Halloween is prime time for things to get weird, and Pittsburgh’s theater companies are leaning in. The spooky season brings campy comedies, blood-splattered musicals, horror classics with a ’Burgh twist, and shows where the audience gets to join the mayhem. Check out our roundup of the Halloween plays and musicals hitting Pittsburgh stages in October. And for more news on Pittsburgh’s theater scene, check out our guide to the arts, culture, and entertainment in Pittsburgh.
Cue the Screams and Stage Blood at Pittsburgh’s Best Halloween Plays and Musicals
Evil Dead The Musical
September 25–October 25 | West End Canopy, Downtown
This horror-comedy musical brings the over-the-top gore and dark humor of the Evil Dead franchise to the stage. Based on Sam Raimi’s Evil Dead, Evil Dead 2, and Army of Darkness—all cult classics—the production is packed with campy fun and musical theater numbers. It’s also designed to appeal to fans of the films who may not typically go to musicals. There’s even a splatter zone: Audience members in the first several rows can opt to be sprayed with fake blood and other stage effects. Now in its seventh year, the alfresco production features local talent, including performer and director Brett Goodnack, who has played the role of Ash for all seven years of the show’s run.
Dracula: A Comedy of Terrors
October 8–25 | Little Lake Theatre Company, Canonsburg
Little Lake Theatre Company puts a fast-paced, campy spin on the classic Dracula story, as the most famous vampire in history finds himself surrounded by people who are completely unequipped to handle him. According to Little Lake artistic director Patrick Canon, the play is “completely bat sh*t crazy, ridiculous, and sexy.” Canon chose the play because he wanted Little Lake to be the first theater in the area to tell the story, while also showcasing the high-quality talent throughout the community. The production will be performed in the round, creating a more dynamic experience in which audiences can react together while also seeing one another’s reactions.
Aside from the costumes and gothic-era setting, the production bears little resemblance to the traditional Dracula story, according to director Kathy Hawk. Hawk, who has a background in musical theater, says the comedy requires the cast to let go of their inhibitions. It also requires actors with range: Five actors will play 35 characters, with everyone except Dracula taking on multiple roles.
The Vampire Circus
October 21 | The Palace Theatre, Greensburg
A 90-minute live production, The Vampire Circus combines circus artistry and physicality with theatrical cabaret, comedy, and dance, all unfolding in a whimsical vampire world—think Tim Burton meets Cirque du Soleil. The production was created by Francisco Santos, a Cirque du Soleil veteran performer who was inspired by traveling carnivals. Set in a fictionalized 19th-century Bohemia, the story centers on Count Dracula, who has devised a plan for world domination: disguised as a performer in an unassuming traveling circus, he attempts to turn the world into an army of vampires.
Night of the Living Dead N’At
October 29–November 15 | City Theatre, South Side
Bricolage Production Company’s Night of the Living Dead N’At brings George A. Romero’s 1968 Pittsburgh-made zombie film to the stage, with actors, musicians, and live sound effects recreating the story. Part of Bricolage’s Midnight Radio series, the production gives the horror classic a distinctly Pittsburgh spin, with local references, jokes, and plenty of “n’at.”
Romero’s original film was shot in and around Pittsburgh, including at Evans City Cemetery, and follows a group of people trapped in a farmhouse as the dead begin to rise. This adaptation brings the story even closer to Pittsburgh, with characters, settings, and references drawn from the city.
“There’s so many fun moments throughout, but my favorite is when the character Barbara meets Ben, and there is hysteria when all of the zombies are attempting to break in,” says Jeffrey Carpenter, co-artistic director and founder of Bricolage.
The show also features humorous fictionalized commercial breaks, including spots for Molotov cocktails and “brain rot,” adding to its irreverent take on the horror classic.
Fishy Woo Woo, Part 2
October 16–November 1 | Madison Arts & Entertainment Center, Hill District
A Halloween party takes a sinister turn in Fishy Woo Woo, Part 2, when an uninvited masked guest crashes the festivities, stirring up drama and exposing secrets among a group of friends. The raucous comedy, as writer Monteze Freeland describes it, is a feel-good story about the power of friendship—and the stress and joy that come with it. Over the course of about two hours, Freeland invites audiences to forget about their own troubles and watch someone else deal with theirs. “My goal is for people to leave the show feeling excited,” says Freeland, co-artistic director of City Theatre Company.
The play was inspired by Freeland’s friendships and is the second installment in the series. The first, which he wrote two years ago and which was also produced by Pittsburgh Playwrights Theatre Company, centered on navigating a breakup. Now the crew is back, with a queer-affirming sitcom feel, fourth-wall breaks, a touch of danger, and plenty of whimsy. The play also pokes fun at the horror genre. “If you don’t like scary movies, that’s cool. But if you like movies like Scary Movie, this show is for you,” says Freeland.
The Rocky Horror Show
October 30–31 | Greensburg Garden & Civic Center, Greensburg
The Rocky Horror Show, the stage musical that inspired the cult classic film, comes to Greensburg for Halloween weekend courtesy of Westmoreland Performing Arts. Like the movie, the live show follows Brad and Janet into the strange, outrageous world of Dr. Frank-N-Furter, with all the songs, characters, and mayhem fans know from the movie—but here, the audience interacts directly with the performers.
Expect callbacks, crowd work, and plenty of back-and-forth participation, with Westmoreland Performing Arts providing prop bags filled with rice, noisemakers, and hot dogs. A primer in the program helps newcomers know when to join in during the call-and-response segments, and costumes are encouraged. This year’s theme is a salute to the late Tim Curry, so come dressed as your favorite Curry character. For maximum Halloween spookiness and strangeness, snag a ticket to the midnight performance.
Boo’s Halloween House Party
October 23–November 1 | Pittsburgh Playhouse, Downtown
This kid-friendly musical follows Boo the ghost, who loses his boo and sets out to get his boo back. The show is joyful, uplifting, and funny rather than particularly scary, with themes of friendship and helping others. Broadway veteran Ahmad Simmons co-created, directed, and choreographed the show. A Point Park University alumnus, Simmons created the production as a way to give back to the community.
The 45-minute performance is part of the outdoor Fall Fest, where families can also enjoy food trucks, face painting, dancing, and other kid-approved activities. According to Kiesha Lalama, executive producer at Pittsburgh Playhouse, the show and Fall Fest are perfect for young families, and costumes—and baby strollers—are encouraged.
Looking for more spooky fun? Check out our guide to Halloween with events around Pittsburgh and recipes to make at home.
About the Author
Shaylah Brown is a writer and artist exploring the intersections of art, culture, and joy. Her work examines how people create meaning through celebration, creativity, and community. She earned her BA in philosophy from St. John’s University and her MA in journalism from Georgetown University. She is also at work on her debut women’s fiction novel. Connect with her on social media @shay__louise.
Featured Photo From Pittsburgh Musical Theater
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