$
Charity Angel Dawson, Amber Ardolino, Lorna Courtney, Ben Jackson Walker
Charity Angel Dawson, Amber Ardolino, Lorna Courtney, Ben Jackson Walker

Broadway Stars Share Their Favorite Past Halloween Costumes

Sure, Beetlejuice is having a ball this month celebrating Halloween. Here’s a look at how one of its stars, Kerry Butler, and other Broadway greats have celebrated the ghostly holiday in a “previous life.”


Photo courtesy of Kerry Butler.
Photo courtesy of Kerry Butler.

Kerry Butler (Barbara Maitland, Beetlejuice)

It’s ironic but all of my childhood Halloween costumes were scary. I thought I wanted to be a princess. I guess like Barbara in Beetlejuice I always wanted to be scary!

Photo courtesy of Kerry Butler.
Kerry Butler as Belle in Beauty and the Beast.

This is what I THOUGHT my dream costume would have been as a child!


Photo by Andrew H. Walker/REX/Shutterstock.

Frankie Grande (Victor Garber, Titanique)

My favorite costume of all time is when I went as Guy Diamond. Even Heidi Kulm was gagged by how fierce I looked… and she was Princess Fiona from Shrek in ogre form.


Photo courtesy of Charity Angél Dawson.
Photo courtesy of Charity Angél Dawson.

Charity Angél Dawson (Matron “Mama” Morton, Chicago)

This picture from 2018 is my favorite costume because I was matching with this precious baby Noel! I ran from a rehearsal and went and hosted my church’s youth Hallelujah Night. We played tons of games and gave out more candy and prizes than I can count! At the end of the night we prayed and sent everyone on their way and I saw this adorable little panda who said to me “Hey! I’m a panda tooooooo!” So of course we had to get a pic! Lol!


Photo courtesy of Lorna Courtney.
Photo courtesy of Lorna Courtney.

Lorna Courtney (Juliet, & Juliet)

Lorna, 4 years old, dressed up as Blues Clues and her sister, Catherine, 2 years old dressed as a Strawberry. Little does Catherine know that Lorna was the same exact strawberry 2 years prior.


Photo courtesy of E. Clayton Cornelious.
Photo courtesy of E. Clayton Cornelious.

E. Clayton Cornelious (Producer, Chicken & Biscuits & Ensemble, Ain’t Too Proud)

My favorite Halloween costume is when I was a sexy 1970s car wash attendant. (At least I thought I was sexy). I was with my Ain’t Too Proud cast in Toronto (pre-Broadway) and we had the best time at a Halloween party on the famous “Church St.”


Photo courtesy of Amber Ardolino.
Photo courtesy of Amber Ardolino.

Amber Ardolino (Vera, Funny Girl)

My favorite Halloween costume has to be an Australian Shepherd. I got to match with my kids, Piper and Ziggy!


Justin David Sullivan
Photo courtesy of Justin David Sullivan.

Justin David Sullivan (May, & Juliet) 

Big throwback to 2003: So my family wasn’t huge on Halloween growing up (because hello, it was Satan’s birthday) but I did enter a costume contest at my home school academy where I won first place in my cowardly lion costume and took home the ultimate stash of candy—Best. Halloween. EVER.


Photo courtesy of Jennie Harney-Fleming.
Photo courtesy of Jennie Harney-Fleming.

Jennie Harney-Fleming (Angelica, Hamilton)

I’m a Black mermaid. It speaks for itself.


Photo courtesy of Ben Walker Jackson.
Photo courtesy of Ben Walker Jackson.

Ben Jackson Walker (Romeo, & Juliet)

This was my favorite Halloween costume growing up because little Ben was (and still is) fascinated by witches and practiced his witchy cackle very often around this time of year. My favorite witches were from The Wizard of Oz, “Big Pumpkin” (a children’s book), and of course the holy bible, Hocus Pocus. As I got older, I sadly started to feel like witches were too “feminine” to dress up as, but I am very proud of little Ben for just being him.


Photo courtesy of Déa Julien.
Photo courtesy of Déa Julien.

Déa Julien (Understudy, The Kite Runner)

My mom grew up in Casablanca, so my grandmother made this Moroccan princess costume for me by hand. I wore it until it didn’t fit anymore!


Photo courtesy of Donna Marie Asbury.
Photo courtesy of Donna Marie Asbury.

Donna Marie Asbury (Ensemble, Chicago) 

My birthday is the day before Halloween, so it’s always been one of my favorite holidays. The great thing about doing Chicago for so many years, is that I was able to borrow wigs for my daughter, Jacqueline, and myself. I loved going as Violet and her mom. People thought we actually had dyed our hair!


Photo courtesy of Alyssa May Gold.
Photo courtesy of Alyssa May Gold.

Alyssa May Gold (Teenage Greek Chorus, How I Learned to Drive)

My incredibly creative (and deeply patient) mom handmade me this costume so I could be my favorite character from my favorite musical: Pearl from Starlight Express, which, for some reason, no Halloween store carried. I see you, niche musical theater kids, I am you.


Philippe Arroyo (left) as The Riddler. Photo courtesy of Philippe Arroyo.
Philippe Arroyo (left) as The Riddler. Photo courtesy of Philippe Arroyo.

Philipe Arroyo (Francois, & Juliet) 

A few years ago when working with Aladdin, a few people would get together to create iconic themed costumes. My friends and I decided it would be fun to dress up as some of the Batman villains. We have the Penguin, Mr. Freeze, Poison Ivy, and finally myself as The Riddler! I have to say this look almost gives my Comic-Con cosplay a run for its money!


Want to see even more Broadway stars’ favorite Halloween costumes? Check out our piece from last Halloween here.