Halloween live

There’s something inherently theatrical about Halloween—or maybe it’s just that we all spend more time in greasepaint on that night than, oh, any other time of the year. Still, there’s nothing like a good show—whether it’s a scarefest, high art or low comedy—to make Halloween come undead. Fortunately, there are a variety of choices for Sacramento scary theater—and at least one masquerade that will feature the best dancers in town.

The Sutter Street Theatre in Folsom is mixing it up a bit, mashing up slasher/demon horror-camp with a musical. Evil Dead: The Musical combines plot elements from gorefests The Evil Dead, The Evil Dead 2, and The Army of Darkness with, uh, songs. Really. You can watch the demon-possessed, chainsaw-wielding victims carry a tune while body parts fly. And seriously, what’s a girl to do when the boys have been torn to shreds except sing “All the Men in My Life Keep Getting Killed by Candarian Demons”?

That’s right: The demon-possessed killers are coming. Are you on key?

And while we’re on the subject of camp, the Green Valley Theatre Company is reprising its fantastic version of The Rocky Horror Show at the California Stage. It’s so fun—and it’s become a local Halloween tradition. All your old friends will be there—what, Meat Loaf again?—and be prepared to participate. Oh, c’mon. We know you want to be touch-a touch-a touched. It’s updated the show with a glam rock/Japanese visual kei style, so it’s got more spandex and oddball fashion than you can possibly imagine. It’s also integrated more video than usual, including some Japanese monster movies for the preshow. But get your tickets soon; these shows are selling out.

For the more traditionally inclined, there’s always Frankenstein, a fairly literal adaptation of Mary Shelley’s gothic classic (see short review on opposite page). It plays at the Sacramento Theatre Company through this Sunday.

On the same gothic note, the Sacramento Ballet Company offers artistic director Ron Cunningham’s Dracula (review on opposite page), along with some less-horrifying examples of fine dance. But just because the production ends before fright night arrives, don’t despair—the company’s dancers are hosting Count Dracula’s Masquerade on Saturday night at the Crescent Club Speakeasy in Old Sac. A fundraiser for the company, the party will feature music by Musical Charis and DJs Daims&ChriSupreme, as well as drink and food specials. Get your photo taken on the set from Dracula, and perhaps take a turn around the floor with one of the company’s fang-tastic dancers.

Finally, Sunday evening offers a reprise of Capital Stage’s wonderful version of War of the Worlds: A Radio Play. The company—and some guest players—will re-enact the famous Orson Welles radio production of the H.G. Wells classic about a Martian invasion.

Whatever you opt for, it’s bound to be a fun-filled and spooky holiday weekend.