Commentary: How the ‘Beetlejuice’ musical beat bad reviews and became a Gen Z hit
LOS ANGELES — When “Beetlejuice” opened on Broadway in 2019, it received numerous negative reviews from major publications. “Absolutely exhausting,” wrote the New York Times. “Dismal and gross,” noted the New York Post. The “most cacophonous and ill-conceived musical of the season — in fact, for several seasons,” said the Chicago Tribune. It earned eight Tony nominations but won none.
Usually, this lack of enthusiasm from notable theater critics and Tony voters can swiftly shutter a stage show, no matter how beloved its source material. But the adaptation of the Tim Burton horror comedy organically fostered a devout fan base in
