Playbill: Three New Shows in Denver October 29-November 1

Scary stories about madness, S&M and the ghosty tales of our youth are popping up on stages all around town. ’Tis the season for indoor entertainment with maybe a touch of the spooky. Trick or treat: Here are three new shows this weekend:
Equus
Avenue Theater
October 29, through November 21
7:30 p.m. Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays
6:30 p.m. Sunday, November 15
Tickets: $26.50
?303-321-5925
Avenue Theater, now back in the hands of John Ashton after a hiatus of several years, is going through some changes. Ashton says he’s shaking up the venue’s season, redlining some shows and adding others (what those will be is still up in the air) with a goal of raising the quality at Avenue. In the meantime, the theater is not treading water: Up next is the previously scheduled Equus, Peter Shaffer’s powerful drama about a disturbed teen and his psychiatrist, who has troubles of his own. It's directed by Warren Sherrill and stars Paul Borillo and UNC drama student Spencer Althoff. Check out Avenue’s new look; discounted tickets will be offered for the preview on Thursday, October 29.
And Toto too Theatre Company, Smoke
Vintage Theatre
October 30 through November 14
7:30 p.m. Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays
Cheap Date Night: 7:30 Wednesday, November 5, $15
Tickets: $20 to $22 
720-583-3975
Susan Lyles and her And Toto too Theatre Company, which is dedicated to presenting work exclusively by women playwrights, are back with the regional premiere of Smoke by Kim Davies, a drama with a dark side about a college dropout and her famous father’s intern who meet at a kink party. And that's just the start. On a budget? November 5 is Cheap Date Night, with discounted tix.
Visionbox Studio, Scary Stories
Skylite Station, 910 Arts
7 p.m. Friday and Saturday, October 30 and 31
Tickets: $15 ($5 in costume) 
It’s a weekend of Halloween fun for all ages at Visionbox, where Scary Stories will flip the pages of creepy banned books in a cabaret performance party that will delight the young and make you feel like a kid again, too. Food (and a full bar for the grownups) will be available beginning at 6 p.m. nightly; wear a costume and you’ll get in for just five bucks.

Find a stage near you: Check out Westword's online listings for more theater events.