Ballet San Antonio Brings Dracula to the Tobin Center October 23-25 for a Haunting Halloween Weekend Performance
With Halloween just around the corner, San Antonio residents looking for something different to do this October can trade the usual haunted houses and scary movies for an evening at the ballet. Ballet San Antonio is bringing Dracula to the Tobin Center for the Performing Arts October 23-25, 2026, offering four performances of a gothic love story filled with mystery, romance and supernatural intrigue.
The production, choreographed by Roberto Forleo, draws inspiration from Francis Ford Coppola's 1992 film Bram Stoker's Dracula. Rather than focusing solely on the horror associated with the legendary vampire, the ballet explores the heartbreak and longing behind Count Dracula's centuries-long search for his lost love, Elisabeta.
For San Antonio theatergoers, the production offers an opportunity to experience a familiar Halloween story in an entirely different way, with dancers telling the tale through movement, music and elaborate theatrical imagery instead of spoken dialogue.
A Different Side of Dracula Comes to the San Antonio Stage
Most audiences recognize Dracula as one of literature's most famous villains, a character whose story has inspired countless films, television shows and theatrical productions since Bram Stoker published his novel in 1897.
Ballet San Antonio's production takes a more romantic approach, drawing from Coppola's film adaptation, which placed Dracula's enduring love for Elisabeta at the center of its story.
In Forleo's interpretation, the legendary count is driven by the hope of reuniting with the woman he lost centuries earlier. His journey unfolds through choreography that explores love, grief, obsession and the consequences of immortality.
The production combines sweeping dance sequences, atmospheric stage design and a cinematic score to bring that story to life. Dramatic lighting and theatrical imagery help establish the mysterious world surrounding Dracula, while the dancers convey the emotions and conflicts that shape the characters.
Although the production embraces the darker elements of the Dracula legend, its central story is one of love and loss, giving audiences something more personal to connect with beneath the supernatural setting.
Ballet San Antonio Continues Bringing Classical Stories to Life
For residents who have never attended a ballet, Dracula may be an especially interesting introduction to the art form. Unlike traditional ballet productions that some audiences associate primarily with fairy tales or classical music, this performance draws on a recognizable film and literary character.
Ballet San Antonio is one of the city's established professional performing arts organizations and a resident company of the Tobin Center for the Performing Arts. Its productions contribute to San Antonio's performing arts calendar, providing local audiences with opportunities to experience professional dance without traveling outside the city.
The company presents ballet as a form of storytelling, using choreography, music, costumes and stage design to communicate emotions and relationships. Productions such as Dracula demonstrate how stories familiar to moviegoers and readers can take on new meaning when interpreted through dance.
For families with older children, couples planning a date night or friends searching for Halloween activities in San Antonio, the performances offer an alternative to more traditional seasonal entertainment. Parents should consider the production's gothic themes when deciding whether it is appropriate for younger children.
Dracula Performance Dates, Times and Ticket Information at the Tobin Center
Ballet San Antonio will present four performances of Dracula at the H-E-B Performance Hall inside the Tobin Center for the Performing Arts, located at 100 Auditorium Circle in downtown San Antonio, from October 23 through October 25, 2026.
The production opens on Friday, October 23, at 7:30 p.m., followed by two performances on Saturday, October 24, at 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. The final performance takes place on Sunday, October 25, at 2 p.m., giving audiences both afternoon and evening options throughout the Halloween weekend.
Tickets start at $31, and the Tobin Center uses all-in pricing, meaning the advertised ticket price already includes applicable taxes and fees. There is an eight-ticket limit per order, although larger groups can arrange ticket purchases by contacting groups@tobincenter.org.
All attendees, regardless of age, must have a ticket to enter. For additional information or ticket assistance, residents can contact the Tobin Center Box Office at 210-223-8624 or visit the Tobin Center's official website.
A Halloween Weekend Tradition With a Theatrical Twist
October brings no shortage of fall festivals, costume parties and Halloween attractions across San Antonio, but Draculagives residents another way to enjoy the season while supporting the city's local arts community.
The Tobin Center, located along the San Antonio River in downtown San Antonio, has served as a gathering place for concerts, theater, dance and community events since opening in 2014. Its H-E-B Performance Hall provides the setting for Ballet San Antonio's production, placing the story within one of the city's best-known performing arts venues.
For those planning an evening downtown, attending Dracula could also be paired with dinner before the performance or time spent along the nearby River Walk. The Saturday and Sunday matinees provide additional scheduling options for audiences who prefer an afternoon outing.
What makes this production particularly fitting for Halloween is its combination of the familiar and unexpected. Dracula may be best known for frightening audiences, but Ballet San Antonio's interpretation invites them to consider the emotions behind the legend.
With only four performances scheduled from October 23 through October 25, residents interested in seeing Dracula can review available seating and ticket prices before making plans.
Stay connected with My Neighborhood News for more San Antonio arts and entertainment coverage, upcoming performances and community events happening throughout the fall season.
Tiffany Krenek has been on the My Neighborhood News team since August 2021. She is passionate about curating and sharing content that enriches the lives of our readers in a personal, meaningful way. A loving mother and wife, Tiffany and her family live in the West Houston/Cypress region.
Local business spotlight
Grow your business
where trust already lives.
Let’s introduce your business to the neighbors nearby.
Have a local favorite?
Let’s make an introduction.
Leave your email and our team will reach out with ways to promote your business.
Give a local favorite a little love.
Know a business your neighbors should discover? Tell us who they are.
We couldn’t send that just yet. Please try again.
