Theater

Stage frights: Halloween shows dominate Chicago-area stages

Posted October 17, 2025 9:35 am

Barbara Vitello

Amanda Drinkall stars in Drury Lane Theatre’s stylish revival of “Dial M for Murder,” one of the seasonal shows currently playing Chicago-area theaters. Courtesy of Kyle Flubacker

This Halloween, suburban and Chicago theaters are serving up thrills, chills and chuckles, including tales of mad scientists, drunken vampires, terrorized wives, imperiled puppets and plucky farm animals.

A list of shows follows. But take care theater lovers, with the exception of Lifeline Theatre's all-ages “Click, Clack, Boo!” most of these seasonal treats are not for young or sensitive audience members.

You’ve been warned.

Suspense in the suburbs

“Dial M for Murder”: Through Sunday, Oct. 26, at Drury Lane Theatre, 100 Drury Lane, Oakbrook Terrace, (630) 530-0111, drurylanetheatre.com

Jeffrey Hatcher’s adaptation of Frederick Knott’s 1952 psychological thriller about a man plotting to kill his wealthy wife gets a 4-star revival at Drury Lane Theatre. Director Adam Immerwahr’s smartly acted, expertly designed revival stars Amanda Drinkall as heiress Margot Wendice, Erik Hellman as her serial philanderer husband Tony and Alexandra Silber as Margot’s former lover.

Megan Kueter plays a troubled young wife and Sam Fain plays her manipulative husband in Oil Lamp Theater's revival of Patrick Hamilton’s classic “Gaslight.” Courtesy of Gosia Matuszewska/Gosia Photography

“Gaslight”: through Sunday, Nov. 2, at Oil Lamp Theater, 1723 Glenview Road, Glenview, (847) 834-0738, oillamptheater.org.

Oil Lamp Theater’s intimate space makes for a nicely claustrophobic revival of “Gaslight,” Patrick Hamilton’s 1938 melodrama/thriller about an unscrupulous husband trying to drive his wife mad.

Looking ahead

Northlight Theatre’s revival of “Gaslight” begins previews Friday, Nov. 28, at Northlight Theatre, North Shore Center for the Performing Arts, 9501 Skokie Blvd., Skokie, (847) 673-6300 or northlight.org.

MadKap Productions stages “Deathtrap,” Ira Levin’s comedy-thriller about a famous playwright struggling with writer’s block who plots to murder a promising young writer and steal his script. Performances begin Friday, Nov. 7, at Skokie Theatre, 7924 Lincoln Ave., Skokie, (847) 677-7761 or skokietheatre.org.

Scary shows

“Blood and Memory,” created by Chih-Jou Cheng and Charlie Malave and performed by puppeteer Tia Pinson, is part of the immersive puppet-themed “House of the Exquisite Corpse.” Courtesy of Yvette Marie Dostatni

“House of the Exquisite Corpse V: Blood and Puppets”: Through Saturday, Nov. 1, at Steppenwolf Theatre’s Merle Reskin rehearsal space, 1650 N. Halsted St., Chicago, roughhousetheater.com.

House of the Exquisite Corpse’s fifth incarnation, “Blood and Puppets,” is an immersive, adults-only puppet haunted house where visitors peer through keyholes and hidden doors to view a series of rooms depicting “unique puppet terror experiences.”

“Dracula”: Radio play adaptation through Saturday, Nov. 1, at 130 N. Milwaukee Ave., Libertyville, (847) 968-4529 or improvplayhouse.com.

Just in time for Halloween, Improv Playhouse presents a staged version of Orson Welles’ 1938 radio play “Dracula,” adapted from the Bram Stoker novel about the vampire who terrorizes England during the late 19th century.

James (Patrick Heusinger) investigates some strange goings-on in Chicago Shakespeare Theater's “Paranormal Activity.” Courtesy of Kyle Flubacker

“Paranormal Activity”: Through Sunday, Nov. 2, at Navy Pier, 800 E. Grand Ave., Chicago, (312) 595-5600 or chicagoshakes.com.

Based on the horror film franchise and written and staged by Levi Holloway, the adults-only play centers on a couple who move from Chicago to London and learn a demon has relocated with them. Chicago Shakespeare Theater’s production marks the show’s North American premiere.

“The Haunting of Hill House”: Through Sunday, Nov. 9, at St. Bonaventure, 1625 W. Diversey Parkway, Chicago, saintsebastianplayers.org.

