Oogie Boogie's Burlesque Bash: Jasmine Jean Sim returns to This Is Halloween
Jasmine Jean Sim, the sensational performer known for her mesmerizing roles at Can Can Productions, has returned to the iconic character of Oogie Boogie in This Is Halloween. A partnership between Can Can and The Triple Door, this annual show has been a resounding success for a remarkable 16 years, captivating both the cast and audience alike. Sim's portrayal of Oogie Boogie is a triumph, adding a thrilling twist to the character and showcasing the show's commitment to female empowerment.
In this interview, Jasmine discusses the enduring appeal of This Is Halloween, the excitement of embodying Oogie Boogie, and the changes that make the show more empowering and unexpected. Additionally, she shares insights into the unique challenges and joys of performing at Can Can's 95 Pine Street Theatre and The Triple Door, ensuring that every audience member has a spellbinding and joy-filled experience.
THECANCAN.COM: This partnership with Triple Door has been going on for an impressive 16 years. What makes this show so special and enduring for both the cast and the audience?
Jasmine Jean Sim: I love every show I get to do at Can Can, and the blessing of all those shows is that they each are so individual–especially this one. In this show in particular, we lean into the over-characterization of these ridiculous people and characters, and there is just such joy in the absolute absurdity of it.
To add to that, so many of our cast are returning performers. There's an immediate camaraderie, an immediate relaxation into each other. There's also the added, fun element as a performer of going to a different venue, even though we're still representing Can Can. We get to go somewhere else and introduce new audiences to the show or to Can Can!
THECANCAN.COM: You play the role of Oogie Boogie in This Is Halloween. Can you tell us about the character and what it's like to bring this iconic Halloween character to life on stage?
Jasmine Jean Sim: The best way to describe her is the Boogie Man, and the tagline of the character is “a sack made of bugs and bones,” which I just think is such great alliteration. She is the Boogie Man who has a little bit of a gambling problem and loves spoiling Jack's fun. Jack, who is our pumpkin king, is in the midst of trying to steal Christmas and Oogie is just getting in the way of the plans.
I've been really lucky because each year they do This is Halloween, so many components change, whether it's with the times or with a new performer. When I came into it a couple of years ago, we started to make this show even more highlighting our female-presenting characters. So, for me, I love this character because I'm subverting the expectation of what people assume Oogie is going to look like or be represented by. I want them to think, “Oh, I love this surprise. This is what I want in an elevated version of a character that I already love.” I see her as this badass, sexy, confident, ridiculous, gambling green monster.
THECANCAN.COM: This Is Halloween is known for its live orchestral music, vocal performances, and video projections inspired by Tim Burton's classic. What can the audience expect from this year's production, and how does it aim to captivate and surprise them?
Jasmine Jean Sim: This year, as I said, we're always trying to add new material, whether it's with performers, their talents and skills, or it's just a changing of the times, whatever that may be. Since I've been doing this show, I've been really happy with how much more we’ve added–not just to Oogie because, of course, that's fun for me–but also how much we've really tried to highlight our female characters in the show.
We’ve taken the classic love story and really highlighted Sally's agency. Oogie, as a female-presenting character, becomes this version of a “bad guy” who's helping Sally discover her confidence rather than the old story of, “The bad guy kidnaps the girl and the guy's got to save her.”
The movie already shows Sally having agency, but in our production, we're creating even more of an impact by showing her ability to see herself and the encouragement of that. So without saying too much about it, I'm excited to be working with Miranda Antoinette, who plays Sally, we'll get to have a little bit more of that added element that isn't just following the same old storyline; it's giving Sally more of a voice with Oogie advising her.
THECANCAN.COM: With a 20+ person cast and crew, collaboration is key. Could you share some insights into how the team works together to create such a unique and immersive experience for the audience?
Jasmine Jean Sim: It's so awesome because by doing regular Can Can shows and then doing The Triple Door I get the best of both worlds of performance. At Can Can we have this incredible, really unparalleled experience of a small cast and crew. We're literally pulling the strings to open the curtain, and we've got one sound person and they're running every little component.
So, it's nice to briefly return to a process that’s not necessarily easier, but instead more of what is conventional as a performer. It's wonderful to have the shows at Can Can where you are so embedded with the entire production, but then it's nice to be at The Triple Door where I get to step back and truly appreciate what everybody else is doing.
