The master of the undead. The prince of night. The dastardly devil who goes by “Dracula.”

Arguably the most popular Halloween story of all time, the Electric City Playhouse is taking fear to a new level by using an old classic. Opening Oct. 10, “Dracula” will be performed on the black box stage on Murray Avenue and it’s going to be a doozy.

Director Jimmy Burdette said the buzz surrounding this production is bigger than any he has ever done and expects audiences to cram the theater for 8 p.m. and midnight showings starting Friday. The wonderful concoction of a sinister story, the Halloween season and increasing darkness with each passing day makes for a recipe for success.

“Everyone in the cast and crew is doing a wonderful job to make this show unique and successful for Anderson audiences to enjoy,” Burdette said in an e-mail interview.

The plot, he said, is taken from the 1924 play that was later a Broadway hit in 1927 starring Bela Lugosi. Later, Lugosi played the title role in the classic film and Dracula became one of the greatest stories to live through the decades.

The classic-style film feel is what Burdette said he is going for when putting the play together.

“I tried to go with a feel as if you, the audience, are watching a black and white film,” he said. “With props, set pieces the color red (for blood), it all ties together.”

The play features many cast members from the bug-eating maniac R.M. Renfield (Burdette) to Van Helsing (Paul Hyde) to Dr. Sewards (Hugh Spitler) and his daughter, Lucy (Sarah Snowden). It’s horror in the classic terms, Burdette said, and something he hopes will frighten audiences even today.

“It’s good, old-fashioned horror at its best,” he said. “It’s really about having some Halloween fun.”

Tickets are $15 for adults, $13 for seniors and $8 for students. They are available through the ECP box office by calling 864.224.4248. Showtimes are 8 p.m. Friday, Saturday and Oct. 17-18, midnight Friday and Oct. 17 and 3 p.m. Sunday.