Shirley's San Antonio Real Estate Blog: At The McNay: The Nightmare Before Christmas

Tim Burton's The Nightmare Before Christmas

September 3, 2008 - January 1, 2009, Tobin Theatre Arts Gallery

McNay Art Museum, San Antonio, TX

Boys and Girls of every age, wouldn't you like to see something strange? -Tim Burton, from "This is Halloween" song for the film The Nightmare Before Christmas

Halloween seems like an appropriate time for adults and children to enjoy this exhibition currently on display at the McNay. If this isn't a good time, the exhibition runs through January 1, so you could plan on taking the kids during the Christmas break from school.  The exhibition displays original figures, sets, and props from The Nightmare Before Christmas.  You can see the library of Jack Skellington's mountaintop Tower and the Armory of Oogie Boogie's henchmen, Lock, Shock, and Barrel, whose mission is to kidnap Santa Claus. The display is constructed after Tim Burton's sketches and the figures and sets were the authentic ones used in making the film. Jack's body is dressed in a pinstriped tuxedo and batwings tie and the body is articulated to assume multiple poses. You can see how the wooden floor of the Armory is drilled with holes in which the figures were positioned for photographing each movement.

If you have seen the movie The Nightmare Before Christmas, this is an opportunity to get an idea of what went on behind the scenes in making the move.  If not, rent the movie to enjoy and get an even better understanding of the exhibition.

All items in the exhibition are from the McNay's collection of Theatre Arts.