a chat with singer and actress isabella esler

Feb 23

back in 2022, we had the pleasure to do a short interview with Isabella Esler when she made her professional debut as Lydia in the first national tour of Beetlejuice the musical. we did this interview for a theatre publication that unfortunately decided to shut down. luckily, we got permission to bring this interview to light so lets get into it.

Isabella Esler is a colombian actress who went on her first national tour freshly after graduating high school. Esler performed as Lydia in the stage adaptation of the 1988 Tim Burton film, beetlejuice.

if you have never heard about Beetlejuice, its a film about a family of three moving into the house of a recently deceased couple, the Maitlands, who live in their attic. the Maitlands enlist the help of a mischievous and chaotic ghost named Beetlejuice to scare the new family out. Beetlejuice goes crazy which leads to the living and the dead having to work together to stop him.

the musical has the same plot but of course has some differences to make it work and translate well on stage.

I personally am a big fan of the movie, that when the musical was announced on broadway I did a solo trip to go watch it with Elizabeth Teeter as Lydia and Alex Brightman as Beetlejuice. so when it was announced that it was coming to denver, I had to go.

Esler plays Lydia, the angsty goth and very sarcastic teen, who recently lost her mom and now has to adapt to not only her dad moving on with her new out of touch stepmom, Deliah , but also with living with a recently deceased couple, the Maitlands, and a ghost like zombie Jesus , Beetlejuice.

Esler’s performance was so outstanding that I had to go watch it twice. she brought that perfect teenager (a plus that she herself was also a teenager) vibe. esler had the audience laughing with her prefect delivery of Lydia’s sarcasm as well as also giving Lydia the vulnerability needed to hit the audience in the heart. Ester’s voice is strong and expressive, you can easily feel the emotions she is portraying. songs like “say my name” and “that beautiful sound” are perfect examples of showcasing the side of Lydia where she is having fun and being a teenager. we also get to see her more vulnerable side with songs that really tug at your heart strings like “dead mom’ and “home.”

During her stop in the mile high city, she took time out of her day to do a short interview with us, which you can read below!

to start off , tell us a little bit of yourself and your background?

Of course! I grew up in California in the San Francisco Bay Area. I always loved singing so my parents put me in my first community theater show and I kind of never stopped. So I've been doing a lot of community and school theater for a while. I’m definitely very thankful to have grown up in an area with a very big arts community! I really love singing and acting and have always loved both theater and film. I also like to shop, draw, and i’ve started getting into reading more!

with how much work goes in on a touring theater show and of course with rehearsal, what keeps you motivated ?

The company of the show definitely keeps me motivated. It makes me excited knowing I get to hang out with an amazing group everyday. Also the fans and audiences! It’s great after the show being able to meet so many different people and hearing their stories and how much they enjoyed the show!

following that question, how do you spend your free time and take care of your mental health especially with being on the road and taking it on at a young age?

I really try to listen to myself from week to week. Obviously I do really try to get out of the house even if it’s for a simple task of just going to the grocery store. I find it refreshing if I’m able to walk around a little bit before going to the show. But I also find some weeks where I don’t do much at all and I take time to relax inside and I think not putting so much pressure on myself has been good for my mental health. I take breaks when my body needs it and I go on adventures when I'm up for it!

before taking on the role of Lydia, were you able to watch the show when it was on broadway or got any advice from past lydias such as elizabeth teeter?

Yes! I was able to watch the show before starting rehearsals. I was able to talk to Elizabeth and she is the sweetest person ever! I’m definitely inspired by her work ethic. I remember really early when starting rehearsals she told me to rest up as much as I can when I'm not doing the show. The role of Lydia is definitely a marathon and just being able to take it easy leading up to each performance is essential.

how does it feel taking the role of such a beloved, iconic and fan favorite character?

“It feels surreal honestly. I’ve been a fan of the musical since 2019 so it’s kind of a full circle moment. I was definitely nervous too because I knew how much Lydia meant to a lot of people and I definitely wanted to tell her story to the best of my abilities.”

lydia can be a heavy character to play especially with her journey on the show and feeling alone , how do you get into character? is there anything in lydia that you see in yourself or vice versa.

“I really tried to see how I relate to Lydia. I do think me and Lydia are pretty similar. I was around her age when I learned of this show so it’s this familiarity of being a teen and the hardships that come with that. I definitely feel that urgency and hurt through her. I also think a lot of getting into character is the people around me and the atmosphere. When I’m in the costume and I'm on stage with all of these amazing actors that add to this story, it helps for sure.”

one of the most intense and beautiful scenes in the show is of course Lydia's performance of “home” . how did you get ready for that scene and convey the emotions of lydia in that moment? i also do want to give you the biggest compliment on that scene because you did it so beautifully and with so much emotion.

“Thank you!! I just really try to take in what Lydia is feeling and try to understand her point of view. At the end of the day, Lydia is just a kid who is mourning and I really try to feel that in that scene. It’s definitely not easy! It’s taken me a little while to get there but I think I've been able to get to a place where it’s comfortable for me to execute that part of the show. “

your impact on both playing Lydia and of course being colombian- american has inspired many, how does it feel representing such a community? And who inspires you?

“I am so thankful every single day that I am able to provide just a little bit of representation! It’s amazing meeting other Hispanic people and hearing that I have inspired them. I don’t take that lightly at all!”

what is your favorite song to perform?

“changes every week!!! Some days when i’m feeling angsty Im more into ‘Dead Mom’ but I just also love the vulnerability of ‘Home’ as well.”

what is your favorite part of being able to create and show your art, especially in different cities?

“It’s really interesting seeing how different the audiences react to the show. It makes it feel very new every week. It’s nice that we are able to bring this show around the country especially for people who don’t necessarily have the means to travel to New York to see a Broadway show. It’s bringing that experience to them!”

what is a fun fact about yourself that not many know?

“I’m left handed!”

and of course is there anything you would like to add or say.

“come watch the show! It’s super fun and you’ll be laughing the whole time.”

Once again, thank you Isabella Esler and we wish you the best in your career! We can’t wait to see the amazing things you accomplish!

written by kimberly agurre