ELGIN — It may be a story of “The Whole Being Dead Thing,” but Beetlejuice will come to life this month at the Elgin Opera House — one of the first productions in the country to use the junior version of the Broadway hit.

Joey Hale plays the title character and said he was shocked when he found out the Elgin Opera House would be presenting “Beetlejuice Jr.”

“No one’s really has this opportunity to do this show. They just released the junior show,” Hale said. “It’s exciting.”

“Beetlejuice Jr.” follows Lydia Deetz as she copes with the death of her mother. Her father moves her to a new house that Lydia discovers is haunted, both by a ghost couple and the incorrigible Beetlejuice. Lydia and Beetlejuice team up and hijinks ensue.

“Beetlejuice is super over the top and crazy. He’s dead,” Hale said.

Kaylie Davis plays Lydia.

“Lydia is definitely unlike any other character I’ve played in the past. She is mourning the death of her mom and struggling to figure out how she fits within her family,” she said. “She’s definitely very dark, and that’s been very fun to play.”

Both Hale and Davis are high school seniors capping years of work with the Opera House Youth Actors program.

“This show has been put on by the seniors in the Opera House Youth Actors team, kind of as our senior project,” Davis said. “I think that people should come and see the work that we’ve put into this show. Everyone has worked so hard.”

In addition to starring in the show, Davis is handling music direction and Hale manages sets.

Hannah Kate Sheehy is helping direct, and Grant Deem is the assistant stage manager. The production features a cast of 50 children and teens.

Both Davis and Hale said “The Beautiful Sound” is their favorite scene.

“‘That Beautiful Sound’ is really fun. It’s like a big party with the whole cast,” she said.

Although the Broadway version of Beetlejuice has mature jokes, the junior version is appropriate for the whole family.

“It’s a very kid-friendly show because it is the junior show,” Davis said. “The adults will have a good time, the kids will have a good time.”

Hale said people should come prepared to have a good time.

“Expect it to be wild and loud and funny,” he said. “Bring a good laugh.”

“Beetlejuice Jr.” runs through March 15 at the Elgin Opera House with shows on Fridays and Saturdays. Find tickets and more information at www.elginoperahouse.com.

Other lead cast members include Deem as Charles Deetz, Henry Wadner as Adam Maitland, Fern McConnell is Barbara Maitland, Sheehy is Delia Schlimmer, Hunter Austin plays Maxie Dean, Charity Goss is Sky, Lyla Davis plays Miss Argentina, Bella Estrada is Maxine Dean, Cece Curry is Otho and Natalie Smith plays Juno.

‘Beetlejuice Jr.’

The Elgin Opera House presents “Beetlejuice Jr.” on Fridays and Saturdays through March 15.

Friday shows are at 7:30 p.m. Saturday performances are at 12:30 p.m. and 4:30 p.m.

Tickets are $8 to $18, depending on the seat, on elginoperahouse.com.