Arts & Culture :: Culture

An homage to Chita Rivera, the musical theater star

An homage to Chita Rivera, the musical theater star

  • by J.A. Valentine
  • Feb 6, 2024

The passing of Chita Rivera on January 30 at age 91 will be deeply felt by many. Here, a devoted fan, and a performer himself, shares highlights of the musical theater star's epic career.

Magnificently familiar: Berkeley Rep's 'Cult of Love' sings and prickles

Magnificently familiar: Berkeley Rep's 'Cult of Love' sings and prickles

  • by Jim Gladstone
  • Feb 6, 2024

There's lots of beautiful music in "Cult of Love," the coruscatingly funny drama now on stage at the Berkeley Rep, as the Dahl clan —elderly parents, four adult children and their partners— has gathered for Christmas and a good deal of familial conflict.

A.C. Burch's 'The Distance Between Us' — a murder mystery in Provincetown

A.C. Burch's 'The Distance Between Us' — a murder mystery in Provincetown

  • by Laura Moreno
  • Feb 6, 2024

Written with great creativity and passion, "The Distance Between Us" by A. C. Burch is a fun page-turner with echoes of "Murder She Wrote," Miss Marple, and at times Jane Austen.

Going Out, Feb. 1-9, 2024

Going Out, Feb. 1-9, 2024

  • by Jim Provenzano
  • Feb 1, 2024

Shake up your usual routine with a vibrant dance concert, a stunning art exhibit, or a night of drinks and drag. While nearly every bar will screen the Super Bowl on Feb 11, you can find other diversions, even some that also include men in tights.

Minna Lee's big launch — 'My Home on the Moon' at SF Playhouse

Minna Lee's big launch — 'My Home on the Moon' at SF Playhouse

  • by Jim Gladstone
  • Jan 30, 2024

"I can't imagine I'll ever eat an algorithmic cookie and love it," declared queer playwright Minna Lee, whose "My Home on the Moon" is currently having its world premiere production at the San Francisco Playhouse. "Eat a what?!," you may wonder.

'The Old Gays Guide to the Good Life'

'The Old Gays Guide to the Good Life'

  • by Brian Bromberger
  • Jan 30, 2024

The Old Gays, a group of friends in Palm Springs, dance, wear skimpy outfits, and dress in drag. They are social media superstars with 11 million followers on TikTok and 1 million on Instagram, and now they have book full of advice and stories.

Words: Lesléa Newman and Gary Eldon Peter: Young Adult writers in conversation

Words: Lesléa Newman and Gary Eldon Peter: Young Adult writers in conversation

  • by Michele Karlsberg
  • Jan 30, 2024

Books about LGBTQ younger generations living in rural settings helps to save lives. Characters, stories and landscape that young readers can connect with are always important. YA authors Lesléa Newman and Gary Eldon Peter discussed their new books.

In Proust's time: new discs from the 'Belle Epoque'

In Proust's time: new discs from the 'Belle Epoque'

  • by Tim Pfaff
  • Jan 30, 2024

New recordings of music from the era of Marcel Proust include works by Karol Szymanowski, Leoš Janáček, Béla Bartók, Gabriel Fauré and Reynaldo Hahn.

Trock & roll: Primo ballerino Robert Carter on his unique career

Trock & roll: Primo ballerino Robert Carter on his unique career

  • by Jim Provenzano
  • Jan 23, 2024

Robert Carter may play a dying swan with Les Ballet Trockadero de Monte Carlo, but he's more of a unicorn in real life. As the longest performing member in the company, he's also one of very few men, and a Black gay man, who performs ballet on pointe.

Victor Heringer's 'The Love of Singular Men'

Victor Heringer's 'The Love of Singular Men'

  • by Tim Pfaff
  • Jan 23, 2024

You'll know before the first sentence has run its course whether Victor Heringer's final novel, "The Love of Singular Men" (New Directions), is for you. It opens with a creation story, unless, that is, it's a desecration story.

Going Out, Jan. 18-26, 2024

Going Out, Jan. 18-26, 2024

  • by Jim Provenzano
  • Jan 17, 2024

Winter might be a hibernating season for some, but we've got arts and nightlife events that are guaranteed to wake you up, this week and every week in Going Out.

'Two Dykes and a Mic' — podcasters McKenzie Goodwin & Rachel Scanlon serve up laughs and life lessons

'Two Dykes and a Mic' — podcasters McKenzie Goodwin & Rachel Scanlon serve up laughs and life lessons

  • by Laura Moreno
  • Jan 16, 2024

"Two Dykes and a Mic" is the hit podcast created by stand-up comedians and platonic best friends McKenzie Goodwin and Rachel Scanlon, who share their magnetic chemistry, quick wit and unique perspectives.

Michael Tilson Thomas' milestones and Mahler

Michael Tilson Thomas' milestones and Mahler

  • by Philip Campbell
  • Jan 16, 2024

Michael Tilson Thomas returns as Music Director Laureate Jan. 25-27 to lead his final subscription concerts with the San Francisco Sympat Davies Symphony Hall. The program is devoted to Mahler, this time the composer's ecstatic Fifth Symphony.

Author Michael Cunningham sees the light of 'Day'

Author Michael Cunningham sees the light of 'Day'

  • by Brian Brmberger
  • Jan 16, 2024

Michael Cunningham figures out the pandemic's implications for our lives in his new book, "Day: A Novel," his first since "The Snow Queen" (2014). It's his best work since his now classic novel, "The Hours" (1998).