Beetlejuice the Musical will close its Australian run earlier than expected, with the final performance now set to take place at QPAC in Brisbane on July 5.
The production, presented in Australia by Michael Cassel Group, had been scheduled to continue on to Sydney, Perth and Adelaide following its Brisbane season. Those seasons have now been cancelled.
In a statement, Michael Cassel Group said the decision had been difficult, citing the logistical and financial pressures of touring a production of this scale across Australia.
“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,” a spokesperson said.
The company also noted that while audience response to the show had been encouraging, the broader economic climate had contributed to the decision.
“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.”
The cancellation is a significant blow for cast, crew, musicians and other workers attached to the remaining seasons. The Media Entertainment and Arts Alliance described the decision as “deeply disappointing and devastating” for those who had been booked to work on the show over the coming months, and said it would pursue all entitlements owed to affected members.
The news follows other recent challenges for large-scale musicals touring Australia. Earlier this year, Back to the Future: The Musical also ended its Australian run in Sydney, after plans for a national tour were cancelled.
Beetlejuice the Musical opened its Australian run in Melbourne in May 2025, with Australian performer, writer and composer Eddie Perfect playing the title role. Perfect wrote the show’s music and lyrics, with the musical based on Tim Burton’s 1988 film.
The Broadway production, which opened in 2019, had a famously unusual trajectory. After initially mixed reviews and slow ticket sales, the musical built a passionate following online, particularly after its Tony Awards performance drew widespread attention. It went on to become a cult hit, attracting fans who embraced the show’s macabre humour, eccentric style and costume-driven fandom.
The Australian production is currently playing in Brisbane, with Andy Karl performing the role of Beetlejuice for the remainder of the season.