Friday 4/18 – Thursday 4/24
“The results will be amazing, strange, weird, confusing, abstract, and definitely something you’ve never seen before,” says Dexter Bullard, artistic director of the Plasticene theater com-pany, of tonight’s improvisational jam, in which a dozen performers will cre-ate a piece using objects sprung on them at the start of the show. In the past Bullard’s used beanbag chairs, giant rolls of paper, PVC pipes, aquari-um gravel, and plastic drop cloths for inspiration in creating the group’s physical performance pieces. But this is the first time the creative process will happen in front of a live audience. Tonight’s performance is part of the PAC/edge Performance Festival and will feature improvised lighting and video projections by Nikki Lint, “sonic improvisations” by Eric Leonardson, and performers from Plasticene and other companies in the festival. It starts at 10 in the Athenaeum Theatre’s Studio 3, 2936 N. Southport. Tickets are $5; call 773-722-5463 or see the sidebar in Section Two for more festival information.
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23 WEDNESDAY The Barbie doll, that quintessential piece of Americana, was born as Bild Lilli, a German doll based on a cartoon character and first created as a novelty gift item in 1952. Ruth Handler, cofounder of Mattel and “mother” to Barbie, bought several Lilli dolls on a European trip, and Mattel acquired the rights before bringing out the American version in 1959. The ongoing Barbie Show at the Milano Model & Toy Museum includes a Lilli and the first edition of Barbie (in her striped one-piece swimsuit), plus about 100 other vintage Barbies, Kens, and Skippers, all from the collection of Chicagoan Sherry Baloun. It continues through April 30 at the museum, 116 Park in Elmhurst. Hours are 6 to 9 PM on weekdays, 11 to 5 on Saturday and Sunday. Admission is $4 for adults, $3 for seniors 65 and over, and free for kids under 10. Call 630-279-4422.
