The musical adaptation of Tim Burton’s Beetlejuice has captivated audiences across North America, and its stop in Edmonton at the Northern Jubilee Auditorium is no exception. A combination of intricate set design, innovative lighting, and state-of-the-art sound equipment transforms the auditorium into the whimsical, spooky world of Beetlejuice. The production’s installation and stage set-up are both a logistical feat and a visual masterpiece, designed to engage the audience from every angle.
The Northern Jubilee Auditorium, known for its wide stage and excellent acoustics, presents both opportunities and challenges for a touring show like Beetlejuice. With a seating capacity of over 2,500, it requires a set-up that ensures every seat in the house has a full view of the spectacle. The unique size and layout of the auditorium mean that the production crew has to make careful adjustments to ensure the scenery, lighting, and sound accommodate the venue’s architecture.
Since Beetlejuice relies heavily on visual gags, quick set changes, and immersive lighting, every piece of the set has to be meticulously placed. Special care is taken to ensure that moving parts of the stage, like trapdoors and rotating sections, work seamlessly within the Jubilee Auditorium’s stage space. The height of the venue’s fly system also allows for impressive overhead scenery and drops, which are used to great effect during several key moments in the musical.
The set design for Beetlejuice is as whimsical and eerie as the source material, capturing the gothic, offbeat tone of the movie. Designed by David Korins, the set is characterized by its vibrant colors, exaggerated architecture, and creepy details. In Edmonton, the team behind the scenes ensures that the set’s transition from venue to venue is seamless.
The house that plays such a pivotal role in the story is the centerpiece of the stage design. The set is modular, allowing for easy transport and installation at various venues, including the Northern Jubilee Auditorium. It consists of walls that shift and move, creating new rooms and environments in the blink of an eye. Much of the furniture and decor is built directly into the walls, creating a funhouse effect that can be disorienting and playful at the same time.
Other standout features include an oversized sandworm that makes several appearances throughout the show. This prop is carefully installed during the load-in process, ensuring it can safely be maneuvered through the narrow spaces of the set without disrupting other elements of the production.
Lighting plays a crucial role in creating the mood of Beetlejuice. The lighting design, led by Kenneth Posner, uses a palette of bright greens, purples, and oranges to echo the garish and macabre world of the undead. In the Northern Jubilee Auditorium, the challenge is to adjust the lighting rig to fit the stage’s dimensions while still achieving the same impact as on Broadway.
The lighting rig includes a mix of automated lights, spotlights, and LED panels. A large portion of the lighting setup is suspended above the stage on a grid, allowing for quick changes in mood and scene transitions. For instance, during the show’s iconic number, “Day-O (The Banana Boat Song),” the lighting shifts dramatically to enhance the chaotic energy of the scene. High-intensity beams and strobe lights are used to emphasize comedic moments, while softer lighting is employed for the more emotional, character-driven parts of the musical.
Sound is another key component of the Beetlejuice experience. Sound designer Peter Hylenski has crafted a soundscape that combines eerie atmospheric effects with upbeat, high-energy music. The Northern Jubilee Auditorium’s acoustics are well-suited for this kind of complex sound design, but adjustments still need to be made to ensure that every corner of the large venue receives balanced audio.
To achieve this, the production utilizes an advanced sound system, with speakers positioned strategically throughout the auditorium. The sound setup includes both front-of-house speakers and side fills to ensure even sound distribution. This setup is essential for keeping the show’s dialogue clear and ensuring that Danny Elfman’s musical themes are delivered with full impact.
Additionally, wireless microphones are used for the entire cast, with each actor wearing small, discreet microphones that capture their vocals without interfering with their movement on stage. The sound team works closely with the lighting and set designers to ensure that the sound complements the visual elements without overpowering them.
A hallmark of Beetlejuice is its creative use of special effects and projections. These effects are critical to bringing the supernatural aspects of the story to life. Projections are used to create moving backgrounds, from the eerie netherworld to Beetlejuice’s various hauntings. The North Jubilee Auditorium’s technical team works hand-in-hand with the production crew to ensure that these projections are perfectly aligned with the set, creating a seamless experience for the audience.
Fog machines, trap doors, and on-stage pyrotechnics add another layer of magic to the performance. One of the most impressive visual tricks is the levitating characters, a feat accomplished using hidden harnesses and ropes. These moments, when Elphaba (in Wicked) or Lydia (in Beetlejuice) seem to defy gravity, are showstoppers that leave the audience in awe.
The smooth operation of Beetlejuice requires a highly skilled backstage crew. From stagehands who manage the elaborate set pieces to lighting and sound technicians who control the show’s technical aspects, every crew member plays a vital role in ensuring that the production runs without a hitch. The installation process alone can take several days, with crew members working around the clock to prepare the stage for opening night.
In Edmonton, local crew members often join the touring team to help with the load-in and load-out process. This collaboration between the local team and the tour crew ensures that the production meets the same high standards in every city it visits.
Bringing Beetlejuice to life at the Northern Jubilee Auditorium in Edmonton is a monumental task, requiring precision, creativity, and teamwork. From the moment the set is installed to the final curtain call, the production team works tirelessly to create a visually stunning and sonically immersive experience. Thanks to the expertise of the designers and technicians, audiences are transported into the quirky, spooky world of Beetlejuice, making it a must-see event for theatre lovers.