Blue Broadway’s fully student-produced musical “Beetlejuice Jr.” takes the stage 7 p.m. Friday, April 3, in the Eagle Theater. 

The musical comedy follows Lydia Deetz, a teenager struggling with grief, who encounters a ghost named Beetlejuice and is then drawn into a series of unpredictable events. Known for its absurd comedy and energetic songs, co-director junior Sam Hiltgen said its humor easily won over the club members’ hearts.

“It’s such a silly, wacky show,” Sam said. “The audience can tell that it’s funny, and then underneath all the silly, wacky stuff, it has a nice message of, ‘You should be yourself.’”

Founded three years ago, the club aimed to give students an opportunity to perform in a collaborative theater production. Their first production in 2024, “A VHS Christmas Carol,” was held in the cafeteria, with a minimal cast and crew using room dividers as curtains.

In comparison, this year’s show is an upgrade. With a team of directors, choreographers and other club leaders, Blue Broadway divided and conquered the work on and off the stage for a successful opening night.

“I trusted that I had this really competent team, that they knew what they were doing and they would execute it,” president senior Avni Rajagopal said.

Blue Broadway’s mission is to provide a space where students can explore theater regardless of experience level, according to vice president senior Sophie Yung. Sophie added that their commitment to inclusivity is highlighted in their decision to not cut any prospective cast or technical crew members. 

This open-door nature fostered a collaborative environment where performers workshop together, no matter their specific roles.

“One group of people would be learning a dance, and then another would be teaching a scene in another area,” Avni said. “Everyone was working together, but also doing their own things.”

Avni said the 60-minute musical was both manageable for its cast and crew — with Los Altos High School’s “Singin’ in the Rain” running just a couple of months before — and iconic.  “Beetlejuice Jr.” was also easier and cheaper to license than other shows, and the savings were invested into the musical’s technical elements.

Still the road to bringing the show to the Eagle Theater has not been completely smooth. Without access to the space until the week of the performance, students spent weeks rehearsing in the Student Union after school.

Because the Student Union is not a private space, many Blue Broadway members initially hesitated to rehearse while other students were socializing around them. Still, their dedication was unwavering.

“Over time, it’s been cool to see people go bigger, be more willing to be silly and make fools of themselves,” Sophie said. 

After spending hours in the theater this week to piece together all of their costumes, props and more, the members hold high hopes for “Beetlejuice Jr.”

“I’m excited to see it on stage,” Sam said. “It’ll be a moment of ‘I helped make this.’”

“Beetlejuice Jr.” shows one night only at 7 p.m. Friday, April 3, in the Eagle Theater. Admission is free, but donations through cash at the door or by the LAHS webstore are encouraged.