Michael Cassel Group, Warner Bros. Theatre Ventures, and Langley Park Productions have announced that the role of Lydia Deetz in the upcoming musical Beetlejuice will be played by Karis Oka.
Known for her electric presence and extraordinary talent, Karis is set to bring Lydia, the peculiar and quick-witted teenager with a penchant for the afterlife, to life on stage like never before.
She’ll be starring alongside Eddie Perfect who is playing the titular role in the stage production when it opens at the Regent Theatre in May. Perfect is also responsible for the score.
Director Alex Timbers said: “Karis Oka is a rare talent who perfectly embodies the humour, vulnerability, and edge that make Lydia such an iconic character. Audiences in Melbourne are in for a real treat—her performance is nothing short of inspired, and I can’t wait for everyone to see her take on this unforgettable role.”
Oka is a familiar face to Australian audiences having starred in the original Australian production of Six, the return season of Fangirls and the Australian premiere of Ride The Cyclone. On screen she has been seen in the hit SBS series Erotic Stories, Girl At The Window, Stan’s Population: 11 and opposite Rebel Wilson in The Deb.
Based on the 1988 movie directed by Tim Burton, Beetlejuice has been a cult hit on Broadway. For the uninitiated, Lydia Deetz is not your average teenager. She’s strange and unusual, with a darkly poetic soul and a keen eye for the otherworldly. As Lydia navigates a world filled with insufferable parents, recently deceased houseguests, and a mischievous demon who lives for chaos, she becomes the beating heart of Beetlejuice’s irreverent and wildly entertaining story.
Further cast announcements will be made soon. Tickets are available now by visiting beetlejuicethemusical.com.au.
