OCTOBER
Marga Gomez – Latin Standards
October 5–November 17
The Marsh Berkeley Arts Center
2120 Allston Way
Berkeley
LGBT community favorite Marga Gomez will bring her critically acclaimed show Latin Standards to Berkeley’s Marsh Theater. The 12th and final work in the solo performance genre mixes social commentary and comic edge in the loving, funny and true story of perseverance and creative addiction passed down from immigrant father to lesbian daughter.
http://www.themarsh.org
RuPaul’s Drag Race Werq the World
October 5
Curran Theater
445 Geary Street
San Francisco
The event will be hosted by celebrity judge Michelle Visage with performances by Season 10 finalists Aquaria, Asia O’Hara, Eureka and Kameron Michaels along with fan favorites Bob the Drag Queen, Kim Chi and Violet Chachki.
http://www.sfcurran.com
The Kinsey Sicks 25th Anniversary – Things You Shouldn’t Say
October 5–6
Marines’ Memorial Theatre
609 Sutter Avenue
San Francisco
Presented by Boxcar Theatre, the group known as America’s Favorite Dragapella Beautyshop Quartet will celebrate their 25th anniversary with an encore performance of their Off-Broadway hit musical. There’s no question about it. Winnie, Rachel, Trixie and Trampolina will entertain you.
http://www.kinseysicks.com
San Francisco Lesbian/Gay Freedom Band – Community Fall Concert
October 6
Everett Middle School
450 Church Street
San Francisco
In 1978, musician Jon Sims founded the San Francisco Lesbian/Gay Freedom Band, which is celebrating its 40th Anniversary this year! Read more about the Band in a special June 7 issue of the San Francisco Bay Times (https://issuu.com/sfbt/docs/bay_times_06.07.18.band), and consider attending this sure-to-be fantastic concert that will be held at Everett Middle School’s beautiful auditorium located at the border of the Castro and Mission districts.
http://sflgfb.townalive.com/season-events/
Holly Near with Tammy Hall & Jan Martinelli
October 7
Sweetwater Music Hall
19 Corte Madera Avenue
Mill Valley
Holly Near has been singing for a more equitable world for well over 50 creative years. She is an insightful storyteller through her music, and is committed to keeping the work rooted in contemporary activism. Respected around the world for her music and activism, she has just released her 31st album. Another significant arena of Holly’s activism is the LGBTQ community. Her interest is both personal and political. She was one of the first celebrities to discuss her sexual orientation during a pioneering 1976 interview with People magazine.
https://www.sweetwatermusichall.com
Sting & Shaggy
October 8
SF Masonic Auditorium
1111 California Street
San Francisco
Sting & Shaggy will bring their dynamic and vibrant joint live show to the Masonic atop Nob Hill. The iconic artists will combine their bands to play songs from their recently-released, island-flavored collaborative album, 44/876 (A&M/Interscope Records), and to collaborate on each other’s most celebrated hits such as “Every Breath You Take,” “Englishman In New York,” “Message in A Bottle,” “It Wasn’t Me,” “Mr. Boombastic” and “Angel.”
http://sfmasonic.com/event/sting-shaggy/
Danica Roem – National Coming Out Day @ JCCSF
October 11
Jewish Community Center of San Francisco Arts & Ideas
Kanbar Hall
3200 California Street
San Francisco
In honor of the 30th anniversary of National Coming Out Day, the JCCSF is proud to present Danica Roem. In January 2018, she made history as the first openly transgender woman to serve in a state legislature. Running on a Democratic platform of traffic and road improvements, raising teacher pay and expanding access to healthcare in her district, she unseated Virginia’s 20-year House of Delegates incumbent of the 13th district, Bob Marshall. Delegate Roem will discuss her trailblazing journey to the legislature and will share insights on what it means to be a political leader in our country today.
https://www.jccsf.org/arts-ideas/upcoming-events/
Soweto Gospel Choir: Songs of the Free – In Honor of Nelson Mandela’s 100th Birthday
October 11
Sunset Center
San Carlos Street at Ninth Avenue
Carmel-by-the-Sea
October 13
Paramount Theatre
2025 Broadway
Oakland
Soweto Gospel Choir was formed to celebrate the unique and inspirational power of African Gospel music. With this performance, South Africa’s quintessential musical ensemble will return to Sunset Center to bring a centenary celebration of Nelson Mandela. The Grammy Award-winning choir has collaborated with some of the biggest names in music—including U2, John Legend, Peter Gabriel and Diana Ross—and scored an Academy Award nomination for their work on the soundtrack to Pixar’s WALL-E. The 43-member choir, drawn from churches in and around Soweto, inspires audiences, sharing the joy of faith.
