There is very little chance you’ve been able to avoid the Barbie hysteria sweeping the country. Margot Robbie’s face as the popular toy fashion doll is everywhere from social media memes to blazoned on the side of buses. The much-anticipated movie directed by Greta Gerwig is finally released today, on the same day as another blockbuster— Christopher Nolan’s Oppenheimer.
While fans of the latter can find an extra special screening of Oppenheimer with a post-movie panel conversation at Music Box Theatre next week, those enthusiastically embracing the Barbie delirium can now find their own unique cinematic experience over at the McHenry Outdoor Theater.
Taking place from July 21st through August 4th, the landmark theater will offer costume contests, a Barbie-in-the-flesh meet-and-greet, and a raffle for a custom-built 2850-square-inch dream house on its opening night tonight.
“We’re encouraging everyone to dress up,” says McHenry Outdoor Theater owner Scott Dehn. “My staff will be dressed up, and we’ll have a costume contest with more than $600 in prizes.”
Prizes include a carload pass for the rest of the year, gift baskets, various Barbies, and more. According to McHenry Outdoor Theater, staff have been instructed to find and reward creativity in the crowd.
The McHenry Outdoor Theater from Golden Age Cinemas was given an extensive revamp just last year. Owner Scott Dehn invested $50,000 in refurbishing the six-story-high, 100-foot-wide screen, buying new tech, and improving the concession area.
Located at he southeast corner of Chapel Hill and Lincoln roads, gates open at 6:30 pm before the movie begins at 9 pm. The Barbie movie will be followed by showings of the ’90s classic “Clueless” at around 11:30 pm each night through July 27th before it will then be followed by screenings of Mission Impossible: Dead Reckoning – Part 1 from July 28th through August 3rd.
Adults get in for $14.00 while military, senior citizens over 60, and children between 3 and 11 can enter for $8.00. Children under 3 go free.
Raffle tickets cost $5 each and can be purchased here. All tickets will benefit the charity Kids in Need of McHenry County.
More information can be found at goldenagecinemas.com.