Wireless Mics and Projection for Beetlejuice JR.
Show guide · JR. · 12 principals plus a big Netherworld chorus · Reviewed by Stage Gear staff, October 2026
Short answer: plan on 14 channels. 12 body mics, one for every named role, plus 2 spares. Cover the Recently Deceased and the other ensembles with 3–4 area mics at the stage edge.
Stage Gear supplies wireless mics, rentals and projection to school and community theatres across the U.S. Our staff work in theatre; this guide is how we'd mic Beetlejuice JR.
Who gets a mic
Beetlejuice JR. has only 12 named roles, and each one sings or carries dialogue over music: Lydia, Beetlejuice, Adam, Barbara, Charles, Delia, Maxie Dean, Maxine Dean, Sky, Miss Argentina, Otho and Juno. That is 12 body mics plus 2 spares, for 14 channels.
Borderline: Maxine Dean, Otho, Juno and Sky have shorter scenes. On a 12-channel system, move one or two of them to area mics, or share a pack between two of these smaller roles only if your script shows they are never on stage at the same time. Check that carefully; costume changes make mid-show pack swaps risky.
Bigger budget: add body mics for one or two featured ensemble soloists, such as a Girl Scout, a Recently Deceased character or a Beetlejuice clone, for about 16 channels.
Mic plot
| Ch | Role | Mic | Why |
|---|---|---|---|
| Channel 1 | Beetlejuice | Hairline, beige | Wild wig and heavy makeup; mount under the wig line. |
| Channel 2 | Lydia Deetz | Hairline (3 mm), black | Dark wig; a black element disappears in the hair. |
| Channel 3 | Adam Maitland | Hairline, beige | Sings and acts throughout; ghost makeup needs secure tape. |
| Channel 4 | Barbara Maitland | Hairline, beige | Sings and acts throughout; often in a wig. |
| Channel 5 | Charles Deetz | Hairline, beige | Carries family dialogue; thrown around in "Day-O." |
| Channel 6 | Delia Schlimmer | Headset, beige | Very active comic role, including the "Day-O" possession. |
| Channel 7 | Maxie Dean | Hairline, beige | Sings in "Day-O"; tape firmly for the possession. |
| Channel 8 | Maxine Dean | Hairline, beige | Short scenes; also thrown around in "Day-O." |
| Channel 9 | Miss Argentina | Hairline, brown | Leads "What I Know Now"; big wig or crown. |
| Channel 10 | Otho | Hairline, brown | Guru costume often includes a wig or headwrap. |
| Channel 11 | Juno | Earset, beige | Prosthetic makeup likely; earset, or hairline under the wig. |
| Channel 12 | Sky | Hairline (3 mm), beige | Girl Scout cap; tuck the element under the brim. |
| Channel 13 | Spare | Hairline, black | Dark-wig spare for Lydia or Beetlejuice. |
| Channel 14 | Spare | Headset, beige | Covers anyone thrown around in "Day-O." |
Every Bodymic is wired for one transmitter family: Shure, Sennheiser, Audio-Technica, AKG, MiPro or Creative Audio. Build your Bodymics to match the packs you own. Cast Pack: every 4 Bodymics of the same style and capsule size earn a 5th free. This plot is a starting point; change any row to suit your cast.
The ensemble
The Recently Deceased, mourners, movers, Girl Scouts, cheerleaders and studio audience sing and react as groups. Cover them with 3–4 area or choir mics along the stage edge and stage group vocals downstage where you can, especially in "What I Know Now" and "Jump in the Line." If an ensemble member gets a featured line, such as one of the Beetlejuice clones in "Showtime!," use a spare body mic rather than adding a channel.
Show notes from our team
- "Day-O" possession. In "Day-O" the dinner party gets possessed and flung around the room. Belt every pack, tape elements twice, and check Delia, Charles and the Deans right after the number.
- Makeup and sweat. Ghost makeup, powder and greasepaint loosen mic tape. Tape to clean skin before makeup goes on, use medical tape, and keep a backup tape kit in each wing.
- Beetlejuice never stops. The title role is on stage for most of the show and talks over music constantly. Give Beetlejuice your most reliable pack, fresh batteries before every performance and first claim on a spare.
- Lots of sound effects. Thunder, the Sandworm and every bit of afterlife magic need effect cues. Run effects from a playback computer on their own channels so the operator can balance them against the actors.
Projection
Beetlejuice JR. jumps between a funeral, the old house before and after the Deetz renovation, and the Netherworld, so projected scenery makes those location and mood shifts easy. Most school auditoriums need 7,000–10,000 lumens with the right lens; smaller black boxes need less.
Our sister company Broadway Media makes Scenic Projections for Beetlejuice JR. Not sure which projector? Read Stage Projectors for Digital Scenery.
Rent it for the run, or own it
| What you get | Next step | |
|---|---|---|
| Rent for the show | A 14-channel wireless rental, Monday to Monday around tech week. Tested before it ships, return labels in every case. | See rental systems |
| Own it | Creative Audio Show-Ready, 16 channels: receivers, bodypacks and antennas racked, programmed and tested. $ 11,190.38. | See the system |
| Mics for the packs you have | Bodymics for the whole cast: hairline from $79, earsets and headsets from $99. | Build your Bodymics |
Buying for a school? U.S. public schools can pay by purchase order. How school ordering works.
Common questions
- How many wireless mics does Beetlejuice JR. need?
- Plan on 14 channels: one body mic for each of the 12 named roles, plus 2 spares. On 12 channels, put Otho and Maxine Dean on area mics and keep both spares, because the possession number is hard on equipment.
- Do the Recently Deceased need their own mics?
- Usually not. The Recently Deceased, Girl Scouts and other ensembles sing as groups, so 3–4 area or choir mics at the stage edge cover them. Use a spare body mic for any ensemble member with a featured line.
- Where does the mic go on Beetlejuice with that wig and makeup?
- Run a hairline mic under the front of the wig, taped to clean skin before makeup goes on. Choose a beige or black element to match, and keep a pre-wired spare ready, since the role barely leaves the stage.
- Can we rent mics just for our show week?
- Yes. Stage Gear rentals run Monday to Monday around tech week, so you have mics for rehearsals and every performance. Systems arrive tested with return labels, and school purchase orders are welcome.
Doing Beetlejuice JR. this year?
Get mic tips for your show and a reminder before rental season books up.
Stage Gear is not a show licensor. Beetlejuice JR. is licensed through Music Theatre International (MTI); production rights come from them. Stage Gear sells and rents the equipment. See you on stage!
