Beetlejuice the Musical || Rebecca Ordiz

The Fame Reporter interviewed the incredibly talented Rebecca Ordiz. She is currently starring as the Girl Scout and understudies Lydia Deetz in the Tony Award nominated musical, Beetlejuice, with music and lyrics by Australia’s own Eddie Perfect, currently playing the title role. Now playing at the Regent Theatre in Melbourne until 11 September.

Based on Tim Burton’s dearly beloved film, this hilarious musical tells the story of Lydia Deetz, a strange and unusual teenager whose whole life changes when she meets a recently deceased couple and a demon with a thing for stripes. With an irreverent book, an astonishing set, and a score that’s out of this Netherworld, BEETLEJUICE is “A FEAST FOR THE EYES AND SOUL!” (Entertainment Weekly). And under its uproarious surface (six feet under, to be exact), it’s a remarkably touching show about family, love, and making the most of every Day-O!

We talked to Rebecca about her reaction when she was cast in this big Broadway Musical, what understudying means to her, how this genius show has impacted her, and more.

You previously captivated audiences in The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee. How did that experience prepare you for the whimsical and chaotic world of Beetlejuice and what was your reaction when you got cast?
I loved that production so much, and it actually opened the door for me to audition for Beetlejuice after the show had closed. I think there is definitely a lot of Olive in Skye from her mannerisms and look, to her vocal tone and blatant optimism and innocence.

Playing Girl Scout (Skye) was definitely not a stretch for me character wise. I think spelling bee also taught me about the kind of humour Australian audiences love (mainly dark humour), which I definitely transferred over to Skye when talking about her life-threatening condition with gleeful optimism.

To answer the second part of the question: For me, Beetlejuice has always been a dream show to do so when I found out I was cast I definitely had a small cry and called my parents haha.

I had manifested this shows for years, so it was very rewarding to see that all of the work was worth it. This is my first touring commercial show, so I’ve been ecstatic, and it’s been the most beautiful cast to be a part of.

Your portrayal of the Girl Scout opens Act Two with a hilarious and unforgettable moment. How did you approach making Skye such a scene-stealer?
I think I initially walked into the room with these massive ideas for her physicality and wanted to just throw offers at the wall left right and centre, but with the help from Catie Davis and Jacinta John (our resident dir. and associate dir.), I realised that a lot of the comedy comes from Eddie’s brilliant lyrics, so to try and put too much into the number would detract from the earnestness and comedy that comes from Skye.

Yes, she is a bit of a heightened character, but she is still a real person and genuinely just wants to make her first cookie sale.

What was the day like when you first went on as Lydia? How did you find out, and what was going through your mind as you stepped into her shoes for the first time?
Insane. It was a two-show day on a Sunday (we had just finished our matinee) and I was sitting out in the hallway eating my dinner when our associate director told me I needed to go on in 2 hours. Honestly, I wouldn’t have had it any other way simply because at least I truly had no time to think, and I just ran up to the rehearsal room to go through everything myself.

Thankfully I had already been teched in a week prior so it wasn’t like I was thrown on not prepared… but still, I did have to calm myself down the first 30 minutes after I was told I would be going on.

Not to be wanky, but debuting Lydia was one of the best nights of my life.

Lydia has been a dream role of mine since the show opened on Broadway and it was also my lead debut in a large-scale commercial musical.

To perform the role with my previous spelling bee co-star Daniel Raso as BJ was incredibly sentimental and I was sobbing throughout my bow (a bit embarrassing haha). It was nerve-wracking but incredibly exhilarating and fun.

As an understudy for Lydia and also playing Skye, how do you balance those two very different characters?
I think vocally it can be a bit tricky, but not as hard as people might think. Even though, yes, Lydia has more of a rock sound to her, both are very ‘pingy’ and have forward resonance, and for Girl Scout I just make sure all the sounds are incredibly bright and ‘clean-sounding’ (so no vocal fry or slides like Lydia).

Character-wise it’s so much fun to swap between them… Skye has such a fast inner tempo and enthusiasm to her (honestly I find it hard to catch my breath in the song) whilst Lydia has more of a sarcastic cunningness and is completely comfortable to sit in long pauses….

The set, effects, and energy of Beetlejuice are larger than life. Is there a behind-the-scenes moment where the magic (or mayhem) surprised you?
I think watching the way the sandworm works and is operated in act 2 is pretty incredible. I love to watch it in the wings sometimes, and because I probably can’t say much, all I’ll say is that some of our crew put their whole bodies on the line to make some of the elements of this show work.

In terms of mayhem, I really love watching the end of Day-O, where I get a clear line of sight of the crazy stuff that is happening onstage, involving giant hands, lettuce and ensemble members in morph suits…it’s a lot of fun.

