The Chicago Horror Theatre Festival Opens Today

Coming this Halloween to Stage 773, The Chicago Horror Theatre Festival is the nation's only celebration of the murderous and macabre performed live onstage. This first-of-its-kind festival will feature performances ranging from sketch comedy, cabaret, dance, burlesque, and one act and full length plays -- all with a Halloween or horror theme.

Produced by the Cowardly Scarecrow Theatre Company and the creators of the multi-award winning Musical of the Living Dead, Marc Lewallen and Brad Younts, the festival will include shows from Chicago favorites such as pH Productions, Matter Dance, sketch comedy from Rabbit, Rabbit, and two world premiere new shows from Lewallen and Younts, "Musical Horror Story: Exorcism" and "The Haunted Life."

The Chicago Horror Theatre Festival will also add special children's programming on Sunday, November 1st with new shows from Story Town Improv. Children will be encouraged to dress in their Halloween costumes and enjoy entertainment specially designed for them, along with some treats.

The festival will also feature a special one night only performance of the fan favorite Musical of the Living Dead," the award-winning splatter-tastic musical that takes audiences on a rip-roaring journey beyond the grave with its satirical send-ups of classic zombie films and musical theater. The curtain opens on 10 survivors of a recent zombie apocalypse, trapped in a farmhouse and willing to try anything to escape.

Musical of the Living Dead is a 4D experience, so those intrepid souls who plan to sit in the front rows should be prepared for the Splatter Zone, as the stage's invisible fourth wall may prove porous to the nearly 10 gallons of blood and flying bits of brain as we watch this hysterical, hummable zombie doomsday unfold.

IF YOU GO:

The Chicago Horror Theatre Festival

Producers: Marc Lewallen and Brad Younts

Produced by The Cowardly Scarecrow Theatre Company, INC

Dates: October 29th through November 7th

Thursday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday

Location: Stage 773, 1225 West Belmont Ave

Tickets: $15 - $25; Weekend Passes (Thursday - Saturday) Available for $140; 20 Passes Available for $200

Call 773.327.5252 or visit www.stage773.com

2026 Theater Fans' Choice Awards - Live Stats

Best Book of a Musical - Top 3

1. David Hornsby, Chris Hoch, David Hornsby, Chris Hoch - The Lost Boys

36.8% of votes

2. Jim Barne, Kit Buchan - Two Strangers (Carry a Cake Across New York)

28% of votes

3. Cinco Paul - Schmigadoon!

20.7% of votes

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