The Nightmare Before Christmas Lights Up the Hollywood Bowl with Danny Elfman and the Hollywood Bowl Orchestra
10/25/2025 - The Hollywood Bowl - Hollywood, California.
Photos by: Randall Michelson
Review by: Wolf Requiestas
Los Angeles celebrated Halloween weekend with a beloved tradition: The Nightmare Before Christmas in concert at the Hollywood Bowl. Backed by the Hollywood Bowl Orchestra and conducted by founding director John Mauceri, the event brought Tim Burton’s stop-motion classic to life with composer, singer, and voice actor Danny Elfman leading a star-studded cast.
The Bowl was decked out in full Halloween Town fashion.
A towering 13-foot Jack Skellington greeted fans at the gates, while early attendees wandered through themed displays, took photos, and joined in a lively costume contest. Families and friends in Jack, Sally, and Oogie Boogie costumes filled the amphitheater’s picnic terraces before the film began.
Once the orchestra took their seats beneath the glowing archway projection of Halloween Town, Mauceri lifted his baton and the opening notes of “This Is Halloween” echoed through the night. The 17,000-seat venue fell into awe as the movie played on three massive screens, perfectly synchronized with the live orchestra.
Throughout the performance, the film paused at key musical moments to spotlight guest vocalists reprising iconic songs.
Riki Lindhome sang as Shock, John Stamos as Lock, while Randy Crenshaw, Angie Jaree, Greg Proops, Fletcher Sheridan, and Baraka May Williams joined Elfman, whose voice as Jack Skellington remains as sharp and playful as ever.
Each performance was met with roars of applause, adding a live energy that made the decades-old classic feel brand new.
After the intermission, violin virtuoso Sandy Cameron took the stage for a haunting rendition of “This Is Halloween,” her bow screeching and dancing across the strings with theatrical flair. The audience was spellbound. The film resumed at the scene where Santa Claus “Sandy Claws” is captured by Oogie Boogie, leading to one of the night’s most powerful moments. The late Ken Page, who originally voiced Oogie Boogie, was honored by actor and singer Keith David, who made his Hollywood Bowl debut with a powerful performance. His deep, booming voice sent chills through the crowd.
The mood softened as Janelle Monáe appeared next, stunning in full Sally costume, complete with blue makeup and stitched details. Her rendition of “Sally’s Song” was tender and moving, her vocals gliding effortlessly across the Bowl’s open air. Elfman and Monáe returned together for the film’s “Finale,” delivering a warm, heartfelt close to the cinematic performance.
But the night didn’t end there. After the credits rolled, Elfman returned to the stage alone to perform a song he had written for to Ken Page. A powerful and whimsical version of “Oogie Boogie’s Song,” complete with dancing, theatrics, and even conductor Mauceri donning a Santa hat for the Sandy Claws lines.
To the delight of longtime fans, Elfman surprised the audience once more by reuniting with his legendary band, Oingo Boingo, for two songs to close out the night. At this point, it’s hardly even a surprise anymore, the encore turned the Hollywood Bowl into a Halloween party.
From start to finish, The Nightmare Before Christmas in concert was more than just a movie screening. It was a celebration of artistry, nostalgia, and the timeless imagination of Danny Elfman’s music and Tim Burton’s artistry. A decade and a dozen performances later, the event still captures the wonder of the season and reminds audiences why Halloween and Christmas will always belong to Jack Skellington, the Pumpkin King. Watching Elfman and everyone on stage, I couldn’t help but wonder if they imagined that their creation would stand the test of time and still fill the night with magic three decades later.