We live in a vampire moment: The “Twilight” book series is all the rage; “True Blood” vamps it up on cable; and “Cirque du Freak” is now in theaters.

But Antrim Playhouse director Randy Accardi says they are all branches of the same tree planted by Bram Stoker’s 1897 novel, “Dracula.”

This weekend, just in time for Halloween, Antrim opens a three-weekend run of “Dracula” at the playhouse in Wesley Hills, in a faithful adaptation of Stoker by Steven Dietz.

Douglas J. Aguirre, a retired NYPD officer from Middletown, N.Y., plays the title role. To get into role – which presents Dracula growing younger as he tastes new blood – Aguirre has let his fingernails grow long. When he is old, he strokes his fingernails absentmindedly; when he is young, the nails are weapons.

Accardi has directed some of Antrim’s most successful musicals of late – “West Side Story” and last season’s “Miss Saigon” – but never a drama.

He brings a choreographer’s eye and his extensive personal library of horror music to “Dracula”, which is entirely underscored.

“At first, I think the actors were distracted by it – we had music playing at every rehearsal – but they’ve come around, Accardi says. “It’s not going to be overpowering.”

The underscoring has meant the cast of 18 actors learning to pace their speeches and movements to match the music.

This Dracula bites on the beat.

There will be fog effects – much of it is set in London -?authentic Victorian costumes and plenty of now-you-see-him-now-you-don’t moments.

Producer Jim Guarasci, a fixture at Antrim for years, remembered there was a trap door in the stage that had long been painted over. It has been restored to use.

The director has also chosen to re-create moments that were only mentioned in the script, including a scene in which Dracula attacks the crew of the ship that is taking him to London.

It’s pretty spooky stuff, the director says, not suited to children younger than 13 or so.

“It’s going to be over the top,” Accardi says.

Antrim Playhouse presents “Dracula” through Nov. 15. Fridays and Saturdays at 8, Sundays at 2. $20, with seniors and students paying $18. (Discounts don’t apply Saturday nights.) Antrim Playhouse is at 15 Spook Rock Road, Wesley Hills. 845-354-9503. www.antrimplayhouse.com.

‘Moonlight and Magnolias’: Actors Conservatory Theatre presents Ron Hutchinson’s new comedy, “Moonlight and Magnolias,” about rewriting the screenplay for “Gone with the Wind,” Oct. 30, 31 at 8 p.m. and Nov. 1 at 2 p.m. $18, $15 for seniors. Arlene Wendt directs the show, at 20 Buckingham Road in Yonkers. 914-391-6558. www.actshows.org.

‘Rose’: Martin Sherman’s one-woman show, “Rose,” inspired by the playwright’s grandmother, is at the Schoolhouse Theater in Croton Falls. From a Ukrainian village to modern-day America, Rose’s journey is comic, tragic and epic. Through Nov. 1. Thursdays through Saturdays at 8; Sundays at 4. Single tickets are $30 for Thursdays and Fridays, $32 for Saturdays and Sundays. The Schoolhouse Theater is at 3 Owens Road, Croton Falls. 914-277-8477. www.schoolhousetheater.org. (Read the review here: tinyurl.com/yjkypmw)

‘Art’: Hand-to-Mouth Players present Yasmina Reza’s “Art,” Oct. 30 and 31 at 8 p.m. and Nov. 1 at 2 p.m. $15, $12 for seniors. Hand-to-Mouth performs at Trinity-Boscobel United Methodist Church auditorium, 275 Church St, Buchanan. 914-734-4336. www.htmplayers.com.

‘The Secret Garden’: Philipstown Depot Theatre presents “The Secret Garden,” a musical staging of Frances Hodgson Burnett’s novel, directed by Nancy Swann. Through Nov. 15. $20, $15. Fridays and Saturdays at 8 p.m.; Sundays at 2 p.m. On Halloween, the curtain is at 2 and there is no 8 p.m. performance. 10 Garrison’s Landing, Garrison. 845-424-3900. www.philipstowndepottheatre.org.

Douglas Aguirre of Middletown, N.Y., plays the title character in Antrim Playhouse’s production of “Dracula” in Wesley Hills. (Angela Gaul/The Journal News)

Follow the season

Follow the fall theater season, including audition notices, reviews and show coverage, on Peter D. Kramer’s “In the Wings” blog at theater.lohudblogs.com. Follow Peter on Twitter at www.twitter.com/peterkramer