The night before Halloween, Utica gets something better than a haunted house. The Vampire Circus — a full-scale circus-theatre spectacle described as a fusion of Tim Burton and Cirque du Soleil — rolls into the Stanley Theatre on Thursday, October 29, and it is exactly the kind of show worth clearing your October calendar for. Doors open at 6:30 PM, showtime is 7:30 PM.
About The Vampire Circus
Count Dracula, it turns out, has been running a circus this whole time. Set in 19th-century Bohemia, The Vampire Circus follows the Count as he opens a traveling big top as cover for his plan at world domination — and invites you into an abandoned 19th-century cemetery where, when the moonlight hits, the dead wake up for one final show. International performers work through acrobatics, contortion, juggling, illusions, and death-defying stunts, and the show is not shy about pulling you into the action — it breaks the fourth wall and integrates the audience throughout.
The production comes from Francisco Santos, a Cirque du Soleil veteran and CEO/founder of Live305 Entertainment. Think big-tent energy translated into a theatrical format: circus cabaret meets gothic theatre. The whole thing runs 90 minutes, and it is fully all-ages — bring the kids, bring the grandparents, bring the friend who insists they do not like circuses.
The Venue: Stanley Theatre, Utica
The Stanley Theatre on Genesee Street is one of central New York’s signature rooms. With 2,963 seats, it is the kind of venue that makes a touring production feel like an event — the scale matches the spectacle. Check thestanley.org for any venue-specific updates as October approaches.
Tickets & Details
Tickets are available through Ticketmaster. Doors open at 6:30 PM, showtime is 7:30 PM on Thursday, October 29, 2026 at the Stanley Theatre, 259 Genesee Street, Utica, NY. The Vampire Circus is a family-friendly, all-ages show — if you are looking for a Halloween-season event the whole group can do together, this is the one.