By Sister Dana Van Iquity
Sister Dana sez, “Why even bother having a Grand Jury? Grand JOKE is more like it. But I ain’t laughing. Fire the prejudiced prosecutors if they can’t do their job! #BlackLivesMatter!”
Holidays matter too, especially when they serve as charitable fundraisers.
RICHMOND/ERMET AIDS FOUNDATION presented HELP IS ON THE WAY FOR THE HOLIDAYS: XIII at Marines Memorial Theater. Benefiting Maitri Compassionate Care and Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS, the spectacular show was produced by Ken Henderson & Joe Seiler. Performances were by the cast and crew of Kinky Boots, with special guest stars American Idol finalist, actress Lotoya London; Broadway (Phantom of the Opera), TV star Davis Gaines; TV (X-Factor) Cabaret star Jason Brock; and Broadway (Rent, The Producers), TV (Malibu Country) star Jai Rodriguez. The show was enchantingly emceed by Rodriguez and drag queen, Kinky Boots swing Crystal Demure.
DONNA SACHET presented her always flawless 22ND ANNUAL SONGS OF THE SEASON benefiting AIDS Emergency Fund at the Sir Francis Drake Franciscan Room. There we heard old classics and some new tunes from Donna, Dan O’Leary, Brian Kent, Brenda Reed, SWAG, and Vicki Shepard, with Michael Grossman on piano, Erika Johnson on percussion, and Rich Armstrong on trumpet. It was the best way ever to usher in the holidays with songs of jubilation, celebration, and a few tears.
We joined friends and donors supporting ACADEMY OF FRIENDS at their annual HOLIDAY RECEPTION AT GUMP’S to shop and enjoy cocktails and canapés at the elegant store. There we heard AoF Vice Chair Matthew Denckla speak about the upcoming 35th anniversary gala, “A Century of Radiance,” Sunday, February 22, at the San Francisco Design Center Galleria. Board Chair Gil Padia spoke about how soon after the onset of the HIV epidemic, AoF dedicated themselves to the mission of working to ease the burden of this disease through the raising of funds in support of direct care for those with HIV/AIDS, and educational programs to prevent infection. Through their annual Academy Awards Night Gala, they have raised over $8,690,000 to support more than 73 HIV/AIDS service organizations in the San Francisco Bay Area.
SAN FRANCISCO LESBIAN/GAY FREEDOM BAND presented DANCE-ALONG NUTCRACKER: FROSTY’S HAWAIIAN HOLIDAY fundraiser at YBCA Forum. We joined Clara, Fritz and special guest star, Frosty the Snowman, as they donned grass skirts and strummed ukuleles on a holiday vacation in the tropical paradise of Hawaii. It was all one big luau until Uncle Drosselmeyer’s magical gifts went awry. Then it was up to the kids to save the day, with a little help from the Rat King Kahuna and, of course, us ever-spirited and profoundly talented dancing audience (Sister Dana was the Black Swan). This zany San Francisco holiday tradition is an annual fun-filled, wacky, audience-participation concert performed by San Francisco Lesbian/Gay Freedom Band, and includes original and musical selections from Tchaikovsky’s Nutcracker ballet.
DANCERS, PRANCERS & VIXENS! is the title of this year’s holiday choral celebrations by the SAN FRANCISCO GAY MEN’S CHORUS, which was offered at Nourse Theatre last weekend, and parts of which will be available for the 25TH ANNUAL HOME FOR THE HOLIDAYS concert in the Castro Theatre, December 24th at 5, 7, and 9pm. This was, and will be, a festive, heart-warming, and simply not-to-be-missed extravaganza! This season’s concerts feature traditional favorites along with new works, including a stunning world premiere by Ola Gjeilo, one of America’s most prominent contemporary composers. There were, and will be, appearances by Santa, his elves and reindeer, a 1980s nativity scene, and an ugly sweater parade thrown in just for fun!
Last weekend’s concert included “Gloria Fanfare,” “Ave Maria,” and a Christmas medley sung by the Chorus. Then the Singing String Quartet, Well-Strung, played and sang songs from the animated film, Frozen, interspersed with the high falsetto voices of the snow princesses sung by grown men. Delightful! The Chorus donned visors and joined Well-Strung in “Chanukah in Santa Monica,” along with half a dozen “old Jewish lady” drag queens lounging seaside. Hysterical! The Chorus continued with “Carol of the Bells” and a traditional German carol, “Lo, How a Rose E’er Blooming,” along with a soloist layering “The Rose” on top to produce a perfectly pleasing counter-melody. Changing the tone to silly, the Gay Men’s Chorus put on elf caps and did “Santa’s Shop Is Jumpin’” – a medley of familiar show tunes changed with original holiday lyrics. Out came the dancing reindeer and frolicking workshop elves. Clever! Act 2 had The Vocal Minority singing “God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen.” The Lollipop Guild sang “Marvelous Holiday Sweater,” and modeled a series of tacky, gaudy, over-the-top, but somehow charming Xmas themed sweaters – some even bigger than life! Well-Strung gave a stirring rendition of the Leonard Cohen “Hallelujah.” “Star Search” gave a new ‘80s disco approach to the guiding star over Bethlehem, which I will not elaborate upon further to make it a surprise for the December 24th show. Be warned: it’s full of puns! And always a sensation is “Silent Night” sung and illustrated with ASL hand gestures, followed by no sound and only hands telling the lyrics. Awesome!
