HALLOWEEN TREATS LURE ARTSY SPIRITS : This Halloween, why stay home and answer doorbells? For thrills and chills, grab your Elvira wig and Dracula fangs and head for the nearest theater, movie house or music hangout. : THEATER

For adults: With murder most foul and three macabre witches to stir the plot, Shakespeare’s classic tragedy of dark deeds, “Macbeth,” at the Globe Playhouse at 8 p.m. is perfect for the occasion. Patrons are invited to come in costume (1107 N. Kings Road, West Hollywood, (213) 654-5623).

A taste for the bizarre? Join the performance art group Torture Chorus for a multimedia prowl through the LACE Gallery at 8 p.m. in “Breakfast With the Moors Murders” (1804 Industrial St., (213) 624-5650).

Charles Marowitz’s tenebrous mystery/comedy “Sherlock’s Last Case” tingles the spine at the Grove Theatre Company’s GEM Theatre (12852 Main St., Garden Grove, (714) 636-7213).

Take a walk on the dark side in “An Evening With John O’Keefe” at Wallenboyd Theater, where the poet and playwright performs at 8 p.m. (301 Boyd St., Los Angeles, (213) 629-2205).

Serving up tales from the pulp magazines of yesteryear, Sheldon Penner’s “Real Pulp” at the 21st Street Theatre at 8 p.m. has a half-price ticket offer for those in costume. And all patrons are invited to an informal post-performance party (11350 Palms Blvd., west of Sawtelle, (213) 827-5655).

Stay up for the witching hour at the West Coast Ensemble’s “Playhouse of the Damned,” Richard Nathan’s late-night horror anthology spoof with an 11 p.m. curtain (6240 Hollywood Blvd., (213) 871-0210).

The gruesome fare at the Celebration Theatre features a Robert Peters double bill, “Mad Ludwig of Bavaria” and “The Blood Countess.” Dress in costume for the 8 p.m. show (426 N. Hoover, (213) 876-4257).

In the mood for mystery? John Willard’s comedy-thriller “The Cat and the Canary” plays at the Long Beach Community Playhouse’s Studio Theatre (5021 E. Anaheim St., (213) 494-1616).

Harman Theatre has a two-for-one ticket special for patrons who arrive in “depraved finery” and as celebrity look-a-likes for its 8:30 p.m. performance of Hollye Levin’s un-spooky “Polo Lounge (A True Story)” (522 N. La Brea Ave., (213) 466-1767).

A costume competition will be held at the Gene Dynarski Theatre’s Caribbean musical farce “De Obeah Mon.” Arrive in costume and receive a $2.50 admission discount (5600 Sunset Blvd., (213) 465-0070).

Comedy improv groups give Halloween a satiric twist. The Groundlings Theatre’s Halloween version of its “976-Groundlings” comedy revue plays at 8 and 10 p.m. Audience members may take part in a costume contest (7307 Melrose Ave., (213) 934-9700).

The three-member satiric group Rabble (Without a Cause) will present a special Halloween show, plus a performance of the Rough Theater’s “L.A. Book of the Dead” at 10:30 p.m. at the Powerhouse Theatre (3116 2nd St., Santa Monica, (213) 392-6529).

Wear Halloween finery to Company of Angels’ 11 p.m. “Midnite Madness” comedy show and be admitted for half-price. (5846 Waring Ave. at Vine Street, (213) 464-9674).

More half-price tickets will be awarded patrons at Melrose Theatre for the 10:30 p.m. curtain of “Funny You Should Ask” (733 N. Seward St., (213) 465-0070).

And there’s “Nothing Sacred” at the Carpet Company Stage. The comedy troupe specializing in topical humor observes the holiday at 9 p.m. (5262 W. Pico Blvd., (818) 509-8225).

For families and children: Going out of town? Take the 6:30 p.m. “Halloween Tour of Terror” at San Diego’s Starlight Bowl, a thriller presented by the San Diego Junior Theatre and the San Diego Civic Light Opera (Starlight Bowl, Balboa Park, (619) 544-7800).

The Angels Gate Cultural Center features a “Halloween Haunt,” a theater performance in a haunted house at 7:30 p.m. (3601 S. Gaffey St., San Pedro, (213) 519-1936).

Dress in costume for Charles the Clown’s Halloween show, an evening of dinner, games and treats at Children’s Circle Nursery School at 6:30 p.m. (6328 Woodman Ave., Van Nuys, (818) 988-4335).

Get a 50-cent ticket discount when you wear your costume to Theatre West’s “Aladdin and His Lamp” at 1 p.m. (3333 Cahuenga Blvd. West, (213) 851-7977).

The Children’s Book & Music Center presents spooky stories at its 10 a.m. Halloween costume party. Come as a storybook character (2500 Santa Monica Blvd., Santa Monica, (213) 829-0215).

Washington Irving’s spooky classic “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow” is the Irvine Valley College Theatrefaire for Children presentation at 10 a.m., 3 and 7 p.m. (Irvine High School, 4321 Walnut, (714) 559-3333).

Spend the day at the Los Angeles Children’s Museum where Halloween is celebrated from 10 a.m. with exhibits, workshops and performances (310 N. Main St., (213) 687-8801).

Nothing here for your treat bag? Other Halloween howls may be found at dinner theaters, libraries and community centers.