Video: Behind the Scenes for I AM HARVEY MILK

"I Am Harvey Milk" World Premiere on Eve of US Supreme Court Ruling

The San Francisco Gay Men's Chorus presents “Harvey Milk 2013,” featuring the world premiere of “I Am Harvey Milk” on the evening of U.S. Supreme Court ruling. Download the Press Release. The Chorus responded to this morning’s historic U.S. Supreme Court rulings on same-sex marriage finding DOMA to be unconstitutional and that the district court decision is final and Prop 8 is unconstitutional. SFGMC Artistic Director and Conductor, Dr. Tim Seelig says, “I can’t find the words to describe how I feel today. Tonight, 300 chorus members will raise their voices in song, just as San Francisco Gay Men’s Chorus did 35 years ago, when they performed for the first time at the candle light vigil for Harvey Milk. No matter what, we will always keep singing.” For the first time tonight, SFGMC will present Harvey Milk 2013, their 35th anniversary concert that celebrates the life and legacy of Harvey Milk. Harvey Milk 2013 features the world premiere of I Am Harvey Milk, a new choral work with music and words by Tony® and Grammy Award nominee Andrew Lippa. In response to today’s decision, Andrew Lippa, Composer, Lyricist and Star of “I Am Harvey Milk” says, "The Supreme Court, like the nation itself, recognizes the value of living the ideal of our Framers: Equal rights under the law. It's a simple idea that has taken many years to perfect. And, while we're not fully there in every corner of this nation, today's ruling states it clearly: Hey hey, ho ho, homophobia's got to go." Bruce Cohen, “I Am Harvey Milk” Producer, and American Foundation for Equal Rights President, adds, “This is a historic victory for California, for equality, and, most of all, for loving gay and lesbian couples and their families. Clearly, Harvey’s work continues and he would be extraordinarily proud today.” Harvey Milk 2013 begins performances tonight (Wednesday, June 26) and continues Thursday, June 27 and Friday, June 28 at 8 p.m. at The Nourse Theatre (201-299 Hayes Street, San Francisco). A limited number of tickets are available online at SFGMC.org or through City Box Office at (415) 392-4400. Tickets range in price from $25 - $60. About Harvey Milk 2013 Harvey Milk 2013 will also feature the debut of I am the Legacy, featuring a variety of performance pieces celebrating the legacy of Harvey Milk submitted by artists from around the San Francisco Bay Area. About “I Am Harvey Milk” Starring Mr. Lippa as Harvey Milk and Tony® Award-winner Laura Benanti (Gypsy, NBC’s “Go On”) as the Soprano soloist and Noah Marlowe (Mary Poppins, Fun Home) as young Harvey, I Am Harvey Milk is directed by Noah Himmelstein, conducted by Dr. Timothy Seelig, orchestrated by August Eriksmoen, video and projection design by Andrew Lazarow and will feature the San Francisco Gay Men’s Chorus accompanied by the Bay Area Rainbow Symphony. I Am Harvey Milk is produced by Bruce Cohen, in association with Robb Nanus and Jessica Leventhal. Introducing the performance is Cleve Jones, close friend of Harvey Milk, founder of the NAMES project AIDS Memorial Quilt and American Foundation for Equal Rights advisory board member. I Am Harvey Milk weaves the story of Harvey Milk’s life – from boyhood to his rise as the first openly gay man to hold public office in California to his assassination. Part choral work, part theater piece, I Am Harvey Milk is an emotional celebration of an American icon. I Am Harvey Milk was commissioned by the San Francisco Gay Men's Chorus, along with Atlanta Gay Men's Chorus, Dayton Gay Men’s Chorus, Denver Gay Men’s Chorus, Gay Men's Chorus of Los Angeles, Twin Cities Gay Men's Chorus, and Heartland Men's Chorus. Following this World Premiere Event, the piece will be made available for choruses to perform from coast to coast.

Show added due to overwhelming demand!

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

DUE TO OVERWHELMING DEMAND THE SAN FRANCISCO GAY MEN'S CHORUS ANNOUNCES ADDED PERFORMANCE OF THE 35th ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION CONCERT "HARVEY MILK 2013"

Concert to feature world premiere of "I AM HARVEY MILK" with music and words by Andrew Lippa

June 26, 27, & 28, 2013

San Francisco, CA (MAY 7, 2013)— Due to overwhelming demand, the San Francisco Gay Men’s Chorus (SFGMC) announced today an added performance of their 35th-anniversary celebration concert Harvey Milk 2013. Harvey Milk 2013 will feature the world premiere of I Am Harvey Milk, a new choral work, with music and words by Tony® and Grammy Award nominee Andrew Lippa, at The Nourse Theatre (201-299 Hayes Street, San Francisco). The added performance will be on Wednesday, June 26 at 8 p.m.. The production, which coincides with the 35th anniversary of Harvey Milk’s assassination, was originally scheduled to run for two nights only - Thursday, June 27 and Friday, June 28. The opening night gala will take place on Thursday, June 27. Tickets for all performances of Harvey Milk 2013 are available now, online at SFGMC.org or through City Box Office at (415) 392-4400. Tickets range in price from $25 - $60.

