Trisha Paytas is set to make waves on Broadway this season, joining the cast of the musical Beetlejuice in a dramatic return to the New York stage. The announcement comes as part of the show’s revival plans, and it represents a bold crossover for the influencer-turned-performer, whose online presence has long eclipsed her theatrical experience.
Paytas, widely known for her content creation, music releases, and sensational internet persona, will take on a role in Beetlejuice that critics and audiences alike are watching with curiosity. The production team, keen to generate renewed energy around the revival, sees her casting as a way to expand the musical’s reach into digital-native audiences and to bring fresh attention to a beloved property.
Her casting is not without precedent—Paytas has long flirted with the world of musical theater. Over the years she’s uploaded YouTube videos of herself performing numbers from Little Shop of Horrors and Beetlejuice, often playing every part in self-produced scenes. She has openly described Broadway as her dream, one she pursued for years with varying levels of seriousness and spectacle. Now, that pursuit has culminated in a professional theatrical opportunity.
Producers of Beetlejuice believe Paytas’s celebrity will bring both publicity and new viewers to the stage production. Her millions of followers offer a built-in audience who might otherwise never attend a musical, giving the revival greater visibility. At the same time, the creators have emphasized that casting an internet figure is a gamble—the performance must hold up under theater lights, not algorithmic applause. Paytas reportedly is undergoing vocal coaching, dance rehearsal, and intensive preparation to meet the demands of Broadway.
Reactions among theatergoers and critics have ranged from enthusiastic to skeptical. Some see the casting as a creative way to merge social media culture with traditional theater, injecting freshness into a well-known show. Others warn that Broadway should avoid turning entirely into a platform for celebrity guest stars unless those stars can genuinely deliver. For many fans of Beetlejuice, the question is whether Paytas will enhance or distract from the show’s haunted humor and gothic spectacle.
As the production gears up, Paytas appears eager to rise to the challenge. In interviews she has expressed gratitude and a sense of awe, calling her role in Beetlejuice a once-in-a-lifetime chance to prove herself in a medium she once only dreamed of. She’s described late nights studying scenes, rehearsing choreography in small studio spaces, and leaning on her artistic collaborators for guidance. The shift from digital content to live theater is steep, but she seems determined to bridge that gap with dedication.
The Broadway revival of Beetlejuice will open amid high expectations, and Paytas’s involvement heightens the stakes. Theatergoers will judge not just the show’s set designs, special effects, and ensemble performances, but also whether Paytas can withstand the rigors of a Broadway run. If she succeeds, she may carve a new path for internet stars transitioning to stage. If not, it could cast doubts on the trend of celebrity-driven casting in high-stakes theater.
For now, all eyes are on opening night. Paytas is stepping into a long line of performers who dared to cross genre boundaries, and Beetlejuice is banking on her boldness to bring a fresh spark to the afterlife under the lights of Broadway.
