Top theatre to see in New York for Halloween

Check out these Broadway and Off-Broadway theatre shows, plus seasonal exhibits and interactive experiences, featuring all things spooky and spellbinding.

Spooky season is underway, and it's the perfect time to have a frightfully fun night at the theatre. Legend has it that ghosts haunt most Broadway theatres, so you could be in for a fright at any show. If you really want to get into the spirit, though, there are plenty of New York stages showcasing Halloween theatre that celebrates all things witchy, magical, and downright scary.

The whimsical magic of Harry Potter and the Cursed Child and Wicked will delight the horror-averse. The hair-raising chills and thrills of Perfect Crime are perfect for scary movie lovers and crime show junkies. And shows like [Little Shop of Horrors] fall somewhere in between. No matter "witch" way you celebrate Halloween, you can find a musical or play with the right tone — and that's no trick.

These shows deal with the supernatural, the criminal, and the spellbinding, and they're all on stage now. Plan a fun Halloween night outing to see one, or go later if you don't want the Halloween season to end. Browse our full lineup of Halloween offerings at the link below.

Get tickets to Halloween events on New York Theatre Guide.

Wicked

What better way to ring in Halloween than with a tale of two famous witches? Wicked is the backstory behind The Wizard of Oz, with Elphaba — better known as the Wicked Witch of the West — and her friendship with Glinda the Good Witch when they were schoolmates. Wicked has been an audience favorite at the Gershwin Theatre since 2003, and it's filled with spells and gravity-defying broomstick rides. As a bonus, you'll learn the origin (according to the musical, anyway) of the famous pointy witch hat that features in many a Halloween costume.

Get Wicked tickets now.

Harry Potter and the Cursed Child

There's no better time than Halloween for a little wizardry and witchcraft. Grab your wand and your house robes and enter the Wizarding World at Harry Potter and the Cursed Child. Years after the events of the books, Harry Potter's son Albus sets out to save the world from dark forces — which become even darker and spookier when Albus's quest messes with time. The previously two-part show is now condensed into one event, making for a single magical night at the Lyric Theatre.

Get Harry Potter and the Cursed Child tickets now.

Death Becomes Her

Now a warning? The cult classic supernatural comedy movie Death Becomes Her is on Broadway just in time for Halloween. Frenemies Madeline Ashton and Helen Sharp are determined to outdo each other — and a magic potion that promises eternal youth might be the answer, but not without risks. Megan Hilty, Jennifer Simard, Christopher Sieber, and Michelle Williams assume the roles made famous on screen by Meryl Streep, Goldie Hawn, Bruce Willis, and Isabella Rossellini.

Get Death Becomes Her tickets now.

Little Shop of Horrors

Skid Row probably wouldn't be the best trick-or-treating spot — you might get eaten before you get any candy for yourself. Instead, enjoy the classic horror comedy Little Shop of Horrors from the safety of the audience — but still beware the snapping jaws of the flesh-eating plant Audrey II. It tasks a hapless flower shop worker, Seymour, with finding fresh meat, promising him fame and fortune if he's willing to kill for it.

Get Little Shop of Horrors tickets now.

Sleep No More

Sleep No More marries two perfectly eerie properties: the witchy plot of Macbeth and the noir setting of Alfred Hitchcock's thriller films. At this immersive experience, audiences walk around five floors of an old hotel and see different scenes from the show play out — and if you're lucky, you might stumble upon a secret passage or encounter an actor who leads you to one. Don't just see a spooky show this Halloween — be part of one.

Get Sleep No More tickets now.

Perfect Crime

The longest-running play in New York is still bringing in audiences with its mystery and thrill. The psychiatrist Margaret Brent is suspected of killing her husband — until he appears alive — and things only get complicated further when the detective on the case falls for her. Even if she's innocent, foul play is afoot, but the question remains until the final gunshot: Who killed who, and can they be caught, or did they commit the perfect crime?

Get Perfect Crime tickets now.

SAW The Musical: The Unauthorized Parody of Saw

Let's play a game: Where can you find the latest installment of the Saw series — with songs? Not in the movie theatre, but in the Off-Broadway AMT Theater. This new show parodies the original Saw film, in which Lawrence Gordon and Adam Stanheight seek to escape the sadistic Jigsaw Killer. Described as a sexually fluid "Little Shop of Horrors meets Avenue Q," this play saws through the iconic film and puts its own original twist on the story.

Get SAW The Musical tickets now.

Life and Trust

Making a deal with the devil is pretty spooky stuff. That's just one shocking — and thrilling — that happens in the new immersive show Life and Trust, in which the action unfolds all around the audience as they choose their own paths through the massive Conwell Tower. An adaptation of the classic legend of Faust, who sells his soul for knowledge and power, this version features a businessman desperate to cling to his fortune on the brink of the Great Depression.

Get Life and Trust tickets now.

Drunk Dracula

The team behind the long-running Off-Broadway hit Drunk Shakespeare is sinking its teeth into another classic with Drunk Dracula. Five actors attempt to perform Bram Stoker's Dracula, except one of them takes five whiskey shots right beforehand. Everyone else has to keep the show on track no matter what the drunk actor does, and the audience even gets to join in the boozy fun.

Get Drunk Dracula tickets now.

The Spirits' Speakeasy

Do you believe in ghosts? Harry Houdini doesn't, but renowned medium Margery is determined to convince him — and you — during a party hosted by Sherlock Holmes author Arthur Conan Doyle. That's the premise of The Spirits' Speakeasy, an immersive show featuring close-up magic, classic cocktails, and an up-close look at a seance.

Get The Spirits' Speakeasy tickets now.

Chamber Magic

In the early 20th century, the wealthy would entertain select groups of guests in intimate parlors, and magician Steve Cohen — nicknamed "The Millionaire's Magician" — recreates that experience for the public. With only a select number of seats available at each performance, audiences can expect a cozy experience where they don't just get to see time-honored (and yet utterly unbelievable) tricks — they get to be part of them.

Get Chamber Magic tickets now.

Speakeasy Magick

You may have heard of close-up magic, but never this close up. No two shows of Speakeasy Magick are the same, as the production features a rotating lineup of celebrated magicians and illusionists. Sip on a craft cocktail in an intimate speakeasy setting, where the magicians are sitting right next to or across from you as they perform amazing acts. This show promises both tricks and treats!

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Teeth

This critically acclaimed musical is taking a bite out of New York once more. Teeth, adapted from the cult classic horror comedy film, follows a Christian teen who discovers that her body has a dark, supernatural secret. When men violate her, her vagina literally bites back.

Check back for information on Teeth tickets on New York Theatre Guide.