Danny Elfman’s Music from the Films of Tim Burton

As part of the Lincoln Center Festival this show had 8 performances between July 6^th and July 12^th. When I managed to score a reasonably priced ticket on the last performance date, I was shocked as I was sure the show had sold out since it had sold out runs in Los Angeles and London.
At the end, Mr. Elfman stated that the show was difficult to put together, which made absolute sense, because in addition to having what appeared to be a 100 person orchestra, a violently talented solo violist, several dozen chorus members, a gifted solo Theremin player, a child soloist, a skilled conductor, back up singers specifically for The Nightmare Before Christmas number and countless of dozens of others both at Avery Fisher Hall and as part of the production staff, it appeared to be a massive undertaking.
This concert was special in that in addition to all of those individuals, movie scenes, storyboards, drawings and graphics from 14 Tim Burton films (Planet of the Apes, Batman, Edward Scissorhands, Beetlejuice, Sleepy Hollow, to name a few) were playing on a giant projector above the stage. So in addition to playing the soundtrack music from those movies you were also able to see which music matched which scenes. I never realized Tim Burton directed Pee-Wee’s Big Top Adventure so hearing a mutant-​sized orchestra playing the theme from that film was something I never imagined I’d see.
The Nightmare Before Christmas is my favorite movie of all time and that was the primary reason I bought the ticket, as I knew that the songs were to be performed live by the composer. To watch a group of five singers, including the voice Jack Skellington (Danny Elfman), sing «This is Halloweentown» made me smile so hard my face hurt.
At the end of the show, Mr. Elfman stated that when the show was conceived the goal was to play in New York and he wished to return in the future to do so once again. Should this show return, I am paying for better tickets next time and going more than once.