Night after night, Tony nominee Kerry Butler prepares to play dead in Beetlejuice. Before she steps onstage, Butler preps in her dressing room: a sanctuary complete with homemade art, family photos, and even a mini herb garden. Butler originated the role of Barbara Maitland in the musical, a suburban woman who accidentally finds herself in the afterlife and has to take directions from the demonic Beetlejuice. Below, Butler gave Playbill a behind-the-scenes look at her routine from pre-show to places.

Kerry Butler applies her still-alive look backstage at Beetlejuice.

Kai Ravelson Madden helps Kerry Butler do her hair at Beetlejuice.

Beetlejuice debuted on Broadway at the Winter Garden Theatre March 28, 2019, and opened April 25. Its initial engagement earned eight Tony nominations. Following the COVID-19 shutdown, the show reopened April 8, 2022, at the Marquis Theatre with Tony nominee Alex Brightman reprising the role of the titular poltergeist opposite newcomer Elizabeth Teeter (The Crucible, The Audience) as Lydia Deetz.

Starring in the Broadway production are Tony nominee Kerry Butler, David Josefsberg, Obie winner Adam Dannheisser, Lortel winner Leslie Rodriguez Kritzer, Kelvin Moon Loh, Danny Rutigliano, and Dana Steingold, Michelle Aravena, Zonya Love, Kate Bailey, Will Blum, Ryan Breslin, Natalie Charle Ellis, Brooke Engen, Eric Anthony Johnson, Andrew Kober, Elliott Mattox, Mateo Melendez, Ramone Owens, Commodore C. Primous III, Nevada Riley, and Graham Stevens.

Kerry Butler and Zonya Love signs Beetlejuice's special Halloween Playbill, to be given away to a lucky fan.

Places! Kerry Butler waits backstage before making her entrance at Beetlejuice around 8 p.m.

Alex Timbers directs the musical based on Tim Burton’s cult favorite film, which features an original score by Tony nominee Eddie Perfect and a book by Tony nominees Scott Brown and Anthony King. Music supervision, orchestrations, and incidental music are by Kris Kukul, and choreography is by Connor Gallagher.

Broadway's Beetlejuice will play its final performance January 8, 2023, at the Marquis Theatre. A national tour will kick off with a single performance at Caron Center in Paducah, Kentucky, December 1. Leading the cast will be Justin Collette (School of Rock) as the titular poltergeist and Isabella Esler as Lydia Deetz in her professional debut.

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Thank You, Five: Backstage with Beetlejuice’s Kerry Butler

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