The Nightmare Before Christmas LIVE In Concert!
As temperatures continue to drop and the icy hands of winter tighten their grip on the Northeast, it’s feeling more and more like the holiday season for us native to the area. Christmas movies are playing and streaming nonstop on pretty much every network, and all of my recent conversations have been peppered with expressions of excitement for (The Nightmare Before) Christmas.
I wanted to celebrate the season by participating in as many holiday happenings I could pack into my schedule! When I read the announcement that Barclays Center in Brooklyn was showing The Nightmare Before Christmas with a live orchestra (!) playing the film’s score, I was intrigued.
When I read that the songs would not only be orchestrated live, but also sung live to the movie, I checked my calendar and hoped I would be available. When I read that Danny Elfman, the composer of the film’s music and original voice of Jack Skellington, was going to be in attendance to perform the songs live, I knew I just had to be there!
The Nightmare Before Christmas
The Nightmare Before Christmas was brilliantly conceived for many reasons, but what geniuses the creatives were to make a film that is ‘in season’ from October-December! I don’t know of any other holiday movie with that kind of staying power, and you’d be hard pressed to find a Christmas movie with as much of a cult following as this Tim Burton-conceived motion picture.
So I supposed I shouldn’t’ have been surprised to see groups in costume waiting to get into Barclays Center when I arrived at the concert on December 6! The anticipation for the event was palpable as the queue for the security screening stretched at least 100 people deep at each entrance. I’m lucky to have attended many events at the Barclays Center, from concerts to sporting events, and I can tell you that I’ve never been in line to get in with a more enthusiastic vibe than this crew!
This is Halloween!
Once seated inside Barclays Center I got my first glimpse of the concert stage. There were three giant screens erected- one massive one directly behind the orchestra, and two smaller screens to the right and left. The orchestra sat in front of the largest screen. The uppermost sections of the arena were blacked out, so I knew this would be the most intimate event I’ve ever watched in the venue, and couldn’t wait for it to begin!
When the conductor lowered his baton and the orchestra played the first chord of the Overture, the crowd was silent. Well, they silenced after first erupting into applause and cheers! The Overture and opening played on the screen as the orchestra played in perfect conjunction with the film being projected.
The opening number is when we were introduced to the chorus. If you’ve seen the film, you’ll remember that the opening number, This is Halloween, is sung by the entire population of Halloweentown. I looked around, anticipating the entrance of a huge chorus…the chorus of singers was comprised of two women and three men. Yes, as in five people total to supply the voices of the dozens of characters. I had really high expectations for this event, and they were wiped away in a matter of moments when I saw just five people walk out onto the stage.
The Underrated Stars
If any of the five members of the chorus are reading this, this is my apology for my much too early judgment because they absolutely delivered! These FIVE PEOPLE supplied the voices for the entirety of the townspeople and ensemble characters throughout the film. These singers’ ability to switch character voices so quickly and seamlessly still has me wondering how they did it.
Not only did the chorus members have the tall task of playing the entire ensemble, I can’t let my review (or praise) of the chorus wrap up until I point out the overall synchronization displayed by orchestra/chorus and the projection of the film.
Sure, a conductor leading a live orchestra while keeping them in time with video has been done before. But the elements of music and film were truly synonymous here, and I found myself looking from live performers to screen without spotting the slightest inconsistencies that are usually the tell tale sign of a live performances.
The Pumpkin King
AfterI the chorus succeeded in blowing me away with the opening number, an electric buzz slowly descended on Barclays Center…because it was time for Jack Skellington. Danny Elfman, the original composer of the film’s music and original singing voice of Jack Skellington, took the stage amidst hoots and screams from the entire audience, and from that moment, I knew I was strapped in for a fantastic ride.
One of my favorite moments of the evening came when Jack Skellington first discovers Christmastown and is perplexed and delighted by everything he sees. Danny Elfman’s performance of What’s This? had everyone sitting on the edge of our seats from the first note straight on through to the end. His love of the music he wrote and the character he portrays was so apparent, and his energy put a huge smile on everyone’s faces!
Mr. Oogie Boogie
Honestly, there weren’t any bad or dull moments to this concert event. Catherine O’Hara (original voices of Sally/Shock) did a lovely job with her parts. I don’t think I’ve mentioned how perfectly synchronized music to film projection was all night. You’d swear these people were professionals! In all sincerity, her performance was met with a warm welcome.
The only out of place part of the night was the insertion of an ‘intermission’. I understand the reasons for putting it in, but I didn’t feel it was necessary to break up the action, especially since this is a short, Disney-length film.
With the intermission over, there was still one song myself and my friends couldn’t wait for. In fact, these songs, and this character, were strategically saved for the second half, successfully building anticipation yet again! A very well-planned move on the director’s part!
Donning a green scarf and a perfectly domineering attitude, Oogie Boogie himself (Ken Page) made his big entrance. Oogie Boogie’s Song has long been one of my favorite tunes from the film, and seeing it performed live with the massive orchestra backing the original voice actor confirmed this song’s place as #1 on my personal Nightmare Before Christmas power rankings chart.
One difference that set Mr. Page’s performance apart was his embodiment of his character. He was Oogie Boogie. I mean, his commitment to the character with his body, facial expressions, and voice set him apart from the rest of the performances. Can you tell Oogie Boogie is my favorite?
Delightfully Frightening
This was a really, really awesome event to have experienced. I attended the first of two nights of performances of the film at Barclays Center, and I seriously considered purchasing a ticket to the next evening’s show as the End Title music played. Speaking of End Title…this is an orchestral piece that basically serves as a summary of all the music in the film, played at (you guessed it!) the end. It’s important to note that at this point, the orchestra had been playing nonstop from beginning to end, and their sound was as boisterous and huge as it had been in the Overture.
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