WHEELING, W.Va. — A pianist whose talents have taken him from Carnegie Hall to Hollywood is bringing a one-of-a-kind Halloween experience to Wheeling. Internationally acclaimed pianist, composer and arranger Tom Roberts will perform his original musical score
live during a special screening of the 1922 silent horror classic Nosferatu on Friday, October 30, at Oglebay Institute’s Towngate Theatre.
The performance is part of Towngate’s popular Dinner & a Movie series, with dinner beginning at 6:30 p.m. and the film screening at 7:30 p.m.
Roberts has enjoyed an extraordinary career as a performer, composer and musical historian specializing in early American jazz. His talents caught the attention of legendary filmmaker Martin Scorsese, who enlisted Roberts to arrange and perform music for the 2004 Academy Award-winning film The Aviator, starring Leonardo DiCaprio. Roberts’ piano performances can be heard in several scenes featuring live music, although he does not appear on screen.
Roberts also contributed music to the 2004 film De-Lovely, a musical biography of composer Cole Porter. His career includes performances at Carnegie Hall, touring as pianist and musical director for entertainer Leon Redbone, and creating arrangements for Wynton Marsalis and the
Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra.
In addition to his accomplishments in jazz and film, Roberts has developed a passion for bringing silent cinema to life through original musical compositions. His work includes scores for films by Charlie Chaplin, Buster Keaton, Alfred Hitchcock and F.W. Murnau.
In 2022, Roberts composed an original score for Nosferatu to commemorate the film’s 100th anniversary. The score premiered during two sold-out screenings at Pittsburgh’s Harris Theater, presented in conjunction with the Pittsburgh Silent Film Society. Now, audiences in the Ohio Valley will have an opportunity to experience Roberts’ distinctive musical interpretation of one of the most influential horror films ever made.
Directed by German filmmaker F.W. Murnau and released in 1922, Nosferatu is widely considered a landmark of early horror cinema. The silent film introduced audiences to the terrifying Count Orlok, whose haunting appearance and ominous shadow have influenced
generations of filmmakers. Unlike modern movies with prerecorded soundtracks, silent films were originally accompanied
by live musicians who created the emotion, suspense and drama of the story as it unfolded on screen.
Roberts’ live performance recreates that historic moviegoing tradition, adding a powerful musical dimension to the century-old film. The October 30 presentation offers audiences a unique way to celebrate Halloween weekend while experiencing both a cinematic masterpiece and the artistry of an internationally recognized musician.
Event Information:
Nosferatu with Live Piano Score by Tom Roberts, Friday, October 30, 2026, Towngate Theatre, 2118 Market Street, Wheeling, W.Va.
Dinner begins at 6:30 p.m. The movie and live musical performance begin at 7:30 p.m.
The Dinner & Movie package is $40 per person and includes dinner, admission to the film, coffee, tea, water and a box of popcorn. Movie-only admission is $20 per person.
Reservations and additional information are available at oionline.com.
