by Keridwyn Deller

Year after year, I hear friends rave about This is Halloween, the burlesque musical based on the movie The Nightmare Before Christmas. This live show (with live band!) was created The Can Can. It’s on stage at The Triple Door October 15 – 31, 2026.

Most folks know I’m a huge fan of the campy-sexy-fantastic productions that Can Can creates year after year. So it’s surprising I’ve never seen this particular production! This week will be my first time.

This is Halloween plays The Triple Door in downtown Seattle October 15 – 31, 2026. Tickets here.

Recently, I had a chance to connect with one of the talented performers from the show, Travis Guerin, who plays Zero (Jack Skellington’s loyal ghost dog).

Here’s our Q&A:

Q: If someone is picking ONE show to see in Seattle this Fall, why is This is Halloween the one to pick?

It’s so many things at once: warm nostalgia, jaw-dropping singers, classically-trained and incredibly talented dancers (if I may say so myself!), stupid and hilarious jokes, beautiful hand-crafted costumes, a live band on stage playing all the music from the movie (and more!), it’s just so fun and happy and light but also impressive in multiple different ways. A full-on production that ticks so many boxes, I love it so much!

Q: How do you imagine an audience member feeling as they head out after the show?

Hopefully inspired, uplifted, cheeks hurting from smiling! It’s silly and joyful and lightheartedly risque, which I think we all need a little more of right now. I’m happy when I see people laughing as they walk out the door. I kind of also view this as a subtle act of resistance, exhibiting queer joy in a world that doesn’t want it. Everyone is welcome to This Is Halloween, and so many different people walk through those doors and we all enjoy the show together in one big room, cast and crew and audience. It’s a gathering of like-minded people, all together to laugh and appreciate art. It’s reassuring these days. 

Do audience members need to have a strong connection to the movie or music before seeing the show?

The first time I watched The Nightmare Before Christmas was actually immediately following the first time I saw This Is Halloween several years ago. The plots are the same with minor variations on why and how things happen, so you definitely don’t have to know much about the story beforehand. We’ve taken a few liberties and added some great music at key points in the story.

Who shouldn’t see this show?

People who hate fun!

Have your feelings or opinions about the movie changed since doing the show? 

As I mentioned, I hadn’t seen the movie until after I first saw our show, but I loved the show so much that I needed to see the movie! It’s now one of my favorites, and the pride and the amazing memories I have from performing in this show have really given it a very special place in my heart.

Describe This is Halloween using up to six emojis:

🥳🤩😈🧑‍🎄💃🎙️

Describe your character using up to six emojis:

👻🐶🦴🤪🤸🌋

What’s a fun challenge about playing your role in This is Halloween?

It’s physically exhausting! It’s the most strenuous show of my year, which is both daunting and exhilarating. I’m getting older and my body’s been through a lot in my career, so I’m trying to take care of myself while also still bursting with energy and going all-out. I love to dance, I love to perform, and I won’t be able to do it forever, so I’m trying to live it and love it as much as I can! 

(interview continues after the photo)

What’s something you love about a fellow cast member or someone involved with the show?

I’m excited to share the Triple Door stage with one of my good friends Tori Gresham, playing The Mayor! She’s recently been performing (incredibly) in tons of 5th Avenue Theatre shows, which means she hasn’t been around Can Can as much as I’d like, so after a long time we finally get to be in a show together again!

What’s something that surprised you about the production or creative process when you were in rehearsals?

I’m always surprised that there’s only ten performers in the cast! Of course there’s the amazing live band on stage with us, which doubles our ranks, but every year when we first start rehearsals and there are only ten people in the room I keep thinking, “Where’s everybody else?” The show has so many different scenes, songs, costumes, half the cast plays multiple roles. It’s fun seeing what we can accomplish with only ten people!

—

Thanks, Travis, for sharing your love of the show with us. I’m even more looking forward to seeing it.

This is Halloween plays The Triple Door October 15 – 31, 2026 in downtown Seattle. Tickets here.

More about Travis Guerin: Travis was born and raised in Spokane, Washington. He joined a tap dancing class as a young kid and instantly fell in love. Eventually he expanded his tap skills to include ballet, contemporary, modern, and jazz dance. As a teen, he travelled and competed all over the continent, winning awards and making connections. After high school he auditioned for ballet companies across the country and trained with the San Francisco Ballet. He snagged a contract with the Kansas City Ballet and worked his way up to principal roles in just a few years. He retired after a hip injury and surgery, and now has way more fun performing with the Can Can!

Photos by Nate Watters

Can Can page, here.

The Triple Door page, here.