By Donna Sachet–
Well, it has been quite a holiday season! Despite the spectre of COVID looming over the past two years, December burst to life with events both large and small, both public and private, both commercial and charitable, somehow dimming the maudlin memories and aching losses behind us. Since our last column, we have been to Union Square, Club Fugazi, Brava Theater, Grace Cathedral, Victoria Theatre, Sydney Goldstein Theater, Martuni’s, and more, proving that entertainment in its many forms has returned to San Francisco.
Drag Queens on Ice at the Safeway Ice Rink in Union Square couldn’t have been more enjoyable with the largest crowd of spectators ever and the best skating we’ve seen. We were dazzled by Khmera Rouge, Paju Munro, Mahlae Balenciaga, Baby Shaques Munro, Jota Mercury, Jubilee, Dusty Porn, and Princess Poppy and finally a tour de force by Denali of RuPaul’s Drag Raceand Olympic champion Brian Boitano, lip-syncing for their lives! Sister Roma and Queen Dilly Dally hosted and we co-emceed with the delightfully funny Robert Keith. After last year’s cancellation, Drag Queens on Ice returned bigger and better than ever!
Having heard good things about the theatrical show that has taken up residence at Club Fugazi, former home of Beach Blanket Babylon, we decided to see it for ourselves. And we give Dear San Francisco, a nostalgic look at the city through the eyes of The 7 Fingers circus collective, a resounding stamp of approval! Prepare to be amazed at jaw-dropping acrobatics, beautifully choreographed vignettes, powerful singing voices, charismatic performers, and a lovingly woven tale of this magical place we call home. The action explodes from the stage across the proscenium and into the audience, alternating from hypnotic sequences to manic percussive numbers, each holding your attention as few performances can. What more can we say? Get your tickets soon, take your friends, and spread the word!
We joined Gary Virginia in hosting a celebration of life at 440 Castro for our dear friend K.C. Dare, one of the many lost over the past two years without any public ceremony or typical event. Friends flew in from Palm Springs, New York, and across California to pay their respects. The flowers, food, and program were over the top, thanks to Gary’s meticulous planning and generous help from Ben & Moxie Penn and Deana Dawn. A few speakers and songs gave a glimpse into this generous friend who will be greatly missed. The event wound down with a New Orleans-style funeral parade down Castro Street. Even in our current health crisis, there is a way to give tribute to a loved one with precaution and planning.
Help is on the Way for the Holidays XX filled the Brava Theater with world-class talent, gorgeous music, and hilarious humor. Performers included Lisa Vroman, David Burnham, Bruce Vilanch, Sharon McNight, Leanne Borghesi, Marta Sanders, Shawn Ryan, Paula West, the Barbary Coast Cloggers, and Salsamania, each receiving deafening applause and putting everyone in the spirit of the holidays. One of the biggest surprises of the night was the return of the dashing Lenny Broberg as auctioneer, a talent he has polished over the years with humor and panache. Kudos to Ken Henderson & Joe Seiler and everyone at the Richmond/Ermet Aid Foundation for returning with such an expertly produced holiday show, benefiting Project Open Hand.
The Rainbow World Fund’s Tree of Hope was lit in Grace Cathedral with a beautiful program of music and spoken word to the delight of a huge and diverse crowd. Executive Director Jeff Cotter has tirelessly dedicated hours and days each year to ensuring that the World Tree of Hope continues, offering a glow of optimism through even the darkest years. The San Francisco Boys’ Choir started us off, followed by pianist Tammy Lynne Hall-Hawkins, singer Loberta Loral, Bay Area Indigenous leader Landa Lakes, City Assessor-Recorder Joaquin Torres, origami artist Keiko Kubo, Reigning Emperor Mr. David Glamamore, Imperial Crown Princess Katya Smirnoff-Skyy, the Lesbian/Gay Chorus of San Francisco, and even the Bishop of California, the Right Reverend Marc Handley Andrus. Remarkably, Grace Cathedral continues to stand. We especially enjoyed reading, along with two local students, some of the wishes and hopes written on the origami covering the tree. Finally, members of the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence blessed the tree and led the countdown to its lighting, as countless photography flashes caught the moment. Find the World Tree of Hope in the Keith Haring AIDS Interfaith Memorial Chapel of Grace Cathedral.