CUMMING UP!
THE GOLDEN GIRLS: THE CHRISTMAS EPISODES is in its 9th annual All Drag Xmas Exdrag-a-ganza with all new costumes and sets (including live piano, so the audience can sing along to holiday tunes during scene changes). The Golden Girls wish to thank their fans for a fantastic Opening Weekend. It has been one of their best years yet. But those that haven’t yet gone, but are planning on it, do not delay. Several nights are already Sold Out. “From Here to the Pharmacy” has Blanche dealing with a promise she supposedly made to a soldier before he left for duty, and Sophia gets Rose to help write her will. “Journey to the Center of Attention” has Blanche jealous when Dorothy replaces her popularity in the local bar, and Sophia plans a wake for herself, neglecting to tell attendees she is still alive and well. The show stars four veteran drag performers, Heklina (as Dorothy), Cookie Dough (Sophia), Pollo Del Mar (Rose), and Matthew Martin (Blanche) at Victoria Theatre, 2961 16th Street, December 18th-20th, Thursday, Friday & Saturday, 8pm; Sunday, 7pm. Be sure to sing along with the theme: “Thank You for Being a Friend!”
This is also your last chance to witness a 46-year-old boozer, user, and loser that must set aside all of her personal beliefs of nothing, and open her heart to the wrong and sexy feelings of Christmas. Your last stroll down the halls of Flat Point High as Jerri Blank finds the reasons for the seasons. This live rewrite play, STRANGERS WITH XXXMAS CANDY, is directed by Dani Spinks with an original script by Ralph Hoy, Bob McIntyre, and Spinks. Loosely based on Comedy Central’s Strangers with Candy, this hilarious takeoff stars your favorite characters Geraldine Blank, played by the incredibly funny Bob McIntyre, Chrissi Trollop by Lauren Davidson, mean cheerleader by Sadie Fenton, Tammi Littlenut by Kelly Fitzgerald, Principal Blackman by Lonnie Haley, ugly step-mama Sara Blank by Becky Hirschfeld, artsy Geoffrey Jellineck by Derek Lozupone, Lulu Dinglebell by Layla Rudy, Orlando Pinatubo by Ricky Sakow, Coach Wolf by Alexia Staniotes, and jock brother Derrick Blank as well as history teacher Chuck Noblet by Adam Vogel. This is the only Christmas show featuring a wild, wacky, nasty version of Dickens’ A Christmas Carol (and three weird spirits), a live audition for the world’s worst holiday pageant, and a very naughty nativity with extraterrestrial effects. Performed at The EXIT Theatre, 156 Eddy Street. Show has its last run December 18th, 19th, 20th ,8pm. facebook.com/strangerswithcandysf
FIGURED: OUT is the current display of art by CHARLES ANGLE on the exhibition walls of MAGNET, the health and wellbeing hub in the Castro for gay and bi men. Figured: Out encompasses the beauty and complexity of our community spotted by Angle at this year’s Up Your Alley Street Fair, barely a few days after arriving from the East Coast. My faves are Singled: Out and Out: On a Mission.
Over the years, many organizations have joined the fight for queer rights. The Salvation Army does not appear to be terribly interested in anything other than denying that our Community has any rights at all. Please support THE SISTERS OF PERPETUAL INDULGENCE in San Francisco and nationwide as we ring bells, point fingers, and raise dollars to bring awareness of LGBTQ issues that are currently not a part of the Salvation Army’s Ministry. Nuns will be out in the evenings of December 20th and 21st with THE SALVATION SISTERS: ARMY OF NUN at Castro and 18th Street corners. Skip the homophobic Salvation Army’s kettles and drop bucks into our buckets going to Glide Memorial’s charities.
EQUALITY VODKA has just launched in support of equality for the LGBTQ community. It is exceptionally smooth with a silky taste from start to finish, but the bonus is that for every bottle purchased, Equality Vodka will make a donation to a nonprofit organization recognized for advancing the equality movement for the queer community. Nag your local bartender!
Pornucopia: this week’s stocking stuffer flick pick is Saddle Up from hothouse.com
Sister Dana sez, “Happy Holidaze, fire up your Yule log, and remember to keep the ‘X’ in Xmas!”
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