By Donna Sachet–
Imagine Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein come to life on the grand stage of the War Memorial Opera House with evocative orchestral music, swirling colorful costumes, haunting Old-World sets, and vibrant emotional dance! Last Thursday’s San Francisco Ballet performance was all that and more. We can’t say enough about this beautiful production, offering so much more than we expected. The creation of the monster was visually enhanced with pyrotechnic effects, the masterful dancers gave their all, and, most importantly, the tragic story of painful separation and rejection was powerfully presented. With three acts and two intermissions, we had concerns about the length of the night, but time flew as the captivating story and extraordinary performances consumed us. Whether you are a fan of dark horror fiction or remarkable dance performance, don’t miss this marvelous production of the SF Ballet when it returns April 26 through May 4 at the Opera House on Van Ness!
San Francisco offers such a wide variety of cultural experiences and too many people miss out, especially on the performing arts. From grand opera sung by internationally famous artists to experimental theatre in a tiny space with fewer than 50 seats, a wealth of live artistic performances happens every day and night of the week, and we encourage you to take full advantage of these opportunities. As you’ll see in this column, we’ve certainly done so of late.
A new friend, Rodney Jackson, recently invited us to the Bay Area Theatre Company’s production of Reed Flores’s Cuckoo Edible Magic at the Magic Theatre at Fort Mason. The cast was young, their energy was electric, and the play took us on a wild, nearly psychedelic trip, exploring family ties, queer kids’ struggles, and universal themes of friendship and affection. We may have missed some of the more specific Filipino inside jokes, but the fast-paced action and physical comedy were instantly appealing. The theatre and the audience were small, but the engagement was genuine and the experience delightful.
A few nights later, we joined Rodney at ACT’s Toni Rembe Theater for Nobody Loves You, a lively spoof on today’s plethora of reality television dating shows. Splashy sets, carefully choreographed dance numbers, big Broadway show tunes, and an accomplished, captivating cast made for a wonderful theatrical experience. We even had a chance to peek behind the curtain at a pre-show reception with Director Pam MacKinnon. The storyline played with themes of manufactured emotional attachment, television’s nearly addictive allure, and true love’s illusive quality, making characters both appealing and repugnant and sometimes just confusing. Think of how much our lives and expectations have been influenced by so-called reality television! You have through March 30 to catch a performance.
Then, we accepted the kind invitation of Billy Repp & Tom Taffel to SF Conservatory of Music Opera’s production of Leonard Bernstein’s Candide. We had forgotten so much of the music from this operetta, other than the frequently performed overture; but Glitter and Be Gay, We Are Women, and the glorious Make Our Garden Grow all came flooding back, performed richly and enthusiastically by the young student cast. The youth orchestra was fully up to the task and delightful to watch from our third-row seats. Not having been to the Caroline H. Hume Concert Hall of the Ann Getty Center for Education, we were thrilled to see such a perfect setting for this show, with simple multi-functional sets, lit dramatically, and excellent sight lines. Tying the whole performance together was our friend from Beach Blanket Babylon days, Curt Branom, as the Narrator/Voltaire, adding his own wonderful whimsy and humor. This was truly a special evening of live entertainment, worthy of its boisterous standing ovation.
So, you see, in only two short weeks, it is possible in San Francisco to immerse oneself in beautiful live music, comedy, drama, and more. What a splendid alternative to the endless drone of televised entertainment and catastrophic news. Get out there and support the performing arts!
Friday, March 28
Mr. SF Leather Meet & Greet
Mr. S Leather, 385 8th Street
6 pm Free!
Saturday, March 29
Mr. SF Leather 2025 Contest
Emcees Lenny Broberg
& Donna Sachet
Produced by Ray Tilton
Benefits Lyric
SOMArts, 934 Brannan Street
6 pm $40 & up
Sunday, March 30
Mr. SF Leather Victory Brunch
The Willows, 1582 Folsom Street
10 am $45
Wednesday, April 2
Castro Farmers’ Market
Grand Re-Opening
Fresh produce returns to
the Castro
Formal ribbon-cutting
with Donna Sachet
Elected officials in attendance
Noe and 16th streets
4 pm Free!
Saturday, April 5
SF Gay Men’s Chorus’ Crescendo
Annual gala celebration
with emcee Nina West
Honors Sheryl Lee Ralph
& Angelica Ross
Dinner, awards, entertainment
Westin St. Francis Hotel
$450 & up
www.sfgmc.org
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
Donna’s Chronicles
Published on March 27, 2025
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