Vampires again have infiltrated the swashbuckling territory at Pirates Dinner Adventure. “Vampirates” shows are now offered as a seasonal production at the long-running attraction near International Drive.
“I refer to it as our Halloween filter,” Nick Kroger, creative director of Orlando Dinner Entertainment, says of “Vampirates: When the Blood Moon Rises.”
The show’s storyline, the look of the performers – including fangs – and the music are altered.
“We’ve changed that out to be a little bit more rock and a little bit more aggressive in the field of Halloween,” Kroger says.
It’s the second year for “Vampirates.” Last season, the attraction added more performances in the weeks leading up to Halloween due to demand, he says.
“People liked that family-friendly option but still a little bit of scary,” Kroger says.
As always, the attraction is built around a full-size ship surrounded by a moat. The audience is in stadium theater-style seating. The show includes aerial stunts, silk routines, trampoline sequences and swordplay.
“The pirates will swing in from behind you all the way to the ship,” Kroger says.
And there’s humor. In “Vampirates,” that comes in the form of the Magee character, the captain’s assistant.
“He desperately wants to be included. ‘Somebody bite me! You know, make me a vampire,’” Kroger says.
The usual pirate story is tweaked so that Captain Sebastian the Black and crew are in search of the Sulzana’s Eye, a cursed necklace.
“The reason the captain of the vampirates is wanting it is because it gives them the ability to exist and live in the daylight as well as the night; they can pillage and do all the stuff they do,” Kroger says.
“I’m huge on the storytelling,” he says. “We know that that’s so important for the audience to identify with each character.”
“Vampires” is staged on select nights from Sept. 19 through Oct. 31.
Ticket prices are $72.95 per person ($46.95 for ages 3 to 10). Admission includes a three-course dinner and unlimited soft drinks. Upgrades are available.
The attraction’s Teatro Martini is also offering a Vegas-inspired Halloween Revue from Sept. 29 to Oct. 31. It includes an “interactive dinner show” with comedians, magicians, jugglers and lyrical pole dancers. Ticket price is $73.95.
For more information or reservations, go to piratesdinneradventure.com or teatromartinifl.com or call 407-206-5100.
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