Not all theater companies tailor their October shows around Halloween the way that many do for the holiday season in December. But there are plenty of Chicago troupes that get into the spooky spirit by offering haunting shows that vary from scary, sexy, silly and song-filled.
Truly scary
If you want truly theatrical chills up your spine, catch these shows:
Theatrical mastermind Sean Graney of The Hypocrites has conceived a new adaptation of Mary Shelley's horror novel Frankenstein. Get up close and personal with this monster of many parts now through Nov. 1 directly on the MCA stage of the Museum of Contemporary Art, 220 E. Chicago; $20-$25, and $10 students. Call 312-397-4010 or visit www.mcachicago.org .
Dream Theatre takes you along with Anna in the Darkness 2009: The Basement, Jeremy Menekseoglu's drama about a school teacher barricaded in the basement from a crowd out to lynch her. It's being presented now until Nov. 1 at 556 W. 18th; Tickets are $15; call 773-552-8616 or see www.dreamtheatrecompany.com .
See what gory special effects are in store for Oracle Productions' Disturbed IV, which takes its inspiration this year from Dante's Inferno. Get your 15 minutes of fright at 3809 N. Broadway until Nov. 1; $8; 773-244-2980 or www.oracletheatre.org .
If puppets scare you in any way, then you might want to avoid InFusion Theatre Company's Rhymes With Evil. Charles R. Traeger's drama involves a stay-at-home dad who makes puppets for his beloved daughter. But all is not what it seems in this chilling drama, playing now through Nov. 8 at 77 E. Randolph; $23; 312-742-8497 or www.dcatheater.org .
Sisters should always stick together, right? Well, maybe not once you see the extremes that the women go to in Lights Out Alma at the Annoyance Theatre. This co-conceived piece by Irene Marquette and her cast runs through Oct. 29 at 4830 N. Broadway; $10; 733-561-4665 or www.annoyanceproductions.com .
That 'Hollow' feeling
Somehow a memo got out for the Washington Irving classic The Legend of Sleepy Hollow to be taken up by multiple companies this October.
Theatre-Hikes' Sleepy Hollow takes audiences through Morton Arboretum, 4100 Route 53, Lisle. This musical revival by Judy Freed, Elizabeth Doyle and Owen Kalt runs now through Nov. 1. Tickets are $25, and $18 for kids. Phone 630-968-0074 or visit www.theatre-hikes.org .
Tyler Beattie and Scott Ferguson find even more music in Irving's tale for Filament Theatre Ensemble, which presents The Legend of Sleepy Hollow: A New Folk Musical now through Nov. 9 at the Viaduct Theater, 3111 N. Western. Tickets are $16.50, and $10 for kids. Call 773-296-6024 or see www.filamenttheatre.org .
GreatWorks Theatre Company also adapts The Legend of Sleepy Hollow with an eye for elementary school-aged children at the Greenhouse Theater Center, 2257 N. Lincoln. There are weekend matinees now through Oct. 31; $15; 773-404-7336.
Hubba-hubba Halloween
Burlesque has experienced a boom in Chicago, so why not have a bodacious boo-fest for Halloween?
Off Off Broadzway hollers out Trick or Teets! at Davenport's Piano Bar and Cabaret, 1383 N. Milwaukee, until Oct. 30 and also at Fizz Bar and Grill, 3220 N. Lincoln until Oct. 29; $12; 773-278-1830 or www.offoffbroadzway.com .
The Greenhouse Theater Center opens the door to burlesque in Chris O. Biddle's revue, Peek-A-Boo!, through Oct. 31; $10-$25; 773-404-7336 or www.greenhousetheater.org .
After scoring a hit with its Big Lebowski-themed show Rollin' Outta Here Naked, Vaudezilla mines monsters for inspiration. Monster Burlesque Academy plays one night only on Oct. 31 at the Portage Theatre, 4050 N. Milwaukee; $15-$20; 773-736-4050 or www.vaudezilla.com .
Dream Theatre mixes burlesque and a disturbing Dickensian tale of a young woman trying to save her dignity in Jeremy Menekseoglu's drama The Black Duck. It plays until Nov. 1 at 556 W. 18th; tickets are $20 each. Call 773-552-8616 or see www.dreamtehatrecompany.com .
Titters for terror
You'll laugh and cry at these comical creepy offerings:
Death TollA Drinking Game Performance is a Halloween-themed improv comedy playing now through Oct. 31. Corn Productions offers up even more comedy with Nightmares on Lincoln Ave., now through Oct. 31. Both shows play the Cornservatory, 4210 N. Lincoln; $7-$15; 312-409-6435 or www.cornservatory.org .
Fans of Choose-Your-Own-Adventure novels will want to check out Zombies Attack Chicago. Nothing Without a Company lets audiences decide who will survive through Oct. 30 at The Spot, 4437 N. Broadway; $15; 773-728-8934 or www.spotchicago.com .
The Annoyance Theatre revives a classic from its past with Splatter Theatre, the famed show that spoofs 1980s slasher flicks. Get bloody until Oct. 31 at 4830 N. Broadway; $10; 733-561-4665 or www.annoyanceproductions.com
Scream a song
So many things go better with music. So why not Halloween?
After a hiatus of a few seasons, Porchlight Music Theatre has brought back a revamped Macabaret. Journey into a macabre world with great tunes in this Halloween musical revue. It plays through Nov. 1 at the Theatre Building Chicago, 1225 W. Belmont; $30; 773-327-5252 or porchlighttheatre.com .
The Salem witchcraft trials of 1692 may have inspired Arthur Miller to write The Crucible, but these unfortunate incidents have also inspired the joke-filled show Salem! The Musical at the Annoyance Theatre ( now to Oct. 30 ) . The Annoyance offers even more musical mirth in Bucket of Blood, a musical spoof of the Roger Corman script about a guy who must continually cover up for his many killings ( now to Oct. 31 ) . Both shows play at 4830 N. Broadway; $10-$15; 773-561-4665 or www.annoyanceproductions.com .
What happens when a teenage girl in the 1950s falls in love with a robot from outer space? Find out in The Strange Tree Group's Hey! Mr. Spaceman! This new play with songs by Emily Schwartz plays until Oct. 31 at The Building Stage, 412 N. Carpenter; $20-$50; 773-598-8240 or www.strangetree.org .
Two of the biggest macabre musicals to hit Chicago don't even open until next month. That's when the national tour of the Mel Brooks musical Young Frankenstein plays the Cadillac Palace Theatre, 151 W. Randolph, Nov. 3-Dec. 13, while the pre-Broadway world premiere of The Addams Family sets up house at the Ford Center for the Performing Arts, Oriental Theatre Nov. 14-Jan. 10. Visit www.broadwayinchicago.com for more information on these mega-monster musicals.
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