BTC alumnus thriving in big juicy musical

LOCAL theatre performer, composer and vocal coach Adam Lyon is currently living large on the big stage in Melbourne, playing audience favourite Maxie Dean in Beetlejuice The Musical.

He’s appearing alongside Helpmann Award-winning actor, writer and composer Eddie Perfect, who stars as Beetlejuice and wrote the score for the production.

Lyon was first drawn to performing in his teens at the Bendigo Theatre Company (BTC), where his grandmother, Patricia Lyon, was a member for over 50 years.

“She was always (involved) but I was never interested until I got to 13 or 14 when I did my first show with BTC, Annie, where I played the chauffeur,” he said.

“I didn’t have any lines but I got a hat and a name and I was thrilled.

“After that I fell in love with it and I was (involved with) as many of their shows as I could.”

Once hooked, Lyon pursued music through high school and went on to study opera in Melbourne.

“I’ve (also) taught singing since I was 17,” he said. “That’s how I’ve made (consistent) money, by being a vocal coach.”

His professional performing career properly took off after being cast in the King Kong musical in 2013, auditioning after being encouraged by a couple of his students.

“I ended up getting the role of Carl Denham (filmmaker and expedition leader to Skull Island), which was pretty cool,” he said.

“After Kong, I composed and produced a musical to coincide with the opening of Ulumbarra Theatre called Ned, a New Australian Musical (2015), which was also awesome. I was very proud of that show.”

The BTC alumnus then proceeded to study his Masters in Vocal Pedagogy (the study and practice of teaching singing and voice use) at the National Institute of Dramatic Art, before children came along and time constraints came into play.

“When my wife got pregnant, the years following were mostly dealing with our little boy William,” he said.

“That was a fairly involved process, but along the way I’ve always composed and produced and taught in between (roles).”

Next up eventually came Moulin Rouge (2023) for a two-year stint and a star turn in The Whale (2024) with Melbourne Shakespeare Company.

He said when he received the Beetlejuice brief he was “super keen”.

“I thought it was funny and I knew (about) Eddie Perfect,” he said.

“It was four auditions, three in Melbourne then a final one up in Sydney.

“You don’t know for ages. It’s a waiting game and sometimes you don’t get a good read on it.

“Obviously it went OK because I got the job.”

Since the premiere on 17 May, Lyon said the response has been “really overwhelming”.

“It’s been very well received – people absolutely love it. It has struck a nerve,” he said.

“I think everyone could do with a laugh and this will deliver in spades.”

Tickets to Beetlejuice The Musical at the Regent Theatre can be purchased on the Ticketek website.