San Jose teen lands life-changing role in ‘show about death’
Mitty grad went directly from high school to ‘Beetlejuice’ touring company.
While you have to say the title character’s name three times to call him forth, San Jose teen Isabella Esler only had to go through the audition process twice before landing the role of Lydia Deetz in the North American touring company of “Beetlejuice.” The tour is making a local stop courtesy of Broadway San Jose Aug. 1-6.
Esler, 19, first auditioned for the role in the Broadway production while still a senior at Mitty High School in Willow Glen. She made it as far as callbacks, then went to New York City to audition for the touring company.
The 2022 Mitty grad says she had no idea what it would be like to go from high school directly to the road.
“I wasn’t prepared at all,” she adds. “It’s really fun exploring different cities and finding nice local restaurants.”
She was, however, ready to take on her first professional musical theater gig, thanks in part to the experience she got in shows with Children’s Musical Theater San Jose (CMT).
“It definitely prepared me for learning to work with people,” she says. “At CMT we had quick (production) schedules and had to learn really fast.”
While this helped her hone her stagecraft, she says, the production values in “Beetlejuice” are a lot more expansive than any other show she’s been in. The show is based on Tim Burton’s 1988 film and has many of the same fantastical sets and props.
“It’s definitely new for me. The show has so many crazy technical elements to it,” Esler says. “You definitely have to be at the right place at the right time and remember a bunch of cues.”
Thirty-five years after the release of its source film, the musical has found a social media following in the 21st century.
“I always knew about the movie because my dad’s a big Tim Burton fan,” says Esler. “The musical kind of became a thing on TikTok.”
Esler says she likes seeing “Beetlejuice” superfans in the audience.
“There are people who show up in really cool cosplay costumes,” she adds. “You get to see long-term fans of this show.”
Whereas the movie played Lydia’s goth look and depressed demeanor for laughs, the musical expands the character’s backstory. In her song “Dead Mom,” Lydia voices her sadness about losing her mother and her anger at her father for remarrying.
“Mourning her mom is a big part of her journey and character development,” Esler says.
As Beetlejuice sings in the opening number, “This is a show about death.” While the plot still focuses on Lydia’s relationship with the recently deceased Maitlands and their efforts to haunt the house where they died and Lydia now lives, more attention is paid to the “bio-exorcist” they call on for help.
“The musical is more about Lydia and Beetlejuice,” Elser says.
Esler is excited to be bringing Lydia to life in her hometown for performances at San Jose’s Center for the Performing Arts.
“I grew up watching so many shows at that theater,” she says. “It’s weird to be coming from the other side and performing.”
“Beetlejuice” runs Aug. 1-6 at the Center for the Performing Arts, 255 S. Almaden Blvd., San Jose. Tickets start at $30 and are available at broadwaysanjose.com, by calling 408-792-4111 or at the San Jose Civic Box Office, 150 W. San Carlos St., San Jose.