Days of the Dead Festival at FRIGID New York, Under St. Marks Theater

FRIGID New York presents the Days of the Dead Festival from October 16 to November 1, 2026, at Under St. Marks Theater, a basement venue on St. Marks Place in the East Village. The festival is a showcase of independent theatre and performance inspired by the Mexican holiday Día de Muertos.

It is curated by Something from Abroad, FRIGID's resident company. The holiday's idea is that the dead return to earth each year to spend time with their families and enjoy their favorite things. The festival builds on that idea with shows about death and the afterlife, plus Halloween-themed plays. The organizers describe the mood as something that can be cheerful, sad, nostalgic, ritualistic and mysterious, and they welcome everyone regardless of cultural background or religious belief.

The lineup includes a "Witching Hour" triple-feature, a cabaret-style Día de Muertos show and a piece centered on Edgar Allan Poe, among many other productions. FRIGID calls itself a quirky black-box, Off-Off-Broadway venue, and audiences can expect work that is a little off the beaten path.

Most tickets cost $7–25, or are pay-what-you-can with a $7 minimum. Online purchases add a $2.50 transaction fee. Tickets at the door, by cash or card, carry no fee, but the house holds only 45 people, so advance purchase is strongly recommended. Seating is general admission, a mix of cushioned theatre chairs and plastic chairs.

The theatre is in a basement reached only by stairs, and it has no lobby. A small bar is open for most evening shows after 5 pm, serving beer, cider, wine, spiked seltzer, soda and water. Late seating is allowed at most shows but not guaranteed. After 10 minutes past the start time, staff may not be at the door, and late arrival does not qualify for a refund.