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    Holiday Arts Preview – PART I

    November

    Smuin Ballet’s The Christmas Ballet
    Friday, November 29 & multiple dates/venues through December 29
    Mountain View, San Francisco, and Carmel
    http://www.smuinballet.org

    Smuin’s talented dancers bring to life evocative choreography in a program combining styles of multiple genres—from ballet, to tap, jazz, and swing—with elegant visuals and unexpected costumes and staging.

    The Velveteen Rabbit
    Friday, November 29, through December 8
    Yerba Buena Center for the Arts
    701 Mission Street, San Francisco
    https://ybca.org/event/odc-the-velveteen-rabbit/

    ODC/Dance enlivens Margery Williams’ classic tale of a well-worn nursery rabbit that becomes real.

    Ghostbusters: Film with the SF Symphony
    Friday, November 29
    Louise M. Davies Symphony Hall
    201 Van Ness Avenue, San Francisco
    http://www.sfsymphony.org

    The Symphony’s Film Series presents Ghostbusters featuring the unforgettable theme song that topped the Billboard Top 100. Peter Bernstein will conduct as the Symphony joins the fun with the eccentric band of paranormal investigators as they battle with the supernatural in New York City.

    The Caribbean Allstars + DJ Sep (Dub Mission)
    November 30
    Ashkenaz
    1317 San Pablo Avenue, Berkeley
    http://www.ashkenaz.com

    With geographical roots from Jamaica, South America, West Africa, and the U.S., the Allstars are pioneers in the Bay Area reggae scene. The Caribbean Allstars not only play Jamaican reggae with a traditional electric bass-drums-guitars-keyboards lineup, but they also add steel drums to bring in South Caribbean calypso and soca styles of Trinidad and Tobago, producing rhythms that drive listeners to the dance floor.

    A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens
    Friday, November 30, through December 24
    A.C.T.’s Geary Theater
    405 Geary Street, San Francisco
    http://www.act-sf.org

    Dickens’ classic tale of a surly miser who finally sees the light, thanks to guidance from several ghosts, returns to A.C.T. for the holiday season.

    Golden Girls Live: The Christmas Episodes
    Friday, November 30, through December 21
    Victoria Theatre, 2961 16th Street, San Francisco
    http://www.victoriatheatre.org

    Now an annual tradition, this drag send-up and loving tribute brings together local stars Heklina (Dorothy), Matthew Martin (Blanche), D’Arcy Drollinger (Rose), and Holotta Tymes (Sophia).

    December

    Dan Pfeiffer
    Thursday, December 5
    Cal Performances
    101 Zellerbach Hall, Berkeley
    http://www.calperformances.org

    The former White House communications director and noted political strategist Pfeiffer is credited with harnessing the power of social media during the Obama presidential campaign and subsequent administration. He is the author of The New York Times #1 best-seller Yes We (Still) Can: Politics in the Age of Obama, Twitter and Trump—a colorful account of how politics, the media, and the internet have changed alongside the evolution of social media.

    10th Annual Drag Queens on Ice
    Thursday, December 5
    Union Square Ice Rink
    333 Post Street, Union Square, San Francisco
    www.unionsquareicerink.com

    Join emcee Donna Sachet and the drag queens on the ice for a set of festive performances as only they can present.

    Andrea Bocelli with the San Francisco Symphony and Chorus
    December 5
    Chase Center
    1 Warriors Way, San Francisco
    http://www.sfsymphony.org

    In his first-ever appearance in San Francisco, Andrea Bocelli launches his new tour in a performance with the SF Symphony and Chorus at the new Chase Center. Bocelli is a legendary Italian singer widely regarded as one of the most popular classical voices in the world today.

    Gallery of Illustrious Queers: Portraits by Jordan Reznick
    Thursday, December 5, through January 16
    Hormel LGBTQIA Center
    SF Main Library, 100 Larkin Street, San Francisco
    http://www.sfpl.org

    Photographer Jordan Reznick and curator Margaret Tedesco’s exhibit explores how trans people’s embodiments and life experiences build movement for transgender pride and liberation.

    Holigays Are Here – Ring Them Bells
    Friday, December 6 & Saturday, December 7
    San Francisco Gay Men’s Chorus
    Sydney Goldstein Theater
    275 Hayes Street, San Francisco
    http://www.sfgmc.org

    With artistic director/conductor Dr. Tim Seelig, the San Francisco Gay Men’s Chorus has reached new levels of performance excellence, choreography, costuming, and staging. Laughter, tears and cheers—it’s all there in an unforgettable program featuring 300 men’s voices.

    Dance-Along Nutcracker 2019
    Saturday, December 7, and Sunday, December 8
    San Francisco Lesbian/Gay Freedom Band
    Yerba Buena Center for heArts
    701 Mission Street, San Francisco
    http://www.dancealongnutcracker

    All aboard the Sugar Plum Falcon with this year’s “Nutcracker in Space” theme for San Francisco’s unique Dance-It-Yourself holiday musical. Adventurers Clara and Fritz will take participants on a fabulous out-of-this world adventure. The program includes a blend of Tchaikovsky’s The Nutcracker with contemporary music. You have to see this to believe it.

    Oakland Interfaith Gospel Choir 34th Annual Holiday Concert
    Saturday, December 7
    The Paramount Theatre
    2025 Broadway, Oakland.
    http://www.paramounttheatre.com

    To anyone who has not seen this choir perform, go! And if you have already seen them, such as in the San Francisco Bay Times Pride Parade contingent or the film Gay Chorus Deep South, then we are preaching to the chorus. Conductor Terrance Kelly and his incredible singers will bring the house down. This holiday concert has become an Oakland tradition.

    REAF’s Help Is on the Way for the Holidays XVIII
    Monday, December 9
    Marines Memorial Theatre
    & VIP After Party at Sir Francis Drake Hotel
    http://www.reaf.org

    The Richmond/Ermet Aid Foundation will present its annual holiday gala and concert, now approaching it third successful decade. Benefiting Project Open Hand and AGUILAS, the program will feature cast members from Summer: The Donna Summer Musical and Hamilton plus a lineup of other stars.

    Handel’s Messiah
    Wednesday, December 11
    Grace Cathedral
    1100 California Street, San Francisco
    http://www.gracecathedral.org

    Jeffrey Thomas will conduct the American Bach Soloists period-instrument orchestra, the American Bach Choir, and a quartet of soloists at San Francisco’s landmark Grace Cathedral with its Gothic Revival and French Gothic architecture.

    Oakland Gay Men’s Chorus: We Are Lights
    Friday, December 13, & multiple dates/venues through December 15
    Montclair Presbyterian Church
    5701 Thornhill Drive, Oakland
    https://www.oaklandgmc.org/

    Dr. Ben Riggs, Artistic Director of the Oakland Gay Men’s Chorus, will lead the more than 50-voice chorus.

    Christmas Revels Presents A Solstice Journey Through Time
    Friday, December 13, through December 24
    First Congregational Church
    2501 Harrison Street, San Francisco
    http://www.califormiarevels.org

    The annual Revels tradition continues at a new venue with a focus on solstice celebrations throughout the ages. Additional dates through December 24.

    Published on November 28, 2019