Halsey has joined the production of “The Nightmare Before Christmas” for a three-night engagement at the Hollywood Bowl just before Halloween, singing the role of Sally on the first two nights of the engagement before the film’s original voice actress, Catherine O’Hara, takes over on the third.
The dates on which Halsey will perform are 27 and 28 October. On the 29th, O’Hara will not only play Sally, but will also take over the role of Shock, which will be sung by Riki Lindhome on the previous two nights.
Although it’s a short part in the live-to-picture production, Sally has been a plum for pop stars in recent years. Phoebe Bridgers did it in London last December for a two night ‘Nightmare’ concert engagement at London’s OVO Arena Wembley. The last time Nightmare did a concert engagement in Los Angeles, two years ago at the Banc of California Stadium, Billie Eilish was in the cast to sing Sally’s Song for that two-night stand.
The other singers for the Bowl stand have also been announced. Fred Armisen will take on a role for the first time in “Nightmare”, singing the role of Lock. Ken Page will return as Oogie Boogie. Songwriter for the 1993 Tim Burton-produced film, Danny Elfman, has already been announced to reprise the starring role of Jack Skellington, as he has done for many years at the Bowl, as well as the trip to the Banc of California Stadium in 2021.
“The Nightmare Before Christmas was presented at the Bowl in 2015, 2016 and 2018. The 2021 visit to the Banc of America will also feature Paul Reubens in one of his final live performances.
This concert version is produced by Laura Engel and Richard Kraft of Kraft-Engel Productions and Alison Ahart Williams, Tim Fox & Georgina Ryder of AMP Worldwide in association with Disney Concerts.
John Mauceri returns to conduct a full orchestra playing Elfman’s score live to the film. Also returning is Sandy Cameron as guest violinist for the “Skeleton Trio Entr’acte”. Randy Crenshaw, Angie Jarée, Baraka May, Greg Proops and Fletcher Sheridan complete the live voice cast.
Halsey has been in the news recently for signing to Columbia Records in June after two months as a free agent following her departure from Capitol after a long, star-making run there. Three weeks ago, Halsey teased a forthcoming album by posting photos on Instagram, writing: “Not pictured: me splitting myself in two every day so I can give you my deepest wounds (and a handful of perfect joys) for the 5th time in 10 years”.
Elfman hit the headlines in July when he was sued by fellow composer Nomi Abadi in Los Angeles Superior Court for breach of contract over an earlier settlement in which he agreed to pay $830,000 over sexual harassment claims, with Abadi claiming he had not paid the final $85,000 due under the agreement. In statements to Rolling Stone, Elfman denied any wrongdoing, including the behaviour described in Abadi’s lawsuit, which formed the basis of the 2018 settlement.
