Qingdao Amerasia International School brought the magic and mystery of A Very, Very Scary Christmas! to the stage—a creative reimagining inspired by Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Before Christmas. With a cast of 28 students, a crew of 23, a live pit orchestra of 6, and support from more than 80 staff and parent volunteers, the production became one of our most ambitious and heart-filled shows yet. 

Audiences were welcomed with the iconic lines, “Our story that you are about to be told, took place in the holiday worlds of old…” setting the tone for an immersive journey between Halloween Town and Christmas Town. The story follows Jack Skellington, the Pumpkin King, who discovers the joy and warmth of Christmas and attempts to take over the holiday, only to learn that true belonging comes from being yourself. 

Director Alaa Yousef shared that this show asked students to stretch beyond their comfort zones, face their doubts, and trust the creative process. Inspired by the detail of Tim Burton’s original stop-motion film, students built their characters with the same care and precision, crafting a world where the theme of “broken toys” reminded us that imperfection is part of what makes art beautiful.