Scoring the Scares: DJing the Academy Museum's Horror Show Opening Reception (+ My Halloween Playlist)
On September 25, 2026, I DJ'd the opening reception for The Horror Show at the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures in Los Angeles. It was one of my favorite events this year, and the reason is simple: the client trusted me to curate to the theme.
That kind of trust is everything. When a museum, brand, or studio lets the music become part of the experience, the room feels different. Guests linger. Conversations get louder. The night feels like a story rather than a party with a playlist in the background.
It was also my third time behind the decks at the Academy Museum this year, after the Ponyo exhibit opening and the Xbox 25th Anniversary VIP reception. I love this place.
About The Horror Show
The Horror Show is the Academy Museum's newest large-scale exhibition, and it is built around one question: why do horror films matter so much to so many of us?
The experience opens in a darkened gallery filled with a soundscape of music, voices, and sound effects, then leads you down a long hallway lined with classic horror posters. From there you move through six themed chambers - Gothic, Psychological, Science, Slasher, Religion, and Ghosts - each designed like a set from the films themselves. There are nearly 400 objects from around 200 horror films, including the recently restored cape Bela Lugosi wore in Dracula (1931), and the journey ends in a fully immersive Blood Room.
The exhibition was curated by Senior Exhibitions Curator Jessica Niebel with an advisory team that includes Willem Dafoe, filmmaker Osgood Perkins, Oscar-winning prosthetic makeup artist Howard Berger, and author and filmmaker Tananarive Due.
When and where: The Horror Show runs through July 25, 2027 in the fourth-floor Marilyn and Jeffrey Katzenberg Gallery at the Academy Museum, 6067 Wilshire Blvd, Los Angeles. Parental guidance is suggested, and there is a family-friendly companion exhibit, Zombies!, next door.
Halloween picks: The museum's Monster Mash family event is October 24, and Museum After Dark on Halloween night features a screening of The Craft.
Curating the Sound
For a room full of film lovers, I wanted the music to feel like the exhibit had come to life. The set blended cinematic scores, darkwave, goth, and dark pop - moody and atmospheric, but still social and stylish enough for a premiere-level crowd.
This is my favorite kind of work as a DJ. Reading a theme, reading a room, and building a sound that makes the whole event feel intentional.
Get the Playlist for Your Halloween Party
I turned the set into a playlist you can play at your own Halloween party this year. Turn down the lights and press play:
🎧 DJ Tessa - The Horror Show Opening Reception Playlist on Spotify
Book DJ Tessa for Your Next Themed Event
Planning a museum opening, film premiere, brand launch, or corporate event in Los Angeles, Las Vegas, or the San Francisco Bay Area? I curate custom sets that match your theme, your brand, and your guests.
Reach out at tessa@prismdjs.com to check availability. For multi-DJ bookings or a curated roster, visit Prism DJs, the female-forward DJ agency I founded.
