Speaking of blood, not to mention Fringe Festival favorites, “The Texas Chainsaw Massacre, the Musical” is enjoying a run across at the Willows Campbell Theatre, in Martinez, who are allowing them the privilege of a “Splatterzone” and everything. Not an adaptation of the movie so much as a fictional examination of the origin of real life Leatherface prototype Ed Gein, TCM promises not to get all bogged down in boring history, but rather revel in the bloody-minded inappropriateness of it all. All this, plus showtunes! Through October 31, 8 p.m., Willows Campbell Theatre, 636 Ward, Martinez, $25-$30, (925) 798-1300, www.texaschainsawmusical.com.

Remember “Tales from the Darkside”? The Dark Room Theatre’s “Tales from the Dark Room” may lack the foreboding voiceover (“the dark side is always there, waiting for us to enter, waiting to enter us…”) but the set-up, two dark tales per evening plus “commercial breaks,” is one familiar to fans of both the tv show and of the Dark Room. Featuring a slew of local talent, some creepy surprises, and (as always) some of the best black box theatre sound design around. Still no nachos, though, dammit. Through October 24, 8 p.m., The Dark Room, 2263 Mission, SF, $20, www.darkroomsf.com.

And on the subject of black boxes, Trevor Allen’s Black Box Theatre is finally premiering his long-anticipated re-imagining of Frankenstein: “The Creature.” Directed by Cutting Ball’s Rob Melrose, designed by a top-notch team of local theatre professionals, and starring veteran Bay Area actor James Carpenter, this timeless fable told through the eyes of the perennial outsider will doubtlessly prove the most artistically accomplished of this season’s creature features. Over three years in development, it seems a shame that it’s only scheduled for a three-week run—but that’s all the more reason to catch it while you can. October 23-November 7, 8 p.m., The Thick House, 1695 18th St, SF, $20-$30, www.thickhouse.org, www.blackboxtheatre.com.


Horrifyingly hot: Barbarella

Attack of the Killer B Movies: “Barbarella” (through Nov 7). You’re too late to see the first installment of this year’s Foulplay presentation: “Blue Velvet,” and the second, “Bride of Frankenstein”—staged in living black-and-white. When I saw “Bride,” the tech nerd in me thrilled to see such creative use of white light, green greasepaint, shadow play, Balinese-style shadow puppets, strobes, and a real Jacob’s Ladder along with some really standout characters including the eeeeeevil Dr. Pretorius (Jim Jeske), suspicious housemaid Minnie (Gerri Lawlor), and the misunderstood monster in search of a bride (Fennel Skellyman. No, really). Don’t miss out when “Barbarella” hits the boards this weekend, a monster of an entirely different lurex stripe. Stagewerx, 8 p.m., 533 Sutter, SF, $25, www.stagewerx.org, www.foulplaysf.com.