Those prepared for a fright this Halloween season should look no further than “The Haunt at Wright Hall,” a performance-based haunted house and costume dance put on by the students and faculty of the UC Davis Department of Theatre and Dance.

“The Haunt at Wright Hall” marks the commencement of the department’s 2012-13 season, and takes place Thursday-Sunday, October 25-28, and Tuesday-Wednesday, October 30-31. The haunted house, with its theme of A Twisted Fairy Tale: The Handless Maiden, offers viewings every half hour from 7:30 p.m. to 10:30 p.m., and the dance runs from 7:30 p.m. to midnight. Not for the faint of heart, the production is rated PG-13. Tickets are $15 or $10 for the dance only, and are sold at the Main Theatre Wright Hall box office before the show.

“The Haunt” visitors will be led in groups of 15 by a “Guiding Spirit” through the seven performance stages of the haunted house: The Bargain without Knowing; The Dismemberment; The Wandering; Finding Love in the Underworld; The Harrowing of the Soul; The Realm of the Wild Men; and The Wild Bride and Bridegroom.

The sets include two mazes complete with demons and goblins, shattered mirrors, and dense, foggy marshes. Other elements include the Devil’s Forest, haunted castle and tree of tears.

The journey through the phases of “The Haunt” concludes in A Twisted Fairytale: The Handless Maiden’s wedding celebration, the costume dance portion of the event. Visitors can choose to forgo the haunted house and just attend the dance.

Dressing up for “The Haunt” is optional but encouraged. The Department of Theatre and Dance offers costume rentals in advance or on performance nights at The Enchanted Cellar, its year-round costume rental service with special hours for Halloween.

For more information, visit: http://theatredance.ucdavis.edu/