Halloween Happenings

MIDNIGHT HELLHOUSE
Malice, one of the improv troupes at the co-operative Playground Theater, spoofs the Southern Pentecostal scare fests that try to terrify kids and teenagers into maintainingEvangelical Christian values. The show is scripted, and hopefully not nearly as scary as the real thing. Fridays in October, midnight; additional 10:30pm show Oct 28. Playground Theater, 3209 N Halsted St (773-871-3793, www.the-playground.com). $10.

SECRETS AND SHADOWS OF ROBIE HOUSE
There are no shrieking teens or moaning mummies on the Frank Lloyd Wright Preservation Trust's special Halloween-edition tour. Instead, you'll be led through the 1910 Hyde Park landmark residence by flashlight as tales are told of funerary customs, superstitions and the people who died in the house. You'll also hear how spirits were stirred during a recent restoration effort (workers reported hearing footsteps in the hallway, seeing doors mysteriously close and feeling hot breath on them). Fri 21, Sat 22; tours leave every 20 minutes 7–9pm. Robie House, 5757 S Woodlawn Ave (708-848-1976, www.wrightplus.org). $16, kids 12 and under $12.

HAUNTED HOUSES
As if driving into the boonies of rural Illinois isn't scary enough, our favorite haunted houses turn up the fear factor. At the Statesville Haunted Prison, more than 50 prisoners—from Hannibal the Cannibal to Gacy the killer clown—cackle at you from behind bars. Thu, Sun 7–10pm; Fri, Sat & Oct 31, 7–11pm. 17250 S Weber Rd, Crest Hill (877-722-7332, www.statesville.org). $25. At the 22-room Dream Reapers Haunted House, the "undead" and the house itself prey on all the senses with blood, gore and freshly dug grave odors. Sun–Thu 7–10pm; Fri, Sat & Oct 31, 7–11pm. 1945 Cornell Ave, Melrose Park (www.dreamreapers.com). $15.

DOUBLE DOOR HALLOWEEN BASH
Blackbox as the Smashing Pumpkins, Local H as Hall & Oates—bands dress up and get down like other better-known bands at this annual gig. Who cares if you've never heard of some of these groups, as long as they're doing dead-on imitations of Bob Seger, the Smiths and Perry Farrell? Oct 30; doors open 7pm, show begins at 8pm. Double Door, 1572 N Milwaukee Ave (773-489-3160, www.doubledoor.com). $12.

DANCING DRACULA
Since its U.K. premiere in 1996, Michael Pink's Dracula has been lustily pumping new blood into the refined world of ballet. Opulent costumes, moody sets and scary effects make this blockbuster ballet well worth the drive to Milwaukee. Fri 21–Oct 30.Marcus Center for the Performing Arts, 929 N Water St, Milwaukee (888-612-3500, www.milwaukeeballet.org). $20–$80.

CORPUS DELICTI: JUST DESSERTS
Rather than raising the dead, the members of the performance troupe Local Infinities are dissecting them. In a former surgical amphitheater, a life-size cadaver (cast in gelatin) will be chopped up before your very eyes. Break out the Junior Mints. Fri 21–Sun 23, Oct 28–31. University of Illinois at Chicago College ofMedicine, 912 S Wood St (312-528-0077, www.localinfinities.com). $10–$15.

NORTH HALSTED HALLOWEEN PARADE
More than 15,000 spectators partake in this yearly Boystown pagan pageant—an evening of music, food, contests and probably the most outrageous getups you'll see all year in public. October 31, 7pm. Begins at Halsted St andBelmont Ave. Free.

BONDAGE A GO-GO AT EXIT
Those skulls aren't Halloween decorations—and seeing someone chained to the fence is what's really scary here, where everyThursday night, the doms and submissives come out to play. 9pm–4am. Exit, 1315 W North Ave (773-395-2700; www.exitchicago.com). $5 cover.

HALLOWED HAUNTS AT THE SYMPHONY CENTER
The Civic Orchestra (the Chicago Symphony Orchestra's training ensemble) plays spooky works featured in Fantasia in this kids-friendly concert, including "The Sorcerer's Apprentice," "Night on Bald Mountain" and Bach's Toccata and Fugue in D Minor. They'll be assisted by the Magic Circle Mime Co.—and mimes are scary enough as is. Come in costume. Oct 29, 3pm. Symphony Center, Orchestra Hall, 224 S Michigan Ave (312-294-3000). Free.

STEAMWORKS'S HALLOWEEN CASTLE
The bondage areas and grotesque figures at Steamworks make this gay bathhouse afright year-round. But they'll fire up the boilers Freddy Krueger-style for All Saints' weekend, transforming the sauna into a "Halloween Castle." Since the required mode of dress is a white towel, a costume contest seems unlikely. Oct 28–31. Steamworks, 3246 N Halsted St at Belmont Ave (773-929-6080). $14 plus $6 membership.

TWILIGHT TALES'S MONSTER BASH
For years the writers at reading series Twilight Tales have spooked audiences at the Red Lion, Chicago's famously haunted tavern, with odd stories of the unimaginable and undead. For this event, they've put together a roster of some of their favorite horror masters for a night of nightmarish narratives. Oct 31, 7:30pm. Red Lion Pub, 2446 N Lincoln Ave (773-348-2695; www.twilighttales.com). $4 suggested donation.

