FRIGID New York's Days of the Dead Festival Runs Through Nov. 1 in the East Village, NYC

FRIGID New York, the basement black box under St. Marks Theatre at 94 St. Marks Place in the East Village, is in the middle of its Days of the Dead Festival, which runs October 16 through November 1. The program takes its cue from the Mexican holiday Día de Muertos, then adds Halloween plays and stories about death and the afterlife. The festival's page notes a mention in Time Out's roundup of Halloween theater.

It is curated by FRIGID's resident company, Something from Abroad. The guiding idea is that the dead come back this time of year to spend time with their families and enjoy their favorite things, so the work 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. Elisha Mudly opened the festival with a solo play about death, announced as running for two performances only. Vanessa Codorniu's Perra Puta Loca Bruja is billed as a Latina's reclamation journey. Pizza Party, by Mario Mendoza and Sergio Cavero, directed by Jenny Prada and produced by artplus, still has performances on October 31 at 7pm and November 1 at 3pm. FRIGID described its second week as a ten-show stretch with burlesque, new plays and one-person shows.

Most shows cost $7 to $25, or are pay-what-you-can with a $7 minimum, plus a $2.50 online transaction fee. Tickets at the door, cash or card, carry no fee. The house holds only 45 seats and a show can sell out, so the theater strongly recommends buying ahead. The Skint also lists the festival at $7 to $25 with sliding-scale admission.

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 shows, serving beer, cider, wine, spiked seltzer, soda and water. Most shows allow late seating, but it is not guaranteed, and entry may not be possible more than 10 minutes after the start time. Late arrivals are not refunded. For a pre-Halloween night out, it suits anyone who likes small, offbeat Off-Off-Broadway rooms.