Attention: This is a summary of the original German language production and most of its later versions. Many alterations were made for the Broadway version.

Transylvania, late 19th century. A German professor and his assistant Alfred travel to the Carpathians in hopes of finding proof for the professor's theory on the existence of vampires. After almost freezing to death in a snowstorm, Alfred manages to bring the professor to an inn in a small town near the mountains where he meets and falls in love with the innkeeper's daughter, Sarah. However, Alfred isn't the only one who has laid eyes on the beautiful redhead - a mysterious man living in a castle nearby takes advantage of Sarah's longing for freedom and invites her to his annual midnight ball. Alfred and Professor Abronsius start a journey to the Count's castle in hopes of freeing Sarah, certain that the mysterious man is the key to finding vampires.

• Extended version - Spoiler alert!