Danny Elfman's gothic, music-box score for Edward Scissorhands is getting a full live-orchestra treatment in downtown Chicago. The Chicago Philharmonic will perform the 1990 Tim Burton film's soundtrack in real time while the movie plays on screen, with the show set for Saturday, October 24, 2026, at The Auditorium.
The performance runs from 7:30 to 10:30 p.m. at The Auditorium, located at 50 East Ida B. Wells Drive, according to the Chicago Philharmonic. The orchestra describes the show as featuring Elfman's Grammy-winning score performed live to picture, synced to the film as it unfolds on the big screen. It's the latest installment in the ensemble's Auditorium Philms Concert Series, which pairs beloved movies with live orchestral accompaniment, as reported by the Chicago Tribune.
A Fairy-Tale Outsider Comes Back to Life Onscreen
Released in 1990 and directed by Burton, Edward Scissorhands centers on Edward, a gentle artificial man with scissors for hands, played by Johnny Depp, according to the Auditorium Theatre. As WGN-TV notes, the story explores love, acceptance, and an artificial man with scissors for hands trying to find his place in a world that both welcomes and fears him. Thiago Tiberio is identified in the Chicago Philharmonic's event materials in connection with conducting the performance, praised there for mature musicianship.
Svengoolie Hosts a Costumed Pre-Party
Before the film rolls, a spooky-themed VIP pre-party kicks off at 5:30 p.m., complete with costumes, cocktails, and a special guest appearance by Svengoolie, per the same Auditorium Theatre listing. VIP tickets run $50 and include early entry, a complimentary cocktail, light bites, candy, exclusive pre-show festivities, and access to a Svengoolie meet-and-greet. Tickets start at $68.75, with general admission at $101.25.
WGN Segment Dives Into the Details
Michael Folker joined WGN's Spotlight Chicago segment to discuss the concert, a program that airs weekdays from 1 to 2 p.m. on WGN, according to the station's report. The article covering the concert was authored by Sarah Jindra and Ji Suk Yi for WGN-TV.
The Chicago Philharmonic was founded in 1989 by musicians of the Lyric Opera Orchestra, per its own event page, which describes nearly 200 musician members. The group's pairing of live symphonic sound with a cult classic promises a different kind of Halloween-season outing for Chicago audiences heading downtown on October 24.
