“Estrogen Fest 2005: Changing the Rules!” runs through 6/5 at the Storefront Theater in Gallery 37 Center for the Arts, 66 E. Randolph. Presented by the Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs in conjunction with Prop Thtr, this annual showcase of women’s performance features artists in the fields of theater, spoken word, poetry, dance, and music. The festival consists of two alternating programs of short works. Program A, “History, Fantasy, and Myth,” opens Fri 5/13, and runs through 6/4: Fri 7:30 PM, Sat 5 PM. Program B, “We’re Still Here,” previews Thu 5/12, 7:30 PM, and opens Sat 5/14, running through 6/5: Sat 7:30 PM, Sun 5 PM. Tickets for the “sneak preview” benefit show 5/12 are $25, which includes cocktails, hors d’oeuvres, and live music; $15 for admission to the performance alone. Tickets for shows starting 5/13 are $15 per program and can be purchased by phone at 312-742-8497 or online at www.ticketweb.com; a festival pass for both programs is $25. Dinner packages are available on Saturday for persons attending both programs. More information is available at www.estrogenfest-chicago.com. Following is the schedule through 5/15; a complete schedule is available online at www.chicagoreader.com.
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Program A: “History, Fantasy, and Myth” Yolanda Androzzo pre-sents a poetry program, I Ain’t Down. Stephanie Shaw contemplates physical activity in Skadi: Norse Goddess of Skiing. Rust Proof is “an athletic dance quartet to Santana” by Cindy Brandle. Emily Schwartz recounts the tale of Rapunzel. Brett Neveu’s new play about “makeup and manipulation, circa 1976,” The Avon Lady, is directed by Kimberly Senior. A Brief Message From Amelia Earhart, written by Miriam Weisfeld and directed by Libby Ford, has the aviator in the afterlife “keeping cool with daiquiris in the Bermuda Triangle.” The Boomer Babes–Pam Peterson and Jan Slavin–celebrate female pop figures like June Cleaver and Mary Tyler Moore in “Boomer Culture Medley.” War Protest 1914, adapted by Marilyn Campbell from women writers of the era, features a large ensemble under Kimberly Senior’s direction. Soft Serve (see Program B
Program B: “We’re Still Here” See listing for Thu 5/12. a 7:30 PM.