http://www.sunsetcenter.org
http://calperformances.org/performances/2018-19/world-stage/soweto-gospel-choir-songs-of-the-free.php
Up & Away – Chanticleer’s 40th Anniversary Gala & Reunion
October 17
The Wilsey Center for Opera
San Francisco War Memorial
301 Van Ness Avenue
San Francisco
Chanticleer, an orchestra of voices seamlessly blending the song stylings of twelve men, has been celebrating its 40th year by making flash appearances in the schools of the San Francisco Unified School District. This 40th Anniversary Gala & Reunion concert will be a one-night-only concert and reunion of former singers in a spectacular evening of live performance, historical audio-visuals and special guests.
http://www.chanticleer.org
Carol Burnett – An Evening of Laughter and Reflection
October 18
Paramount Theatre
2025 Broadway
Oakland
As a highly acclaimed actress, Burnett has been honored with Emmys, Golden Globes, People’s Choice Awards, the Horatio Alger Award, an Ace Award and the Peabody. A Kennedy Center Honoree, she has also been honored with the Kennedy Center Mark Twain Prize for Humor, the Presidential Medal of Freedom, was inducted into the Television Hall of Fame, and has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. During An Evening of Laughter and Reflection, Burnett will take questions from the audience and will show video clips from her shows in a format that harkens back to the legendary openings of The Carol Burnett Show.
http://www.paramounttheatre.com
OurTownSF Nonprofit Expo 2018
October 20
Eureka Valley Recreation Center
100 Collingwood Street
San Francisco
This free third annual resource fair of over 100 San Francisco LGBTQ nonprofits will include many from our local arts community. The co-hosts will be Donna Sachet, Toni Newman and Natalie Summers, with entertainment provided by the San Francisco Lesbian/Gay Freedom Band, Bebe Sweetbriar, Sundance Saloon and Cheer San Francisco. Activist Cleve Jones will be on hand to sign copies of his book, When We Rise: My Life in the Movement, which inspired an ABC miniseries.
https://www.ourtownsf.org/nonprofit-expo.html
San Francisco Gay Men’s Chorus Tribute: Our 40th Birthday
October 26
St Ignatius Church
65 Parker Street
San Francisco
The Chorus will perform When We No Longer Touch. Composed in 1991, this work is the first requiem dedicated to those individuals lost to AIDS. Featuring the Chorus, orchestra and acclaimed soprano Ellie Dehn (Teatro alla Scala, San Francisco Opera, Metropolitan Opera), this momentous occasion will also mark the first time San Francisco Gay Men’s Chorus has performed at the acoustical gem, St. Ignatius Catholic Church.
https://www.sfgmc.org/
Theatre Rhino – The Boy from Oz
October 26–November 18
Gateway Theatre
215 Jackson Street
San Francisco
The Rhino will return to Australia by way of San Francisco for a musical biography of Peter Allen, who was arguably the most flamboyant gay man from down under. Among Allen’s hits included in the story of the songwriter entertainer are “I Go to Rio,” “Arthur’s Theme,” “Don’t Cry Out Loud,” and “I Honestly Love You.”
http://therhino.org/season-2018-19/
NOVEMBER
Anne Lamott & Eve Ensler: In Conversation
November 1
Luther Burbank Center for the Arts
50 Mark West Springs Road
Santa Rosa
Two fearless warriors and literary pioneers, who are noted for bringing forward previously unmentionable topics, will match wits in an onstage discussion. Ensler is a Tony Award-winning playwright (The Vagina Monologues), performer, feminist and activist, and Lamott is a beloved author whose bestsellers include Small Victories, Hallelujah Anyway, Rediscovering Mercy and her latest entitled Almost Everything: Notes on Hope. The topics that they will address include sex, religion, alcoholism, violence against women, orgasms, motherhood, lesbianism, cancer, genital mutilation, social and political injustice and death.
https://lutherburbankcenter.org/event/anne-lamott-eve-ensler-in-conversation/
Chita Rivera
November 9–11
Feinstein’s at The Nikko
222 Mason Street
San Francisco
The ten-time Tony Award nominee and two-time Tony Award winner will recreate signature moments from her legendary career including numbers from West Side Story, Sweet Charity, Chicago, Kiss of the Spider Woman, Bye Bye Birdie, The Rink and The Visit. In addition to a special tribute to John Kander & Fred Ebb, the timeless music of Leonard Bernstein, Charles Strouse, Jerry Herman and Stephen Sondheim will also be featured. Rivera received the coveted Kennedy Center Honor in 2002, was awarded The Presidential Medal of Freedom by former President Barack Obama in 2009 as well as a 2018 Special Tony Award for Lifetime Achievement in the Theatre.
