Events :: Arts Events

Camera Obscura's 'Virtue' — rarely-seen cautionary tale at the Roxie

Camera Obscura's 'Virtue' — rarely-seen cautionary tale at the Roxie

  • by Michael Flanagan
  • May 23, 2023

Filmmaker Camera Obscura's tech-dystopian "Virtue" comes to us like a latter day version of James Whale's "Frankenstein" to assure us that indeed, "Fire bad!" It also features a bevy of 1990s SF luminaries.

Women in summer operas and symphony concerts

Women in summer operas and symphony concerts

  • by Philip Campbell
  • May 23, 2023

The San Francisco Symphony and San Francisco Opera are both presenting a number of concerts and productions through May and June primarily focused on women.

Magic Theatre's 'The Ni¿¿er Lovers' daring satire

Magic Theatre's 'The Ni¿¿er Lovers' daring satire

  • by Jim Gladstone
  • May 23, 2023

If you're uncomfortable with satire that takes a showbizzy scalpel to America's original and ongoing sins, by all means shuffle off and shy away from the final performances of Marc Anthony Thompson's excruciatingly humorous playwriting debut.

Aaron Hamburger: 'Hotel Cuba' author on his third novel

Aaron Hamburger: 'Hotel Cuba' author on his third novel

  • May 23, 2023

Even though it only spans two years in the life of immigrant Pearl, Aaron Hamburger's third novel "Hotel Cuba" has the feel and weight of an epic.

Going Out, May 18-26, 2023

Going Out, May 18-26, 2023

  • by Jim Provenzano
  • May 18, 2023

The universe is expanding, and so are your options for delight in nightlife and arts events. Get going out.

Katya Smirnoff-Skyy celebrates 18 Years at Martuni's

Katya Smirnoff-Skyy celebrates 18 Years at Martuni's

  • by Christopher J. Beale
  • May 16, 2023

J. Conrad Frank's character Katya Smirnoff-Skyy was custom-made for a specific reason: to host cabaret and sing live. This week Katya celebrates 18 years hosting Katya Presents at Martuni's piano bar, a passion project that became an institution.

Spotlight on Pride at Lyon & Swan: four gay performers are featured now through June

Spotlight on Pride at Lyon & Swan: four gay performers are featured now through June

  • by Jim Gladstone
  • May 16, 2023

To celebrate Pride month, the queer-owned Lyon & Swan supper club has booked a remarkable slate of four local gay artists, all worthy of broad attention, to play the intimate room.

Fabulous & fractious: The Lavender Tube on drag queens, death cleans, and CNN's careen

Fabulous & fractious: The Lavender Tube on drag queens, death cleans, and CNN's careen

  • by Victoria A. Brownworth
  • May 16, 2023

With the GOP passing anti-LGBTQ laws every week and taking a stronger stand against queer and trans people existing than against sedition, watching drag feels like a revolutionary act. So watch we shall!

Chita Rivera's memoir shares the Broadway legend's life and career

Chita Rivera's memoir shares the Broadway legend's life and career

  • by Brian Bromberger
  • May 16, 2023

Chita Rivera, star of the original 'West Side Story,' 'Chicago' and other musicals, recounts her career as a dancer and musical star for 70 years in her captivating memoir.

'Everything Went Fine's family entanglements

'Everything Went Fine's family entanglements

  • by Gregg Shapiro
  • May 16, 2023

Anyone with aging parents knows the fear of answering the kind of dreaded phone call that novelist Emmanuèle (Sophie Marceau) receives at the beginning of queer filmmaker François Ozon's "Everything Went Fine."

Catherine Lacey's 'Biography of X'

Catherine Lacey's 'Biography of X'

  • by Tim Pfaff
  • May 16, 2023

Catherine Lacey's new novel, "Biography of X," tries to be all things — and succeeds. It's being praised for its genre-bending, but somehow entertainment seems too small a word.

Arts notes: Cal. Academy talks; Frameline's Colin Higgins Foundation grants

Arts notes: Cal. Academy talks; Frameline's Colin Higgins Foundation grants

  • by Jim Provenzano
  • May 14, 2023

A new series of panels at the California Academy of Sciences reclaims scholarly research to underserved voices, and Frameline announced new young filmmaker grant recipients.

'1776' — a new, queer take on an old classic

'1776' — a new, queer take on an old classic

  • by David-Elijah Nahmod
  • May 9, 2023

It's been more than fifty years since the musical "1776" opened on Broadway. But a new production coming to San Jose takes this old chestnut and turns it on its ear. cast entirely with female, transgender and non-binary actors.

Tales of Taylor: Ann Talman's musical memoir at Feinstein's

Tales of Taylor: Ann Talman's musical memoir at Feinstein's

  • by Jim Gladstone
  • May 9, 2023

Ann Talman first met Elizabeth Taylor in January 1981. The writer-performer brings her musical reminiscences of La Liz, "The Shadow of Her Smile," to Feinstein's at the Nikko on Friday, May 12.