The Nightmare Before Christmas-A Musical Spectacular

[ROBONICS95]

I have just returned from an extremely packed showing of The Nightmare Before Christmas 3D. While TNBC is not one of my all time favorites, it does have a good story and an extremely fantastic score, probably one of Elfman's bests.

So my question is, does TNBC have the potential to become a successful Broadway musical?

Does the dark tone carried through the film restrict it from appealing to the general public?

I think that there is some great potential for fantastic live performances, especially Oogie Boogie's number, Jack's Lament, and the Halloween Town Chorus number.

If it is thought of as too much of a risk to pursue such an extravagant production, maybe Disney could test the production prior to committing to bringing it to Broadway.

Where would they be able to test?

How about a Holiday Overlay of the Hyperion Theatre in Disney's California Adventure? Give Aladdin a few months off starting in September and bring in Jack to help ring in the holiday.

The popularity of TNBC has definitely grown over the years but is it enough to make it successful on stage?

If you feel that it can be done, what ideas would you like the designers adapt? Costumes? Sets?

Your thoughts?

[thrax]

Re: The Nightmare Before Christmas-A Musical Spectacular

funny you mention that i herd that the movies in talks to become a live stage show

[krystledm]

Re: The Nightmare Before Christmas-A Musical Spectacular

i had this crazy idea in high school and began to convert it, lol

of corse it was not professional nor with permission, but man did i come up with some great ideas, lol

[ROBONICS95]

Re: The Nightmare Before Christmas-A Musical Spectacular

funny you mention that i herd that the movies in talks to become a live stage show

Really? Word of mouth or is there information circling around on the net?

[ROBONICS95]

Re: The Nightmare Before Christmas-A Musical Spectacular

i had this crazy idea in high school and began to convert it, lol

of corse it was not professional nor with permission, but man did i come up with some great ideas, lol

Please feel free to share those ideas here...

[disney_dude_101]

Re: The Nightmare Before Christmas-A Musical Spectacular

NO NO NO!
I've seen it and It just can not survive being a stage show.
too dark
too scary
not enough music
and who in the name of mickey mouse, would sine up to be in it?

my 2 cents
disney_dude_101

[ROBONICS95]

Re: The Nightmare Before Christmas-A Musical Spectacular

NO NO NO!
I've seen it and It just can not survive being a stage show.
too dark
too scary
not enough music
and who in the name of mickey mouse, would sine up to be in it?

my 2 cents
disney_dude_101

I can understand most of your view points, but not enough music?
A majority of the movie are musical numbers, I am not sure that is a valid argument.

[mouseinphilly]

Re: The Nightmare Before Christmas-A Musical Spectacular

Maybe as a seasonal show at Disneyland or Walt Disney World, possibly at Hollywood Studios.

[ROBONICS95]

Re: The Nightmare Before Christmas-A Musical Spectacular

Maybe as a seasonal show at Disneyland or Walt Disney World, possibly at Hollywood Studios.

I agree. I think it could draw the crowds if introduced annually during the Holiday Season.

[mouseinphilly]

Re: The Nightmare Before Christmas-A Musical Spectacular

Wow. Great minds think alike...scary!

Anywho, this would be great from September through January at Hyperion Threatre in DCA and at the revamped theatre at DHS. The other shows (Aladdin at DCA and Beauty and the Beast at DHS) would run through the end of Labor Day weekend, then return after the holiday period.

[MissChristine]

Re: The Nightmare Before Christmas-A Musical Spectacular

I think you have an interesting idea there. I don't think the fanbase of Jack Skellington is going anywhere any time soon, so why not. If for some reason Disney decides to not to the HMH overlay anymore, then the "Jack's Halloween Spooktacular" or whatever you wanna call it can take over the Hyperion.


Smart people in these here parts, I'm tellin' ya!

[ROBONICS95]

Re: The Nightmare Before Christmas-A Musical Spectacular

Wow. Great minds think alike...scary!

Anywho, this would be great from September through January at Hyperion Threatre in DCA and at the revamped theatre at DHS. The other shows (Aladdin at DCA and Beauty and the Beast at DHS) would run through the end of Labor Day weekend, then return after the holiday period.

