F.W. Murnau’s Nosferatu, the 1922 German silent film that cemented the vampire into cinematic lore, has haunted popular culture for more than a hundred years. And the Art Theatre in Long Beach is marking Halloween tradition with a screening of the original masterpiece, presented on the big screen in all its eerie grandeur.
The highlight of the night? A live score performed by composer Jack Curtis Dubowsky and the Jack Curtis Dubowsky Ensemble. This isn’t a new pairing—Jack has been shaping music for Nosferatu since debuting his first score for it in 2018. Over the years, he and his ensemble have continually revised and reimagined the work, layering in fresh elements and stripping away others, refining it into something that feels both timeless and startlingly new.
The Art Theatre will host the event on Friday, Oct, 31, at 10PM. Tickets are available online here, with general admission priced at $30, member tickets at $25, and senior tickets at $27.
The tradition at The Art Theatre continues…
“We first performed Nosferatu in 2018—and it was and remains our most popular show,” Dubowsky said. “As with all art, we continue to refine our show; it keeps getting better and better. And there’s no better time than Halloween to come see it.”
His composition moves away from the lush romanticism of James Bernard’s well-known 1997 orchestration, instead blending lyrical themes tied to each character with sparse, experimental 20th-century techniques and eerie sound effects. The result is an experience that reshapes a century-old horror classic into something alive, unsettling, and unforgettable.
The Long Beach musicians featured for Nosferatu at Long Beach’s Art Theatre
Jack Curtis Dubowsky – Composer, Conductor
Ellen Burr – Flute
Laurel Diskin – Violin
Reanne de Klerk – Keyboards
Matthew Miller – Percussion
Jeff Schwartz – Double Bass
Charles Sharp – Reeds
The Art Theatre in Long Beach, located at 2025 E. 4th St., will host the event on Friday, Oct, 31, at 10PM. Tickets are available online here, with general admission priced at $30, member tickets at $25, and senior tickets at $27.
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