By Donna Sachet—
2026, here we come! While New Year’s resolutions per se have never been appealing to us, we do intend to use lessons learned in 2025 as we move into this new year. For instance, we are so fortunate in San Francisco to be surrounded by artistic presentations. When we look back at those that brought us the most enjoyment, we come back again and again to the San Francisco Gay Men’s Chorus (SFGMC). With so many December obligations we nearly skipped their Holiday Spectacular, but a call from good friend Gary Virginia put it back in our sights and we attended with him on Christmas Eve at Davies Symphony Hall. The venue was splendid, the chorus was resplendent, and the music was infectiously joyful. Artistic Director Jake Stensberg truly came into his own with this concert. We won’t be missing anything SFGMC does this year! After all, we started singing with them over 30 years ago and have so many wonderful memories on stage and off with this award-winning choral ensemble.
On the other hand, it is easy to continue to support the same artistic groups year after year and miss out on newer groups, perhaps bringing a fresh approach to the city. One of our most pleasant evenings was spent at Yerba Buena Center for the Arts at Smuin Contemporary Ballet’s The Christmas Ballet’s LGBTQ Night, featuring RuPaul’s Drag Race finalist Lady Camden. The first half demonstrated the classical discipline and mastery of the dancers, while the second half explored some more contemporary music and dancing styles, all with delightful mixed gender pairings. The evening benefited several local charitable groups, including The Imperial Court of San Francisco; and the afterparty in the lobby of the building next door was hosted by the Reigning Emperor Ashlee Blow and Reigning Empress Afrika America, performing a crowd-pleasing number. Our takeaway: support those proven bastions of entertainment while opening the door to new experiences with up-and-coming artistic endeavors!
And sometimes we find a way to combine something tried and true with a new approach, creating an unbeatable experience. After starring in Sunday’s a Drag at the Starlight Room in Union Square for 15 years and then colliding with the COVID pandemic and subsequent closing of the Sir Francis Drake Hotel, we had moved on to other ventures. But, as loyal readers know, Club Fugazi and Patrick Rylee invited us to produce a series of shows that reminded us how well this particular formula worked. Harry Denton and Michael Pagan knew what they were doing long before there were drag brunches at every venue all over town. Most recently, the new Starlite atop the remodeled and renamed Beacon Grand Hotel invited us back to reinterpret Sunday’s a Drag as an evening event. After a few adjustments and welcome changes, we have now done several shows in this significantly altered but equally gorgeous room, including a special holiday version in December, reenacting the legendary Miracle on Powell Street! (Does it ever snow in San Francisco?) Along with Khmera Rouge, Mahlae Balenciaga, and Amoura Teese, we brought a little bit of magic back to Union Square. Expect to see future shows at Starlite once a month, starting January 25 at 5:30 pm, with a rotating cast of drag performers.
Yes, some things are just so good that they are well worth bringing back … like the Castro Theatre, about to open its doors again in February, bringing an extraordinary jolt of energy back to the Castro neighborhood and all of San Francisco. Imagine lines of people wrapping around the block, patronizing local businesses before and after shows, dining and drinking, and meeting friends for films and top-notch live entertainment. Just a glance at the posted schedule of upcoming events is enough to take your breath away. And what better way to open than with a bevy of drag queens on stage on Friday, February 6, to introduce Priscilla, Queen of the Desert. This will be your first chance to see the incredible results of painstaking work over these many months, plastering, painting, gold-leafing, and bringing this historic landmark back to life. And beyond all the beautiful restoration, you’ll enjoy new, comfortable seats, a spacious refreshment bar, completely redone restrooms, and a brand-new pipe organ, ready to rise from the floor to welcome a new generation of supporters. We’ll see you there!
Donna Sachet is a celebrated performer, fundraiser, activist, and philanthropist who has dedicated over two decades to the LGBTQ Community in San Francisco. Contact her at empsachet@gmail.com
Sunday, January 25
Sunday’s a Drag
Drag in Union Square
Donna Sachet & friends
Starlite, 450 Powell Street
5:30 pm
www.beacongrand.com/starlite
Thursday, February 5
My Life in Business Suits, Hospital Gowns, and High Heels
Donna Sachet interviews author Tom LeNoble
Manny’s, 3092 16th Street
6 pm Free!
https://www.eventbrite.com
Friday, February 6
Castro Theatre Opening
Priscilla, Queen of the Desert
Benefits Castro Community Benefit District
7 pm doors open
8 pm stage show & film
www.ticketweb.com
Saturday, February 7
D’Arcy’s Drag + Disco
Castro Theatre,
429 Castro Street
8–11 pm $40
www.ticketweb.com
Donna’s Chronicles
Published on January 15, 2026
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