Christmas

Elfman at the Bowl: A ‘Nightmare' in Hollywood

A Halloween night treat will bring out the Burton buffs in costume-y droves.

Update: A second Hollywood Bowl show has been added on Sunday, Nov. 1.

To say that composer/performer Danny Elfman's surprise 2013 tour of Tim Burton's "A Nightmare Before Christmas" was popular with "Nightmare" fans is like saying Jack Skellington is long of leg or that Sally is sweet of heart. 

It was way popular, to the moon-and-back-and-on-to-Halloween-Town popular, it was so talked-about that people not even familiar with the 1993 stop-motion classic were all abuzz over it.

We josh: There's practically no one who doesn't know this film, nor the timeless work of Mr. Elfman, who provided both the music and the singing voice of the curious and empathetic skeleton who serves as the movie's charming and heroic lead. 

It's a voice the former Oingo Boingo frontman took on the road, along with the film, a couple of years back, and now Mr. Elfman will be crooning "What's this? What's this?" before 17,000+ Burton buffs at the Hollywood Bowl on Halloween night.

Yes, it might be a tad cold up in the Bowl stands, as suits the story; Snow and Sandy Claws both play chill-making roles in the film.

Yes, it will be outrageously costume-y; fans are invited to dress up as Jack or his paramour Sally or Zero, the floaty dog, or Lock, Shock, and Barrel, a trio of evil little mischievians.

The Scene

Want to find new things to do in Los Angeles? The Scene's lifestyle stories have you covered. Here's your go-to source on where the fun is across SoCal and for the weekend.

Southern fast-food chain Bojangles announces expansion to LA County

Sweet stuff: A ‘Strawberry Street Fair' is flowering at Tanaka Farms

There shall be so much "Nightmare"-y goodness -- or badness? -- at the Bowl that the serious fan may feel overwhelmed. Best arrive when doors first open, well ahead of the 8 o'clock start time, to soak in all of the sights and wonders.

And best put your claws on a ticket sooner than later. Tickets go on sale via Ticketmaster -- this is a lease event at the Hollywood Bowl, do note -- on Friday, Sept. 18 at noon o'clock.

High noon is not a very Halloween Town-type time, it is true, but figure that even Jack Skellington longed to try new things beyond his dreary sphere.

And if you've never seen Danny Elfman warble live, with orchestra, to one of the most dearly loved and obsessed-over holiday films, well, be like Jack and get with the fresh experience.

Copyright FREEL - NBC Local Media
Contact Us