I think you have an interesting idea there. I don't think the fanbase of Jack Skellington is going anywhere any time soon, so why not. If for some reason Disney decides to not to the HMH overlay anymore, then the "Jack's Halloween Spooktacular" or whatever you wanna call it can take over the Hyperion.


Smart people in these here parts, I'm tellin' ya!

My thoughts exactly!
From my original post:

How about a Holiday Overlay of the Hyperion Theatre in Disney's California Adventure? Give Aladdin a few months off starting in September and bring in Jack to help ring in the holiday.

MGM's stage is also a nice option, since there is a rumored TNBC dark ride reported to arrive at the studios.

Nice work gang

"Jack's Halloween Spooktacular"

Works for me!!

[pineapplewhipaddict]

Re: The Nightmare Before Christmas-A Musical Spectacular

I know a great many people who would love to see this a reality...but the first major problem that comes to my mind is Jack himself. He's a skeleton, and a costume where the actor is covered in black and just has white skeletal remains shown I don't think will cut it. He needs a flexible face, too...I don't know. If it wasn't convincing enough for the actor to show emotion etc., I think the show would fall to pieces.

[ROBONICS95]

Re: The Nightmare Before Christmas-A Musical Spectacular

I know a great many people who would love to see this a reality...but the first major problem that comes to my mind is Jack himself. He's a skeleton, and a costume where the actor is covered in black and just has white skeletal remains shown I don't think will cut it. He needs a flexible face, too...I don't know. If it wasn't convincing enough for the actor to show emotion etc., I think the show would fall to pieces.

I agree that the costumes and stage sets would either make or break the production.

The musical score and story are pretty much flawless as they are.

Jack, while being a skeleton, is most recognized wearing a black pin stripe suit with an exaggerated bow tie. I think the public may go for a costume of the same design and have the actors face visible.

If Disney can successfully make a talking feather broom, candelabra, an entire cast of sea creatures and African Safari animals believable, then I think they should be able to create a believable Jack Skellington.

[Sorvian]

Re: The Nightmare Before Christmas-A Musical Spectacular

I sure do hope your right Robonic. I think they should go the route of Finding Nemo and make the actors faces visible.

But have superbly stylized sets to make it all believeably Halloween Town.

[Kuzcochik]

Re: The Nightmare Before Christmas-A Musical Spectacular

Meh, I still think it'd be amazing as a musical
The entire movie is already almost an opera (whomever said there isn't enough music is sadly mistaken... there's hardly any dialogue)
I've been saying this should be done since high school too
Disney's creative! if they can make a mermaid swim and a ship sail in TLM the musical
what's to say they can't come up with something crazy amazing to work for NMBC
(just thinking about a stage version makes me happy)

[ROBONICS95]

Re: The Nightmare Before Christmas-A Musical Spectacular

I sure do hope your right Robonic. I think they should go the route of Finding Nemo and make the actors faces visible.

But have superbly stylized sets to make it all believeably Halloween Town.

An extremely detailed set would definitely be key in making this production believable and appealing to the general public.

[mouseinphilly]

Re: The Nightmare Before Christmas-A Musical Spectacular

They would still have HMH overlaid at Haunted Mansion, but the stage show would be at DCA and be part of the new edgier Halloween hard ticket I'm proposing.

[Sorvian]

Re: The Nightmare Before Christmas-A Musical Spectacular

They would still have HMH overlaid at Haunted Mansion, but the stage show would be at DCA and be part of the new edgier Halloween hard ticket I'm proposing.

I'm not sure about the hard ticket. But they could probably launch a major national ad campaign. Maybe WDW will finally get HMH.

[Touchdown]

Re: The Nightmare Before Christmas-A Musical Spectacular

I think that makeup could work great for Jack's face. The actor would need to shave his head and possess a "skull facial appearance" you know what I mean. Then add white paint to his whole head except around his eyes and nose and volia instant skull (especially for those in the back.)

The problem costume I see is Oogie, but I guess they could do something similar to the Scarecrow in the Wizzard of Oz to do his face and just get a larger guy to play him. However, something would still be lost in translation since the Oogie character was nearly double the size of the other puppets.