There are parts of the show that I'm not in, especially a lot of the first act. I get to go upstairs to one of the booths, watch the show, and truly enjoy it. Everyone has what they're already doing on lock. I get to relax and do exactly my role. And it, again, is wonderful having a live band. That is one of the best parts. And similarly, with our performers, it’s a lot of returning players. So there is this family feel to it. I said something today that I thought was really good, which is instead of like summer camp, it feels like we’re at Halloween camp. It's always like, “I'll see you next year!”
THECANCAN.COM: The show is known for its annual transformations that keep it fresh and exciting. Can you give us a glimpse into any new or special elements that are being introduced in this year's performance?
Jasmine Jean Sim: This year, we've got a couple of new songs that are always fun and keep people on their toes. I don't want to give too much away on what the added song is, but it's perfect for the show. It works perfectly and tonally for what's going on with Oogie and what's going on with Sally. We were looking at the dialogue we've had for the last couple of years and thinking, “Does that work now with the story we're telling?”
There's always something fresh. The people in the cast love the show so much; we're always adding stuff. The band is arranging new songs, which is always really exciting. You can always be promised something new. You're never going to see the same version of This is Halloween.
THECANCAN.COM: You've had the opportunity to perform with Can Can Productions in two distinct venues, Can Can's 95 Pine Street Theatre and the Triple Door. Can you share how the experience of performing in these spaces differs, and do you have any particular preferences or unique challenges associated with each venue?
Jasmine Jean Sim: Well, there’s a couple of things. First of all, I wish every performer could work at Can Can. I think that it is so incredible. The incredible challenges that come with the venue itself are amazing. It's the “you're right in someone's face” feeling of the venue that doesn't let you get away with anything. In regular proscenium theaters where the audience and the performers are so separated, you can get away with so much. You can kind of disconnect from your show. You can look off into the middle distance if you will, but at Can Can, there are people right there with you. I mean, for a non-performer think about the idea of singing something or trying to be sexy and having to look people right in the eye. Not just looking off into the lights or kind of gazing that way. It's this real, immediate connection that is super challenging, but also very rewarding–especially when you get to talk to people afterward. One of the things that I miss when I’m at The Triple Door that we have so beautifully at Can Can is the intertwined connection you have with the audience and the ability to see people afterward and chat with them.
Also, as a performer performing at a larger venue where people are much further away, you're having to work on so much more of portraying an emotion for the back row, as they say, performing for the back row while still remaining as genuine as possible. So there are challenges and benefits to each one. I think that's one of the best parts of being a performer. It's the same thing with every show. You go from one show to another, and there's always going to be challenges and positive things about each. That's what helps make you a well-rounded performer–facing all those head-on and being excited for the challenge.
THECANCAN.COM: As part of Can Can Productions, you're known for your cabaret and burlesque stylings. How do these components enhance the overall audience experience in This Is Halloween? What do you hope the audience takes away from the show?
Jasmine Jean Sim: The burlesque aspect of This is Halloween is right at the forefront, which is wonderful, but the story and funness of the show take precedence over the cabaret aspect. The same thing happens at Can Can, which is the best part. If all we did was highlight beautiful bodies and exciting sexiness without that deep, grounding, emotional meaning, or just a rollicking good time or something, that sexiness wouldn't have the same impact.
At The Triple Door, with this show in particular, I try to put on even more of a show. At Can Can I can be intimate and have a small moment. I can barely move one hip and the whole room shakes kind of a thing, but at The Triple Door, having to magnify the performance is really, again, exciting.
To answer what I hope audiences take away from the show…I feel like I have the same answer with Can Can shows, which is that I just hope people feel happy. I hope people feel joy. As a performer, I've loved doing Shakespeare and more “serious” work. But I've learned, which is why I've remained at Can Can, that the most important thing for me as a performer is to give joy to people, to make people smile. It's so wonderful when people can leave the show and maybe they don't remember the songs exactly, maybe they don't remember the words, maybe they know something was funny, but they can't remember exactly what it was… They don't remember the performers, but the thing that they do remember is that they had the best night. I really, really believe that that's how people feel at Can Can or with our shows at the Triple Door. I just feel that people have that inner glow when they leave, and their face hurts from laughing and maybe they're thinking to themselves, “I could do something like that!” It’s like some of our confidence wore off on them. So, I just hope that people have a wonderful evening, have something to tell their friends about, and have a good Halloween!
You can see Jasmine in her iconic role as Oogie Boogie in This is Halloween for a limited time at The Triple Door. Tickets are on sale NOW.
The show runs from October 19 - 31, 2023.
