VideoWhy Beetlejuice Tony Nominee Alex Brightman Is Dying For Michael Keaton to Come to the Broadway MusicalThe current Beetlejuice extends an open invitation to the film’s original ghoul.
By
Ruthie Fierberg
May 07, 2019
On May 6, two-time Tony nominee Alex Brightman appeared on Late Night With Seth Meyers in honor of his most recent nomination for his performance in Broadway’s Beetlejuice The Musical.
The stage adaptation of the Tim Burton film opened April 25 at the Winter Garden Theatre, home of Brightman’s previous show, School of Rock — The Musical, which earned him his first Tony nomination.
Brightman describes taking on the role as “a mix of exciting and terrifying” and really wants Michael Keaton, who starred as the titular demon in the film, to come see the musical.
“I really really want him to come see the show because I think he'll be excited to see the thing we've done without having compromised anything he did or anyone did in that movie. It's iconic with a capital ’I’. I want to see him there because I want to thank him for giving me such insane shoes that I try to fill eight times a week,” he said.
Brightman brings his offbeat humor and showmanship to the role of the undead Beetlejuice—and his team got in on the act for his opening night gift. “My agents and managers got together and instead of opening flowers they sent a funeral arrangement to the theatre with my old headshot on it,” Brightman shared. “What I love about this is twofold: you have a moment in your career where you go, 'Everyone that represents me totally gets who I am at this point,' and what I also love is that there's some florist in New York City that thinks I'm dead.”
Host Seth Meyers also reminisced with Brightman about starring in the Documentary Now! episode "Original Cast Album: Co-op."