Rebecca Little

Straight from the Factory
Andy Warhol’s contribution to the art world is undisputed, but his films have always occupied a more dubious position in mainstream public opinion. Facets is here to convince you there’s more to those factory flicks than Edie Sedgwick’s pretty face. The cinémathèque’s Warhol and the Film Factory festival kicks off Friday the 16th with Night at the Factory, one of the city’s more imaginative fetes. The gala, which runs from 7 to 11 p.m. at the Museum of Contemporary Art Warehouse (1747 W. Hubbard St.; 773-281-9075), includes a DIY false-eyelash station and...

15 Minutes . . . for a Fee
And you thought the Do It Yourself Hallelujah chorus was cool. Indulge long-suppressed aspirations for the stage at Victory Gardens’ Casting Auction Benefit. (Hey, your mother always said you stole the show as “townsperson number two.”) Amateur actors—meaning absolutely no experience required—can bid on more than 50 starring, supporting, and children’s roles in The Pajama Game, to be performed February 15th and 16th with a cast composed entirely of auction winners. The party starts 6 p.m. Friday the 9th at Victory Gardens Biograph Theater (2433 N. Lincoln Ave.; 773-549-5788, ext. 2140) with a buffet and open bar. Bidding for supporting roles via silent auction begins at $150; starring roles go on the block for $500 and up in a live auction; prospective actors are encouraged to shout, dance, and generally strut their stuff while bidding. Admission is...

Cheats and Beats
What do Chicago blues, Polish sausage, and infomercial impresario Ron Popeil have in common? All three got a big boost from the inimitable Maxwell Street Market. The documentary Cheat You Fair: The Story of Maxwell Street covers the outdoor bazaar’s 120-year history, from the working poor who first peddled their wares there, to the famous electrified blues born out of musicians’ need to be heard over the din, to the market’s relocation in 1994 when UIC took over the land. The film premières 7 p.m. Saturday the 3rd at Skokie Theatre (7924 Lincoln Ave., Skokie; 847-677-7761); the evening includes beer and wine, dinner, and...