Monstrous music, theater, art in Orlando: Celebrate Halloween with culture

Watch your backs: It’s Halloween time and Orlando arts groups have plenty of creative creeps in store. Looking for a little something spooky? Look no further than these Halloween-themed theater and music performances around Central Florida.

‘NOSFERATU’: The Renaissance Theatre’s vampire bash is back for a third year with all-new scenes and a more scripted story line. “Join us in the place where the rules of space and time do not exist; where the Choosing Ceremony decides the newest member of our Coven; where the Undead roam,” the theater invites, or perhaps warns, depending on your point of view.

The blood gets flowing select evenings through Nov. 5 at the theater, 415 E. Princeton St. in Orlando, with tickets for $50. There’s also a “sexy vampire bar” after-hours experience ($20 cover) and various passes and packages for VIP treatment or money-saving options. Go to rentheatre.com/nosferatu.

‘DRACULA’: More vampires are on the loose in “Dracula,” from Central Florida Vocal Arts/Opera del Sol. The Frank Wildhorn (“Jekyll & Hyde”) musical, which had a run on Broadway in 2004, is a retelling of the 1897 story by Bram Stoker.

Directed by Theresa Smith-Levin, “Dracula” will be staged at CityArts, 39 S. Magnolia Ave. in Orlando, Oct. 20-29. Tickets start at $35; go to operadelsol.org.

CANDLELIGHT CONCERTS: More music can be heard at Candlelight Concerts from Fever. The performances are at various locations, atmospherically lit by candles as the name suggests, and offer a string quartet playing everything from Michael Jackson’s “Thriller” to Modest Mussorgsky’s “Night on Bald Mountain” to a Danny Elfman medley from “The Nightmare Before Christmas.”

Locations include Mead Garden, Thornton Park and The Abbey in downtown Orlando, with performances running through Oct. 27. Tickets start at $35. For a complete schedule, go to feverup.com/en/orlando/candlelight.

‘GHOULISH GROOVES’: Central Florida Community Arts also has seasonal music in store. The CFCArts Big Band will perform such favorites as “Monster Mash” and “Ghostbusters” in its jazzy style. Performances are Oct. 20-21 in the Pugh Theater at the Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts, 445 S. Magnolia Ave. in Orlando. Tickets start at $20 at cfcarts.com/event/ghoulish-grooves.

‘SPOOKY SERENADES’: For the little trick-or-treaters, the Orlando Philharmonic Orchestra presents its annual introduction to orchestral music and its instruments, with four performances of songs and stories Oct. 22-23 in the Palmer Room at the Plaza Live, 425 N. Bumby Ave. in Orlando. Tickets are $10 (children two and younger free) at orlandophil.org/event/spooky-serenades-2023.

‘PHANTASMAGORIA XIV: TALES OF THE UNDEAD’: Spooky stories for grownups are at the heart of the annual Phantasmagoria Halloween show as the stylish troupe shares shivery tales from beyond the grave. New this year: More original music from composer Josh Solomon with some cabaret-style singing by MoMo Lynn in the mix. Also, a new story written specifically for the company and a few fresh faces, including award-winning actor Sarah Lockard.

Performances are Oct. 19 at the Reilly Arts Center in Ocala; Oct. 26-28 in the Pugh Theater at the Dr. Phillips Center in Orlando; Oct. 29 at the Athens Theatre in DeLand; and Nov. 3-4 at the Melon Patch Theatre in Leesburg. Ticket prices vary, depending on location; get complete details at phantasmagoriaorlando.com/home.

DIA DE LOS MUERTOS & MONSTER EVENT: The Orlando Downtown Arts District’s annual celebration is also celebrating its 14th year with art, food, drink and performances inspired by Halloween and Mexico’s Day of the Dead.

The Día de los Muertos-themed exhibition, inside CityArts, will include traditional ofrendas and catrina dolls provided by Casa de Mexico, CABETCAL and the Mexican Consulate of Orlando. Outside will be a block party featuring performances by Mariachi Nuevo Guadalajara, Mexico Lindo Folklorico Ballet of Orlando, Elizabeth Sánchez, Raveli Sánchez and Phantasmagoria.

The festivities begin with a Día de los Muertos Procession, starting at CityArts at 6 p.m. Guests are encouraged to come in costume. Tickets cost $5 at ddlm2023.eventbrite.com.

‘SPOOKY & GAY’: Another returning favorite is Bruce Ryan Costella’s one-man show combining creepiness with comedy, a couple of tunes (Cher, anyone?) and some real-life horrors, as well. Costella’s charm helps him navigate the turn from lighthearted fun to serious business. 7:30 p.m. Nov. 3 at Joybird Books, 3018 Corinne Drive in Orlando. Ticket information to come at facebook.com/bruce.costella.

THE FLORIDA MUSEUM OF CURSED ARTIFACTS: A HAUNTED ATTRACTION: Here’s something new on the artistic scene this year. Valencia College will transform its Black Box Theater into a spooky museum for a walk-through tour of five haunted rooms. The experience is designed by the “tech wizards” in the Live Entertainment Design and Production fields.

The free “tours” run Oct. 27-Nov. 1 at the college’s east campus, 701 N. Econlockhatchee Trail in Orlando. Get more information and reserve a ticket at valenciacollege.edu/arts.

‘SUSPENSE: A LIVE RADIO EVENT’: From new-fangled tech to old-school tech, we turn to this production from Breakthrough Theatre, 6900 Aloma Ave. in Winter Park. Nine actors will share four tales of murder and terror first heard on the radio show “Suspense,” which ran from 1940-1962. The stories will be presented in the format of a radio broadcast, Oct. 13-15. Tickets are $15 at breakthroughtheatre.com.

‘A VOICE IN THE DARK: A SALEM PLAY’: And finally, Breakthrough Theatre doubles down on Halloween with a second spooky production, Elizabeth Downing’s play about the Salem witch trials. When Abigail, a shy teenager, uncovers information that could save the innocent, she faces a difficult choice: Stay silent or risk her own safety and speak up for what’s right.

The play runs Oct. 20-Nov. 6 at the Winter Park theater; tickets are $14 and up at breakthroughtheatre.com.

Follow me at facebook.com/matthew.j.palm or email me at mpalm@orlandosentinel.com. Find more arts news and reviews at orlandosentinel.com/arts, and go to orlandosentinel.com/theater for theater news and reviews.