Halsey has joined the production of “The Nightmare Before Christmas” coming to the Hollywood Bowl for a three-night stand just prior to Halloween, singing the role of Sally on the first two nights of the engagement, before the movie’s original voice actor, Catherine O’Hara takes it over on the third.
The dates Halsey will appear are Oct. 27-28. On Oct. 29, O’Hara will not only play Sally but also step into the role of Shock, which will be sung on the previous two nights by Riki Lindhome.
Although it’s a short part in the live-to-picture production, Sally has been a plum one for pop stars in recent years. Phoebe Bridgers did it last December in London for a two-night “Nightmare” concert engagement at London’s OVO Arena Wembley. The last time a concert engagement of “Nightmare” happened in Los Angeles, two years ago at 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 in “Nightmare” for the first time, singing the role of Lock. Ken Page will return as Oogie Boogie. The songwriter for the 1993 Tim Burton-produced film, Danny Elfman, was already announced as reprising the principal role of Jack Skellington, as he has done at the Bowl for many years, as well as the side trip to Banc of California Stadium in 2021.
“The Nightmare Before Christmas” has been presented at the Bowl in 2015, 2016 and 2018. The Banc of America visit in 2021 also included Paul Reubens in one of his final live appearances.
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 will return as the conductor of a full orchestra playing Elfman’s score live-to-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 will complete the live voice cast.
Halsey has been in the news most recently for signing with Columbia Records in June after being a free agent for two months in the wake of leaving Capitol after a long, star-making run there. Three weeks ago, while putting photos up on Instagram, Halsey teased a forthcoming album, writing, “Not pictured: me splitting myself in two everyday so that I can give you my deepest wounds (and a handful of perfect joys) for the 5th time in 10 years.”
Elfman was in news 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 saying he had not paid the final $85,000 due from the agreement. In statements given to Rolling Stone, Elfman denied wrongdoing, including the behavior described in Abadi’s lawsuit that was the basis of the 2018 settlement.