http://www.feinsteinsatthenikko.com
Rufus Wainwright – All These Poses
November 10
Nob Hill Masonic Center
1111 California Street
San Francisco
On the 20th anniversary of his initial albums, Rufus Wainwright and Poses, the Grammy-nominated singer and composer will come to San Francisco during his current Live Nation-produced North American tour, All These Poses. His second opera, Hadrian, inspired by the Roman Emperor’s love for Antinous, will premiere in October at the Canadian Opera Company.
http://www.rufuswainwright.com
From the Diary of Anne Frank
November 15–18
San Francisco Symphony
Louise M. Davies Symphony Hall
201 Van Ness Avenue
San Francisco
A showcase of programs and collaborations of legendary conductor Michael Tilson Thomas will kick-off with the performance of Thomas’ spellbinding musical about Anne Frank written for UNICEF in 1990 marking the 70th anniversary of the United Nations’ Universal Declaration of Human Rights. The series will continue November 23–25 with MTT’s conducting of Beethoven’s Ninth.
https://www.sfsymphony.org/Buy-Tickets/2018-19/MTT-From-the-Diary-of-Anne-Frank
Requiem for Ghost Ship – Oakland Symphony
November 16
Paramount Theatre
2025 Broadway
Oakland
December 2016 shook us all. This evening will be dedicated to the artists and dreamers lost in the tragic Ghost Ship fire and will be anchored by the world premiere of Richard Marriott’s moving cello concerto commissioned in their memory. Brahms’ Requiem, featuring the Oakland Symphony Chorus, will contemplate death as a part of life, one that embraces its beauty and sorrow. The evening will also feature Leonard Bernstein’s “Take Care of this House” from the musical 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue.
http://www.oaklandsymphony.org
Joan Baez – Fare Thee Well Tour 2018
November 17 & 18
Fox Theater
1807 Telegraph Avenue
Oakland
Already officially sold out, but with resale tickets still available as of this writing, the show will be part of Baez’s last announced year of formal touring. The show will come to Oakland for a two-night series and will spotlight the legendary singer’s new album, Whistle Down the Wind.
http://www.thefoxoakland.com
Community Women’s Orchestra – Family Fall Concert
November 18
Lake Merritt United Methodist Church
1330 Lakeshore Drive
Oakland
Founded in 1985, the Community Women’s Orchestra will launch its 34th Season with its annual Family Fall Concert. Kids of all ages are encouraged to participate in planned activities prior to and during the event. Led by music director Dana Sadava and composer-in-residence June Bonacich, CWO is comprised of members from the Bay Area who share a passion for promoting women in music.
http://www.communitywomensorchestra.org/
A John Waters Christmas at Great American Music Hall
November 29
Great American Music Hall
859 O’Farrell Street
San Francisco
Like a damaged St. Nick for the Christmas corrupted, legendary filmmaker John Waters will hitchhike into town again with a bag full of sticks and stones for the devoted, spreading Yuletide profanity and perverted piety with his critically acclaimed one-man show. The Pope of Trash will give you a Cool Yule like no other.
http://www.slimspresents.com/event/a-john-waters-christmas-gamh-w-dj-omar-t-presents/
Laurie Anderson with Tammy Hall – Songs for Women
November 29
SF Jazz Center – Miner Auditorium
201 Franklin Street
San Francisco
SF Jazz resident artistic director Laurie Anderson will team with noted jazz musician Tammy Hall, who is an LGBT community favorite, for another show in her series. From Anderson: “The first part of the series was inspired by the composer Tammy Hall’s beautiful piece ‘For Miss Jones.’ I love music that’s written for a real person and tries to capture her in a song. I thought it would be interesting to do a collection of pieces we’ve both written for women and make it into a celebration that crosses back and forth from jazz to stories to electronics.”
https://www.sfjazz.org/tickets/productions/laurie-anderson-songs-for-women/?performanceNumber=11266
Try/Step/Trip
November 26–December 2
The Rueff at A.C.T.’s Strand Theater
1127 Market Street
San Francisco
Presented as a work in progress, Try/Step/Trip is a spoken word, multi-character musical performed in the body through the language of step dance. The show follows the journey of an anonymous narrator as he re-imagines his experience in a court-ordered drug rehabilitation program through a montage of lucid, sobriety-induced dreams. Try/Step/Trip recounts a familiar story: a young black man is stopped by the police without clear cause, then again and again, until one encounter lands him before the courts.
http://www.act-sf.org/home/about/opportunities/space_sharing/artshare_performances_1819.highResolutionDisplay.html
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