The annual Golden Girls Christmas drag reenactment at the Victoria Theater has become an undisputed crowd-pleaser. We joined Brian Kent for a raucous night of hilarity with Heklina, Holotta Tymes, D’Arcy Drollinger, and Matthew Martin each embracing their roles with perfect comic timing, facial expressions, and body language. Creative sets and colorful costumes echoed the orginal television series. The capacity audience left aching with laughter. Don’t miss this winning combination of nostalgia, drag, kitchy costuming, and holiday magic.
Speaking of crowd-pleasers, we joined Gary Virginia for the SF Gay Men’s Chorus’ Holigays are Here…Again at the Sydney Goldstein Theater. This concert had everything we all love about this chorus: beautifully performed music, touching holiday moments, campy choral-ography, outstanding solo performances, nods to every possible holiday tradition, and more. The chorus showed particular alacrity with challenging rhythmic songs and fast-flying lyrics. At a venue of this size, the health and safety protocols were noticeably awkward and time-consuming, but everyone seemed cooperative and sympathetic. After months of suspension from concerts and even rehearsals, the SFGMC burst back onto the stage with power and heart, skillfully guided through the varied program by Artistic Director Tim Seelig, who left us frankly wishing he had spoken more. We can’t get enough of his dry Southern humor and charming drawl. After his recent announcement of imminent retirement, the upcoming season will be bittersweet knowing how much Tim has done for this historic and much-loved chorus. You still have a chance to hear the SFGMC at the Castro Theatre at any of their three Christmas Eve concerts.
Finally, Emperor XLVIII William Bulkley produced Christmas Birthdays Are a Drag at Martuni’s on Sunday, emceed by the inimitable Imperial Crown Princess Katya Smirnoff-Skyy.Live singers were the theme, asa tribute to the late Nightingale of Montgomery Street, Absolute Empress I José Sarria, who would have celebrated her 99th birthday on that date. Despite the rainy streets outside, a loyal band of supporters gathered to hear BeBe Sweetbriar (demonstrating the vocal skills that have put her on the Billboard charts), Honey Mahogany (displaying a gorgeous soulful voice, unknown to many), Absolute Empress LII Mercedez Munro (bringing the house down with her powerful vocals), and this humble columnist/singer. Ticket prices and a quick raffle drawing raised money for the upcoming and highly anticipated 50th Anniversary of the Emperors of San Francisco, which makes one wonder where the other Emperors were that night. What a treat to experience wonderful music created by voices within our community!
So, as we began this column, we have found new hope in December as most events that were either cancelled or virtual last year rebounded in a live format and audiences joyfully returned to cheer them on. We aren’t yet beyond the cloud of this pandemic, but true to San Francisco’s reputation, we are people who find a way … a way to take proper precautions, a way to listen to expert advice, and a way to return to life, as we have come to love it. We hope your holiday season has been as full as you wished and rich with the company of friends. Thank you for reading us here every two weeks. Thank you to Betty Sullivan and Jen Viegas for this awesome opportunity to write and be read. And our best wishes to you all for a fabulous 2022!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
Friday & Saturday, December 17–18
Katya: A Holiday Spectacular
14th annual show of music & comedy
Hotel Nikko, 222 Mason Street
8 pm
$65
www.ticketweb.com
Saturday, December 18
Naughty & Nice
Holiday party hosted by Donna Sachet & Santa’s elves
Music, cocktails, desserts
8 pm–Midnight
www.academy-sf.com
Friday, December 24
Home for the Holidays
SF Gay Men’s Chorus concert
Castro Theatre, 429 Castro Street
5 pm, 7 pm & 9 pm
$35
www.sfgmc.org
Friday & Saturday, December 24–26
29th Annual Kung Pao Kosher Comedy
Lisa Geduldig’s virtual Jewish comedy show
$25–$50
www.cityboxoffice.com
Published on December 16, 2021
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