The ghost with the most: Tony-nominated 'Beetlejuice' to bring seven shows to Popejoy Hall

Isabella Esler isn’t afraid to take chances.

Sure, there’s that inner voice that brings up questions and scenarios — oftentimes making her backtrack.

She’s learned to listen to her gut and make those moves to get ahead.

This is exactly why Esler finds herself on the national tour of “Beetlejuice.”

The ghost with the most: Tony-nominated 'Beetlejuice' to bring seven shows to Popejoy Hall

“It’s been really fun,” she says. “I’ve been doing the show for more than a year now. It’s been interesting to figure out how to live out of a suitcase and learning the most efficient way to live on the road.”

The Tony-nominated musical will make Popejoy Hall its home beginning Tuesday, May 7, through Sunday, May 12, for its seven-performance run.

The musical is based on Tim Burton’s 1988 film of the same name.

The story concerns a deceased couple who try to haunt the new inhabitants of their former home and call for help from a devious bio-exorcist ghost named Betelgeuse, who is summoned by saying his name three times.

One of the new inhabitants is a young girl, Lydia Deetz, played by Esler, who is dealing with her mother’s death and her neglectful father.

Esler says in 2019, she was intrigued by the Broadway musical and was familiar with the film because her parents loved the movie.

“I loved the soundtrack,” she says. “Lydia was a role that I would love to play. At the time, I was around 15 and that is the age of Lydia in the show. It was almost the perfect time to learn about the show.”

“Beetlejuice” opened at Broadway’s Winter Garden Theatre on April 25, 2019.

It was nominated for eight Tony Awards, including Best New Musical.

The musical had a history-making run on Broadway — following the release of the musical’s original Broadway cast recording and Tony Awards appearance, the box office exploded, making it the surprise hit of the 2018-19 season.

The musical played 366 performances at the Winter Garden Theatre on Broadway before being shuttered with the rest of Broadway on March 12, 2020. It returned triumphantly to Broadway with performances on April 8, 2022, at the Marquis Theatre where it continued to haunt Broadway through January 8, 2023.

When Broadway shows began again, Esler saw “Beetlejuice” on stage.

Then there was an open call.

“I was a senior in high school and I sent in a self tape for fun,” he says. “I got an online call back for it. I got the part and began my journey with the tour. I’m really relieved that it worked out for me. I get to see the country in a different way. I’ve done more traveling in more than a year than I did in my entire life.”

Esler has also learned so much about Lydia.

“Lydia is so much a teenager and I love how she is a little bit snarky, moody and clever,” she says. “She’s always outsmarting everyone. She’s curious in a way. I love that about her. She’s trying to get connected with someone she loves. I really appreciate that with her. I try to see myself within her.”

Life on the road does take its toll — even on someone who is 20.

“It’s hard to keep up with my energy sometimes,” Esler admits. “I have to keep my voice in shape and it’s tough because we are in different climates each week. The time zones are difficult because we all have to adjust. I’ve learned to listen to my body and rest when I need rest. Lydia is a pretty emotional role and I try to find balance.”

Esler has also put her own touch on Lydia.

“People know the movie and the Broadway musical and that’s really special,” she says. “I tried not to be intimidated by the performers before me. My goal for each performance is to be as authentic as I can be.”

“Beetlejuice” is directed by Tony Award winner Alex Timbers with an original score by Tony Award nominee Eddie Perfect; a book by Tony Award nominee Scott Brown and Tony and Emmy Award nominee Anthony King; music supervision, orchestrations and incidental music by Kris Kukul; and choreography by Connor Gallagher.

The production features scenic design by three-time Tony Award nominee David Korins; costume design by six-time Tony Award winner William Ivey Long; lighting design by Tony Award winner Kenneth Posner; sound design by Tony Award winner Peter Hylenski; projection design by Tony Award nominee and Drama Desk Award winner Peter Nigrini; puppet design by Drama Desk Award winner Michael Curry; special effects design by Jeremy Chernick, hair and wig design by Drama Desk Award nominee Charles G. LaPointe; make-up design by Joe Dulude II; associate director is Catie Davis; and associate choreographer is Michael Fatica.