With costume contests, a dream-house raffle and even a Barbie-in-the-flesh meet-and-greet on the agenda, the McHenry Outdoor Theater will be the place to be on July 21.
Visitors arriving early for opening night of the highly anticipated “Barbie” can get in on a veritable festival of doll-dazzlery. It’s all courtesy of The Bremer Team, Keller Williams Success Realty, which has formed a partnership with the Outdoor this summer. Gates will open at the theater — located at Chapel Hill and Lincoln roads, east of McHenry — about 6:30 p.m. The night’s double feature will include “Barbie” first and ’90s classic “Clueless” second.
“I’m very excited about it,” said Dawn Bremer, founder of the McHenry-based real estate team. “I think so many kids are going to love what we have in store.”
Scott Dehn, owner of the landmark theater, said he couldn’t agree more.
“We’re encouraging everyone to dress up,” he said, noting he anticipates a sea of pink in honor of the Margot Robbie-Ryan Gosling film’s motif. “My staff will be dressed up, and we’ll have a costume contest with more than $600 in prizes.”
Those prizes include a carload pass good for the rest of the season, which has been extended this year into December, as well as gift baskets, Barbies and more. Staff has been directed to find and reward creativity, with a focus on the youngsters in the crowd, although adults who “go all out” may also be recognized, Dehn said.
Fans of all ages may also enjoy the planned Barbie meet-and-greet, Dehn and Bremer said.
“My niece, Emma, is the spitting image of the classic blonde version of Barbie,” Bremer said, adding that the Palatine woman will don her Barbie best to greet members of the crowd between 7 and 9 p.m. Not only that, but a general contractor friend of Bremer’s, Tim Boswell, is crafting a giant, lighted, pink, Mattel®-like box to house her — and for visitor photo-op use.
Those participating in the raffle — which is benefiting Kids in Need of McHenry County — will learn Friday night who wins. The lucky ticket-holder will take home from the theater a custom-built, fully renovated, professionally staged, two-and-a-half-story and approximately 2,850-square-inch Barbie dream house. Raffle tickets are $5 each.
Several people are collaborating on boosting both the curb and interior appeal of the dream house before its ownership transfers. The doll house was donated by Elizabeth Pfeifer of The Glad Lamb. Kenny’s Floor Covering Inc. has donated carpet, Pfeifer is repainting the interior and exterior, and Meghann Carpenter of Dickson Design Studio will professionally stage it, Bremer said.
“The Bremer Team has always joked that one day we’d like to be able to give away a house,” she said. “In a recent brainstorming meeting, we decided why not give away a custom Barbie house? Seriously, how fun is this?”
Links to the raffle ticket purchase portal can be found on The Bremer Team, Keller Williams Success Facebook page as well as on the McHenry Outdoor Theater – Golden Age Cinemas Facebook page.
Weekend admission at the McHenry Outdoor is $14 per adult, or $8 for children ages 3 to 11 as well as for military personnel and seniors ages 60 and up. Children 2 and younger are admitted free. Premier parking (front two rows) is $14 per vehicle. Find other information at goldenagecinemas.com.