Starring Mr. Lippa as Harvey Milk and Tony® Award-winner Laura Benanti (Gypsy, NBC’s “Go On”) as the Soprano soloist and Noah Marlowe (Mary Poppins, Fun Home) as young Harvey, I Am Harvey Milk is directed by Noah Himmelstein, conducted by Dr. Timothy Seelig, orchestrated by August Eriksmoen, video and projection design by Andrew Lazarow and will feature the San Francisco Gay Men’s Chorus accompanied by the Bay Area Rainbow Symphony. I Am Harvey Milk is produced by Bruce Cohen, in association with Robb Nanus and Jessica Leventhal. Harvey Milk 2013 will also feature the debut of I am the Legacy, featuring a variety of performance pieces celebrating the legacy of Harvey Milk submitted by artists from around the San Francisco Bay Area.

I Am Harvey Milk weaves the story of Harvey Milk’s life – from boyhood to his rise as the first openly gay man to hold public office in California to his assassination. Part choral work, part theater piece, I Am Harvey Milk is an emotional celebration of an American icon.

I Am Harvey Milk was commissioned by the San Francisco Gay Men's Chorus, along with Atlanta Gay Men's Chorus, Dayton Gay Men’s Chorus, Denver Gay Men’s Chorus, Gay Men's Chorus of Los Angeles, Twin Cities Gay Men's Chorus, and Heartland Men's Chorus. Following this World Premiere Event, the piece will be made available for choruses to perform from coast to coast.

Tickets for Harvey Milk 2013 range in price from $25-$60 and are available online at SFGMC.org or through City Box Office at (415) 392-4400.

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ABOUT SAN FRANCISCO GAY MEN'S CHORUS
For 35 years, the San Francisco Gay Men’s Chorus has courageously served as the international standard bearer for a powerful and accomplished mix of high-caliber performance, human rights, community activism, empowerment and inclusiveness, establishing it as an icon among LGBT organizations. Founded in 1978, it was the first organization of its kind and is credited with starting the LGBT choral movement, galvanizing and changing the course of LGBT history. It continues to rally and inspire other arts-based community organizations around the world. Under the leadership of Artistic Director and Conductor Dr. Timothy Seelig, SFGMC has in recent seasons established a heightened level of performance standards receiving audience and choral acclaim, increased its touring and recording profile and broadened its impact and reputation in the community while maintaining its signature blend of humor, personality and high-voltage performances. For more information about the performances and SFGMC, visit sfgmc.org. Follow SFGMC on facebook.com/sfgmc and twitter.com/sfgmc.

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Andrew Lippa Contacts: Rick Miramontez [email protected] Andy [email protected]

SFGMC Contact: Julie Richter, Charles Zukow Associates 415.296.0677 or [email protected]

SFGMC Appoints George A. Thompson as New Executive Director

The San Francisco Gay Men’s Chorus (SFGMC) announced today that they have appointed George Thompson as Executive Director. Mr. Thompson joins SFGMC during their current 35th anniversary season and- with Artistic Director Dr. Timothy Seelig– will lead the institution to new levels of organizational growth and artistic excellence. Download the press release now (PDF). With over 25 years of senior level management experience, Thompson has worked previously as both a presenter and producer at nationally recognized institutions. Most recently he was the Director of the Office of the Arts at Georgia Institute of Technology in which he initiated cross college collaborations and artist residency programs integrating the arts and technology and secured first time funding from both Chamber Music America and the Doris Duke Foundation. From 2005 to 2009 he served as the Conservatory General Manger at the American Conservatory Theatre here in San Francisco, and was responsible for the overall operation of the conservatory and also line producing 14 shows annually. He was the Senior Vice President of Programming and Operations for Omaha Performing Arts and the Executive Director of The Washington Ballet. He served for seven years as the Executive Vice President, General Manager and CFO of the Straz Performing Arts Center in Tampa Bay. While there, he grew Straz into the fifth largest performing arts center in the U.S. It was during this time in Tampa that he first saw the SFGMC as part of the Gala Choruses Festival. George was raised in Greenwich, Connecticut and began his arts career as a professional dancer with Joffrey II, Kazuko Hirabayashi Dance Theatre, and American Ballet Theatre, touring internationally and working with George Balanchine, Mikhail Baryshnikov, Antony Tudor, Paul Taylor, Merce Cunningham, Jerome Robbins, and Agnes DeMille. He has a BFA in dance from SUNY Purchase College and attended graduate school at Fordham University and American University in Washington DC, studying arts administration. As an arts administrator, he also worked for PepsiCo Summerfare, and international festival of the arts and at the Purchase College Performing Arts Center.