Performer Tiana Torrecillas practices her performance as Lydia Deetz for the San Benito Stage Company. Photo by Brea Spencer.

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Rehearsals at San Benito Stage company had an electricity in the air as performers stomped, screamed, sang and danced across the stage. The excitement comes from a well-timed performance of the Halloween classic “Beetlejuice Jr.,” a musical that has production and performers alike excited for the upcoming show. 

“Tying it into Halloween will be super cool for the community,” co-director Shelby Schipsi said. 

The production will feature eight shows over three weekends starting Oct. 24 in downtown Hollister, centering around a Halloween night performance. 

The cast will also be doing a preview of the show at the San Benito County Fair. 

The Sandworm, is carried by Annie Cullumber, who also plays Delia. Matthew Young plays Beetlejuice, and Kaelyn Wright is in the ensemble. Photo by Brea Spencer.

Jake Ryan, 17, plays multiple roles in the production and says his favorite is as a clone of Beetlejuice himself.

“You are also sort of the lead with a bunch of other people who are also clones,” he said.

Unique to this production is that there will be two sets of the lead character, Beetlejuice. The show also features a large ensemble cast, including some new faces joining the San Benito Stage Company. 

Tiana Torrecillas, 17 who performs as Lydia, said, “I’m really excited to get to know the cast more, because a lot of the people in the community are new to me for this show, so it’s a really fun experience getting to know everyone.”

Torrecillas’s co-lead, Brody Thiessen, 17, plays Beetlejuice and said he has creative license to bring his own expression to the part.

“I’ve been purposely not been given a ton of blocking so that I can do my own thing, which is really cool,” he said. “It makes it a fun role.”

Brody Thiessen performs as Beetlejuice. Photo by Brea Spencer.

Another Beetlejuice, Matthew Young, 18, said that the energy of the show is what makes him excited to bring the musical to life this fall.

“Out of every musical I’ve ever done, this is the first one I’ve done on Halloween,” he said.

In addition to the preview at the fair and scheduled performances, the cast will also be staging it at a local school. 

“I’m excited because we have two school shows, because I like performing in front of schools,” said actor Emma Canning, who plays Death by Fireworks, among other roles. 

While some performers have been brought in for their love of the original Tim Burton movie, such as Jaycee Clark, or their passion for the Broadway musical, such as Ryan, everyone seems thrilled at the opportunity to bring their own perspective to a beloved classic of both cinema and stage. 

Lyla Pulizzi, Emma Canning, and Eva MacDonald perform as Mourners. Photo by Brea Spencer.

As opening night looms closer, Clark, 19, who is part of the ensemble cast, said she is looking forward to her family seeing her performance.

“Especially my mom, she’s helped me push myself to just get back to doing what I really like, which is theatre.”

“Beetlejuice Jr.” will open on Oct. 24 and will run through Nov. 8 with a total of eight shows—six evening shows at 7 p.m. and two matinees at 1 p.m. The performances will be held at the San Benito Stage Company’s new location at 549 San Benito St., Hollister. Tickets are available for presale at the San Benito Stage Company website.

Performance schedule 

Fri., Oct. 24, 7 p.m.

Sat., Oct. 25, 1 p.m.

Sat., Oct. 25, 7 p.m.

Fri., Oct. 31, 7 p.m.

Sat., Nov. 1, 7 p.m.

Fri., Nov. 7, 7 p.m.

Sat., Nov. 8, 1 p.m.

Sat., Nov. 8, 7 p.m.

Jaycee Clark performs in the ensemble as Mourner at a Funeral, Cheerleader, a Lawyer, and a Death-By-Toaster Recently Deceased. Photo by Brea Spencer.

The BenitoLink Internship Program is a paid, skill-building program that prepares local youth for a professional career. This program is supported by Monterey Peninsula Foundation AT&T Golf Tour and Taylor Farms.