Danny Elfman News

Grammy and Emmy Award-winning composer, Danny Elfman, is contributing original music to the world premiere Broadway production of Pulitzer Prize finalist and MacArthur Fellow Taylor Mac's new comedy Gary: A Sequel to Titus Andronicus

Every child knows his melodies. You will normally only hear this about rock stars. However, Danny Elfman is a composer of film music. Yet, who does not know how to whistle the theme from The Simpsons? Or the driving sound of Beetlejuice devised by Elfman in 1988, which became a hallmark for the comedy-fantasy film genre and for video games. Elfman provided the film score for nearly all movies directed by Tim Burton, invented the cinematic sound for Spider Man and Men in Black and came up with the main theme for Desperate Housewives. Hailing from Los Angeles and already a member of an avant-garde ensemble by the age of 19, Elfman has established himself as a fixture among the greatest film composers alongside Hans Zimmer or John Williams. However, among the soundtrack masters Elfman stands out for the distinctive character he lends his scores. With him, tubas and trombones play at a breakneck speed and violins are put through Paganini-like paces. And every soundtrack has its own unique idea which captivates the imagination of moviegoers over and over again.

“American Idol” fans just got a preview of Arcade Fire's all-new, end-credit version of the iconic song “Baby Mine” as part of a new look at Tim Burton's live-action reimagining of the beloved classic story “Dumbo.” 

The Cleveland Orchestra today announced details of its popular Summers@Severance series, which, for the first time, will include four concerts as part of an ongoing effort to bring more great music to University Circle in the summer and an add-on feature film: Batman (1989) in concert. These summer concert experiences boast the best that Severance Hall has to offer, inside and out. Not only will guests enjoy the perfect evening of music in one of the world's most beautiful concert halls, they'll also be invited onto the picturesque Front Terrace of Severance Hall to relax under the summer sky with great drinks and great company, pre- and post-concert.

The Philly POPS announced its TOPS of the POPS 2019-20 season today, February 14, 2019.

The Nashville Symphony has announced the lineup for its 2019/20 season, which kicks off in September and features an extensive variety of classical, pops, jazz and family concerts, including top-flight guest artists, film favorites with live orchestral accompaniment, unique speaker events and much more. At the heart of this concert programming, Maestro Giancarlo Guerrero will lead the orchestra in its flagship Classical Series, which includes everything from masterworks by Tchaikovsky, Mozart, Berlioz and Beethoven to boundary-pushing contemporary American works.

The following are acts performing at City Winery Chicago, 1200 W. Randolph Street, in January. Please consider including in your upcoming calendar and cultural listings. All City Winery Chicago events are open to all ages and start at 8:00 p.m., unless otherwise noted. Tickets can be purchased by calling 312-733-WINE (9463) or by visiting www.citywinery.com/chicago.

Next week, FEINSTEIN'S/54 BELOW, Broadway's Supper Club & Private Event Destination, presents some of the brightest stars from Broadway, cabaret, jazz, and beyond. To purchase tickets or for more information, visit www.54Below.com/Feinsteins or call (646) 476-3551.

What good is sitting alone in your room this week? If you don't already have plans to see a Broadway show, come out to see your favorite Broadway stars in a cabaret act instead. Highlights this week include: Matt Doyle, Tony Yazbeck, Broadway Goes A Cappella, and The Nightmare Before Christmas: The Concert

In the Auditorium Theatre's 129th year of existence, we honored the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. at the 13th annual Too Hot to Handel: The Jazz-Gospel Messiah; asked "What's This?" on Halloween with a special screening and the Midwest premiere of Disney in Concert's The Nightmare Before Christmas; and sang along to timeless classics like "December 1963 (Oh, What a Night)" and "Grease" with Frankie Valli & The Four Seasons. We reveled alongside the dancers from Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater; celebrated Ballet Nacional de Cuba's return to Chicago following a 15-year absence; highlighted top local dance companies, including Hubbard Street Dance Chicago and Giordano Dance Chicago; and got transported to Mexico with the colorful music and dance of Ballet Folklorico de Mexico de Amalia Hernandez. We also hosted the 14th  year of our Hearts to Art summer camp, a performing arts camp for young people who have experienced the death of a parent; welcomed over 5,000 students to our Student Matinees; and brought thousands of people from across the city to the theatre through our ADMIT ONE program.

Boys and girls of every age, wouldn't you like to see something strange?

Jack Skellington and the residents of Halloween Town pay a visit to Chicago onOctober 31, 2018, when Disney in Concert: Tim Burton's The Nightmare Before Christmas comes to the Auditorium Theatre.

Next week, FEINSTEIN'S/54 BELOW, Broadway's Supper Club & Private Event Destination, presents some of the brightest stars from Broadway, cabaret, jazz, and beyond. To purchase tickets or for more information, visit www.54Below.com/Feinsteins or call (646) 476-3551.

Fans of Tim Burton's 'The Nightmare Before Christmas' will now have another chance to celebrate the film's 25th anniversary with Disney In Concert at the Hollywood Bowl on Sunday, October 28th at 7:30 pm. Los Angeles' reigning Pumpkin King, Danny Elfman, will return to the Hollywood Bowl performing his role of Jack Skellington singing live to film for a very special screening of Disney's timeless holiday classic on October 26, 27 & 28. The immersive experience will include live scenery projections, live orchestra, spectacular guest artists, and an all-star cast. Elfman will be joined by other original cast members including Catherine O'Hara (Sally) and Ken Page (Oogie Boogie) who headlined the opening production, which sold out two nights over Halloween weekend at the Hollywood Bowl in 2015 and returned for 3 nights in 2016 due to popular demand.

Next week, FEINSTEIN'S/54 BELOW, Broadway's Supper Club & Private Event Destination, presents some of the brightest stars from Broadway, cabaret, jazz, and beyond. To purchase tickets or for more information, visit www.54Below.com/Feinsteins or call (646) 476-3551.

AYS will continue their live-to-picture concert tradition by bringing to life John Williams' score from Steven Spielberg's Raiders of the Lost Ark. Join everyone's favorite renegade archaeologist in this unique and exciting movie experience. A Raiders of the Lost Ark-themed benefit dinner will follow the concert at 7 p.m., honoring Paramount's President, Film & TV Music, Randy Spendlove, who has helped shape the landscape of film music for over 20 years.

Following a sold-out performance in 2017, The Nightmare Before Christmas: The Concert returns to Feinstein's/54 Below, Broadway's Supper Club, for a three-night engagement on Friday, October 26th; Wednesday, October 31; and Thursday, December 13, 2018.

Boys and girls of every age, wouldn't you like to see something strange?

The legendary El Capitan Theatre celebrates the Spooktacular 25th Anniversary this October of its two Halloween favorites: Disney's beloved "Hocus Pocus" October 11-21, followed by the 25th annual presentation of Tim Burton's "The Nightmare Before Christmas" October 22-31, shown in 3D with spine-tingling interactive 4D sensory effects, including lights, fog, scents, and more wind and snow than ever before! In addition, props and photo opportunities from these two classic Halloween movies will be on display before and after every screening.