Three shows, two days, one final bow: “Beetlejuice,” “Waitress” and “Mean Girls” on Broadway

BY ARIELLE KRAUS

A weekend in New York City is not complete without seeing a Broadway show. The music, acting, dancing and hard work that go into each performance always leave the audience ready to see another show. Squeezing three shows into a weekend trip was definitely the right decision for a trip to NYC.

With Halloween soon approaching, it only seemed appropriate to see “Beetlejuice.” “Beetlejuice” brings to life the story of an unusual teenager looking for her dead mother, a lonely demon who only wants to be seen and a simple couple who become ghosts. Each cast member had a very unique voice and each song was a production within itself.

From feeling sorry for Lydia Deetz, played by 18-year-old Sophia Anne Caruso, who lost her mother and has to live with her grieving father, to laughing out loud at Beetlejuice’s hilarious songs and lines, the show did not fail to take the audience on a roller coaster of emotions.

The set of “Beetlejuice” was extremely detailed and engaging. The Deetz’s new house, which is haunted by Barbara and Adam Maitland, would enter the stage and move toward the audience, making them feel as if they were in the house. The house would constantly change its look, depending on the scene and characters inside. 

The next stop on the trip was the Brooks Atkinson theater to see “Waitress.” This show is about a waitress named Jenna who lives in a small town and is in an abusive relationship with her husband. She becomes pregnant and has an affair with her doctor. This show is more relatable compared to other shows, as it is about a situation that could potentially happen in real life.

“Waitress” starred YouTuber Colleen Ballinger (also known as Miranda Sings), as Jenna’s coworker Dawn, and YouTuber/singer Todrick Hall, as Dawn’s love interest Ogie. The casting directors’ decision to bring these famous YouTubers to Broadway definitely brought them a more passionate and younger audience. The stage door was overflowing with fans eager to meet these individuals. 

The dedication each cast member put into their show could be felt throughout the theater.

In addition to these stars, the entire cast of “Waitress” was incredibly talented. Allison Luff, who played Jenna, brought the character to life with her unbelievable voice. Charity Angél Dawson, who played Jenna’s coworker Becky, made the audience laugh constantly with her witty remarks. 

The trip concluded with a Sunday night show, “Mean Girls.” Based on the 2004 movie, “Mean Girls” is about previously homeschooled student Cady Heron (played by Erika Henningsen) and her first experiences in public school. She befriends Janis Sarkisian and Damian Hubbard, and becomes involved with the “Plastics,” Regina George, Gretchen Wieners and Karen Smith.

This performance, on September 8, was Taylor Louderman’s final performance in the cast of “Mean Girls.” Louderman originated the role of the “queen bee” Regina George on Broadway. Being that this was her last performance, it was full of emotions. Following her final performance of her second solo song, “World Burn,” Louderman burst into tears, and the audience gave her a standing ovation. 

After Louderman’s final bow, show creator Tina Fey came onto the stage to present her with flowers and a bottle of wine. The whole cast gathered around Louderman and Fey dancing. This was a very emotional moment for Louderman, the cast and the audience.

The “Mean Girls” cast put on an incredible and very relatable performance. From crushes, to friendships, to school social hierarchy, this show was perfect for any teenager. The audience could feel the cast’s energy and cheered, laughed and cried throughout the performance.

Live performances are something so special and entertaining to watch. The dedication each cast member put into their show could be felt throughout the theater. If you ever have the opportunity to see these three shows, whether on tour or on Broadway, I highly recommend you do so. 

Photo by Arielle Kraus