Rising touring costs have claimed another major production, with “Beetlejuice the Musical” cancelling the remainder of its Australian tour and bringing its run to an early close.
The production will now conclude at Brisbane’s QPAC on July 5th, with scheduled seasons in Perth, Adelaide, and Sydney cancelled.
In a statement, producer Michael Cassel Group said the decision was driven by the rising costs associated with touring a large-scale production around Australia. “The remaining dates of the national tour of ‘Beetlejuice the Musical’ will no longer proceed,” the company said.
“For a production of this scale, the current logistical realities of touring across vast distances between Australian cities have created increasing cost pressures that ultimately made continuing the run unsustainable.
“While audience enthusiasm for the show has been encouraging, a more cautious consumer environment combined with the economics of moving a production of this magnitude could not be justified. It is a difficult decision, and not one we made lightly.”
The musical opened in Melbourne earlier this year before transferring to Brisbane, where it began performances earlier this month. The Brisbane season had originally been scheduled to run until August before the production moved on to Perth, Adelaide, and Sydney.
Based on Tim Burton’s 1988 film, “Beetlejuice the Musical” features music and lyrics by Australian composer Eddie Perfect. The Australian production stars Broadway performer Andy Karl in the title role and Karis Oka as Lydia Deetz.
Love Film & TV?
Get your daily dose of everything happening in music, film and TV in Australia and abroad.
Ticket holders for cancelled performances will be contacted directly regarding refunds.
The cancellation comes amid ongoing challenges for large-scale touring musical productions in Australia, where rising transport, freight, and operational costs have increasingly put pressure on national tours.
Similarly, “Back to the Future: The Musical” was canned in January despite plans for a national tour. Originally, it was expected to move from Sydney to Melbourne, with further seasons in other capital cities in the works.