The Girl Scout’s song has become a fan favorite and even gone viral online. How does it feel to have your performance resonate so widely?
I think it’s really funny. The fact that this seemingly random character who comes out for the start of act 2 has a viral song makes me laugh but it also just goes to show how brilliant a writer Eddie is.

I actually have now heard stories of kids/people with arrhythmia or similar heart conditions coming to see the show and having a good laugh about it.

Initially, I was sceptical thinking that maybe people with those conditions might be offended, but the response has been really positive… after all, Skye looks at life so optimistically even though she does have arrhythmia. She doesn’t ignore it, and even though at times it can be scary, she chooses to tackle life head on with confidence and enthusiasm. Also, Skye lives at the end of the song, ‘Beautiful Sound’, don’t worry!

If you could have a dinner party with 3 performers dead or alive who would be there?
This is so hard… David Tennant, Cynthia Erivo and not really a performer but 100% Steven Sondheim.

Working with such a talented cast must be inspiring. Is there a moment backstage or onstage when someone in the cast really blew you away?
I mean there are a million, but the first one that comes to mind is watching Angelique Cassimatis. Her track is arguably the hardest in the whole show… she is an absolute UNIT.

Angelique does all the dance numbers (which involve her also doing several lifts and tricks), she puppets incredibly heavy props, and belts her face off as Miss Argentina whilst hitch kicking to the heavens.

All of this is done in between her racing backstage to take off and put on several different makeup looks (from mourner, to goblin, to the iconic blue Miss Argentina etc).

Angelique Cassimatis is genuinely one of the best triple threats this industry has, and to do all of that 8 shows a week whilst also being one of the kindest people ever… is insane.

Eddie Perfect’s clever music and lyrics are such a highlight of the show. Do you have a favorite line or lyric, and what’s it like performing material written by him?
Comedy wise I think the ‘but we’re really not supposed to’ ‘why?’ ‘Paedophiles’ section is one of my favourites, and always gets a really good response from the audience.

Additionally, this isn’t really so much a line or lyric thing, but more a music thing, but one of my favourite parts of the whole score is the seamless transition at the end of the show from Jump in the Line/Shake Señora into the Dead Mom Reprise.

It’s so beautiful, and I can’t help but get emotional at the simple yet effective “I’m Home” when I sing it, right before the black out.

Eddie’s music is so incredibly detailed, and every lyric is so deliberate, intentional, and now that I’ve gotten to know Eddie, the music and lyrics are just so him!

Looking ahead, are there any types of roles or shows you’d love to take on next?
Rattling them off, a few would have to be: Jo in Little Women, Abigail in The Crucible, Diana in Next to Normal, Éponine in Les Mis, anything that involves Sondheim (would love to re-tackle Mary in Merrily We Roll Along, probably when I’m a bit older), The Clockmaker’s Daughter, Alice by Heart and Daddy Long Legs.

I would love to originate a role in an Australian musical if I’m lucky.

Finish the Sentence Game

🖤 When I first put on the Girl Scout sash, I felt…
Empowered…and ready to sell some cookies

🖤 If I ever got stuck in the Netherworld, I would…
Make friends with Shrunky

🖤 The funniest thing that’s happened on stage so far is…
When the reveal sheet for Otho’s wheel got caught and so Eddie and Andy (Otho) had to improv and try to get through the scene whilst Otho was just stuck underneath.

🖤 Understudying Lydia has taught me…
Gratitude, patience, and how to work with fellow covers as a team

🖤 Before I go on stage, I always…
Anxiously open my umbrella to check it works (honestly, those umbrellas are the hardest bit of the show).

🖤 If my character had her own musical, it would be called…
Arrhythmia: the Musical the Musical the Musical

🖤 The one thing people don’t know about the Girl Scout is…
She has 666 as her troop number on her sash (I guess Skye is a satanist what can I say)

🖤 If I could swap roles with anyone in the cast for a night, I’d choose…
Definitely Beetlejuice

🖤 Performing for Australian audiences feels…
Exhilarating and correct (the comedy in Beetlejuice is just so Australian in nature)

🖤 After a big show, the first thing I want is…
A hot chocolate or a cookie from The Confectionist (truly they are the best)

🖤 Working with this incredibly talented cast makes me feel…
Eternally grateful and emotional

🖤 My favourite girl scout cookie flavour is?
Chocolate

🖤 If you could ask Eddie to write a brand-new song just for you — as Skye or Lydia — what would you want it to be about?
Definitely a slow dramatic ballad (maybe a reprise of the Girl Scout Song) for Skye, reflecting on the fact that Lydia didn’t even pay for her cookies and now she has to change her pants from being scared almost to death.

🖤 What’s one thing this cast does backstage that audiences would never guess happens?
There are a few of us (mainly me and Rose, who is in the ensemble) that go out of their way right before act 2 to try scare Karis behind the Girl Scout House. I’ll be honest it is really really hard, but I have to this day done it three times successfully.