because I kind of agree with them on what is good and what isn’t, because I’m one of them.”
Collette originally rose to fame on Broadway in the 2015 adaptation of "School of Rock," where he portrayed Dewey Finn, a role first made popular by Jack Black. After taking over from Alex Brightman, who initially played Beetlejuice, Collette was inspired by his friend’s enthusiasm for the character. He remembers thinking, "It really was like nothing I’d ever seen on Broadway." When the chance to audition for Beetlejuice arose, Collette recognized the opportunity and envisioned his approach to the role.
Collette aimed to create a version of Beetlejuice that was original and distinct from his predecessors, stating that doing an impression would lead to "diminishing returns" as he would be constantly compared to others. Though he did borrow some mannerisms from Michael Keaton's cinematic portrayal, he focused on maintaining Beetlejuice’s recognizable essence. He acknowledges that, “It’s hard to explain. I heard the cadence of how I was going to (speak)… even when I read the script. I just knew.”
Even after countless performances, Collette still finds excitement in evolving his portrayal. He has set personal goals for himself and strives to enhance his performance by exploring new humorous bits. Each night, faced with a crowd full of eager theatregoers and fans dressed as Beetlejuice, he views every performance as an opportunity to put his unique stamp on the character. “Make it your own sounds so lame to me,” he admits, indicating that personalizing a role is about understanding oneself.
With the makeup process complete, Collette feels an exhilarating rush of energy as he prepares to take the stage. Before stepping out into the spotlight, he surveys his dressing room, channels the spirit of Beetlejuice, and triumphantly announces, “It’s shooowtiiime!”