A professor specializing in the paranormal and three test subjects investigate unusual activity at a remote mansion in this adaptation of Shirley Jackson’s gothic horror story.

Brian Parry plays the captain of an ill-fated schooner carrying a monstrous passenger in the City Lit Theater and Black Button Eyes production of “Strange Cargo: The Doom of the Demeter.” Courtesy of Steven Townshend

“Strange Cargo: The Doom of the Demeter”: Through Sunday, Nov. 23, at City Lit Theater, Edgewater Presbyterian Church, 1020 W. Bryn Mawr Ave., Chicago, (773) 293-3682 or citylit.org.

City Lit Theater and Black Button Eyes Productions premiere “Strange Cargo: The Doom of the Demeter.” Inspired by the seventh chapter of Bram Stoker’s “Dracula,” Timothy Griffin’s play tells of the ill-fated voyage of the Russian schooner Demeter that transported Count Dracula’s belongings from his Transylvania home to London.

Seasonal tuners

David Moreland plays the titular characters in Kokandy Productions' revival of the musical “Jeykll & Hyde” by Leslie Bricusse and Frank Wildhorn. Courtesy of Collin Quinn Rice

“Jekyll & Hyde”: Through Sunday, Dec. 21, at The Chopin Theatre, 1543 W. Division St., Chicago, kokandyproductions.com.

A compassionate scientist and the madman he creates as a result of his medical experiments battle for supremacy in “Jekyll and Hyde,” the Leslie Bricusse and Frank Wildhorn musical based on Robert Louis Stevenson’s gothic horror tale. Kokandy Productions’ revival stars David Moreland as the titular characters, with Emily McCormick and Ava Stovall as the women who love both sides of him.

“The Rocky Horror Show”: Friday, Oct. 24, through Sunday, Nov. 9, at the Theater at Meiley-Swallow Hall at North Central College, 31 S. Ellsworth St., Naperville, (630) 447-8497 or brightsidetheatre.com.

BrightSide Theatre inaugurates its 14th season with this adults-only musical send-up of science fiction, B-films and repressed sexuality whose 1975 film version became a cult favorite. The story centers on all-American couple Brad and Janet whose car breaks down, forcing them to seek refuge in a remote mansion owned by a transvestite scientist determined to create the ideal man.

Looking ahead:

The Metropolis Performing Arts Centre celebrates the film’s 50th anniversary with concert performances of “The Rocky Horror Show” Friday and Saturday, Oct. 31 and Nov. 1, at 111 W. Campbell St., Arlington Heights, (847) 577-2121 or metropolisarts.com.

Halloween shows for grown-ups …

“The Wolfman of Wrigleyville”: Through Thursday, Oct. 30, at 851 W. Belmont Ave., Chicago, (773) 697-9693 or theannoyance.com/show/the-wolfman-of-wrigleyville.

The Annoyance Theatre promises a howling good time for those attending the adults-only “The Wolfman of Wrigleyville,” about a journalist investigating a series of murders attributed to a hungry drag king.

“Splatter Theater”: Through Friday, Oct. 31, at 851 W. Belmont Ave., Chicago, (773) 697-9693 or theannoyance.com/show/splatter-theater-2025.

Thirteen horror film characters find themselves targets of a masked killer in Annoyance Theater’s annual “Splatter Theater” sendup of horror movie cliches.

“Drunk Dracula”: Through Sunday, Nov. 2, at The Lion Theatre, 182 N. Wabash Ave., Chicago, drunkdracula.com.

The Drunk Shakespeare Society presents a boozy version of the classic tale about “Transylvania's thirstiest bachelor” for the 21-and-older crowd.

… and for kids

“Click, Clack, Boo! A Tricky Treat” is Lifeline Theatre's family-friendly Halloween show. Courtesy of Josh Bernaski

“Click, Clack, Boo! A Tricky Treat”: Through Sunday, Nov. 2, at 6912 N. Glenwood Ave., Chicago, (773) 761-4477 or lifelinetheatre.com.

Lifeline Theatre’s Halloween KidSeries musical, “Click, Clack, Boo! A Tricky Treat,” is adapted from Doreen Cronin’s popular children’s series by James E. Grote, with music and lyrics by George Howe. Conflict arises when Farmer Brown forbids Duck, Pig, Cow and Hen from throwing a Halloween party, forcing the pals to resort to trickery to enjoy their treats.