FRIGID New York's Days of the Dead Festival, Through November 1 in the East Village

FRIGID New York, a basement black box beneath St. Marks Theatre at 94 St. Marks Place in the East Village, is hosting its Days of the Dead Festival from October 16 through November 1. The program is inspired by the Mexican holiday Día de Muertos and also takes in Halloween plays and stories about death and the afterlife. It is a showcase of independent theater and performance.

The festival is curated by FRIGID's resident company, Something from Abroad. It draws on the idea that the dead return to spend time with their families and enjoy their favorite things, and it promises work that can be cheerful, sad, nostalgic, ritualistic or mysterious. Everyone is welcome regardless of cultural background or religious belief. The lineup includes a "Witching Hour" triple feature, a Día de Muertos cabaret, an Edgar Allan Poe-themed piece and a witch-themed show, among many others.

Most shows are priced between $7 and $25, or offered 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 seats and shows can sell out, so buying ahead is recommended.

The theater is reached by stairs only, with general admission seating in a mix of cushioned theatrical chairs and free-standing plastic chairs. There is no lobby, so early arrivals are encouraged to explore the neighborhood. A small bar opens after 5pm for most evening performances, serving beer, cider, wine, spiked seltzer, soda and water. Most shows allow late seating, but this isn't guaranteed. Entry may not be possible more than 10 minutes after the start time, and late arrivals are not refunded. For a pre-Halloween night out, it suits anyone who likes small, offbeat Off-Off-Broadway rooms.