NOCTURNAL DOMINION
Darken your night with help from this doom-and-gloom subculture shop. A selection of corsets and bullet belts can goth up your look, but we'd rather buy Iron Maiden patches and go as a hesher. 913 N Ashland Ave (773-782-9097, www.nocturnaldominion.com).

UNOFFICIAL COSTUME SHOPS
Remember when you showed up at that party wearing the exact same Cleopatra costume as your sworn enemy? Avoid living that horror again. At American Science & Surplus, a huge geek-out spot, it's easy to assemble an authentic costume on the cheap. Pick up a bizarre, green breathing mask ($1.25), a one-piece coverall ($4.25) and a yellow protective hood ($3.25) to go as a mad scientist, Devo or Homer Simpson at the nuke plant. 5316 N Milwaukee Ave (773-763-0313, www.sciplus.com). Finding a sexy costume isn't much of a stretch at House of Whacks, where you can find custom-made latex clothing. Splurge on a curve-hugging catsuit ($379) or a terrifying-in-all-the-wrong-ways Peter Pan costume ($199). Open the first Saturday of each month and by appointment. 3514 N Pulaski Rd (773-725-9132, www.houseofwhacks.com).

JONAMAC ORCHARD'S HAUNTED CORN MAZE
Try to make it through this 10-acre corn-stalk maze with only a Glow Stick or a pen light (no flashlights allowed), as costumed zombies ambush your tender flesh. We dare you. Fri 21–Sun 23, Oct 28–31; dusk–10pm. 19412 Shabbona Rd, Malta (815-825-2158, www.jonamacorchard.com). $7 adults, $5 kids.

GRACELAND CEMETERY TOURS
Laid out like a city of the dead with soaring obelisks, elaborate mausoleums and life-size statues, this 1860 burial ground holds the remains of some of Chicago's biggest movers and shakers. Many of the monuments were designed by some of the same architectural giants who are buried here. Louis Sullivan, Daniel Burnham, John Root and Mies van der Rohe are just a few you'll hear about on the Chicago Architecture Foundation's tour. Sun 23, Oct 30; 2pm. Meet inside cemetery entrance, Clark St and Irving Park Rd (312-922-3432). $10, seniors and students $5, CAF members free. For a more historical perspective, join the Chicago Historical Society's walking tour of the same cemetery to trace the city's early history through the lives of Marshall Field, George Pullman and other influential tycoons. Sat 22, Sun 23, Oct 29–31. Meet at cemetery entrance, Clark St and Irving Park Rd (312-642-4600). $15, CHS members $10.

NAVY FEAR
Ghosts and goblins of every age will find something appropriately spooky at Navy Pier's tribute to Halloween. For kids 13 and older (9–12 with an adult), there's Demons of the Deep, a watery grave–themed haunted area; Ghostly Gardens for younger kids includes a train ride and crafts, plus a pumpkin hunt on weekends. Fri 21–Oct 31, times vary. Navy Pier, 600 E Grand Ave (312-595-5225, www.navypier.com). $5–12.

NAUGHTY NURSES HALLOWEEN PARTY
Zentra is going to look like a busy emergency room—only sexier and hopefully less bloody—for this bash. Dress as a hospital ho and you'll get in free, and if your costume is the naughtiest, you'll win $500. We suggest going as the murderous medic Elle Driver, played by Daryl Hannah in Kill Bill, because eye patches are way sexy. Oct 29, 9pm–5am. 923 W Weed St (312-787-0400; R.S.V.P. at www.zentranightclub.com). $5–$10 (free if you're in costume).

JACK-O'-LANTERNS
Forget scary—the faces and scenery carved into the pumpkins at Avenue Tavern are downright works of art. Swing by for peek-a-boo. 2916 N Broadway, 773-975-7000. Free. Scoop your own gourd's brains out at Bungalow Lounge, which is holding a jack-o'-lantern–crafting contest and party. Go for the carving, stay for the pumkintinis. Wed 26. 1622 W Belmont Ave. Free.

AMERICAN GIRL PLACE
Those beady eyes, that plastic complexion, those tiny-human frocks—we're not talking about Bride of Chucky, but the dollies at American Girl Place. Just as disturbing are the franchise's loyal fans—moms who look like the daughters who look like dolls Felicity orSamantha—who make it possible for things like the Doll Hair Salon and The American Girls Revue to not only exist, but thrive. Now that's a terror. Sun 9am–7pm; Mon 10am–7pm; Fri 10am–9pm; Sat 9am–9pm. 111 E Chicago Ave between Rush St and Michigan Ave (877-AG PLACE).

CRITICAL MASS HALLOWEEN RIDE
The bike activists who populate this monthly jaunt get freakier than usual, donning costumes and riding like the horsemen of the apocalypse. Oct 28, 5:30pm. Ride leaves from Daley Plaza, Dearborn and Washington Sts (www.chicagocriticalmass.org).Find more spooky events in our This Week listings sections.