q-lab
featuring NIKOLA PRINTZ
MARCH 21, 2025 @ 7:30PM
MARCH 22, 2025 @ 7:30pm
The Chan National Queer Arts Center is located at 170 Valencia Street - SF, CA - 94103
NIKOLA PRINTZ: MARCH MADNESS
Artistically fluid opera star Nikola Printz, the singing acrobatic sensation who has delighted local audiences at SF Symphony’s Holiday Gaiety, the SF Opera’s Carmen Encounter and other stages, hosts a grand, campy evening of madness in every sense of the word—featuring fellow transgender artists Katherine Goforth and Polly Amber Ross, along with pianist Bob Mollicone and flutist Jessie Nucho. As external pressures cause an identity crisis, Printz navigates the unraveling of one's sense of self and the rebuilding of something stronger and more resilient—underscored by music from The Pixies, Elliot Smith, Kurt Weill, Nina Simone, Nina Hagen and some of the wildest moments in opera. With classics from cabaret to punk rock, this evening is sure to offer the cathartic scream we've all been searching for.
NOTE: This is a multistage event where the performers move around the space. This format brings every seat closer to the action.
Nikola Printz is a versatile artist making waves in opera, recently starred as the titular role in Carmen with San Francisco Opera in their “Carmen Encounter” performance, a role Printz recently conquered to great acclaim with Festival Opera in 2023. SF Classical Voice said of the performance-“Printz has a rich, dark, and focused mezzo that carried the power of Carmen’s passion across the orchestra pit and into the heart. Their voice moves nimbly between moods — anger giving way to vulnerability, lyricism veering suddenly into mockery....Athletic and balletic, Printz brought to the role an accomplished language of strong and immediately readable dramatic gesture.” Nikola also sang and covered lead roles at San Francisco Opera during their two year tenure as an Adler Fellow. [Read More]
Q-LAB presenting sponsor
Terrence D. Chan + Edward Sell
Additional support made possible by these sponsors:
Janet Cluff
Steve Gallagher/Coldwell Banker
Nick Harper
WHAT IS Q-LAB?
Created specifically for The Chan National Queer Arts Center, these genre-fluid performances create an innovative, unforgettable experience for audiences. To learn more, click below.
MEDIA
Azure - Blue skies medley
losing my mind - follies - with asl
RAVE REVIEWS FOR NIKOLA PRINTZ
"…delivering a gripping performance both musically and dramatically. Printz (who uses they/them pronouns) has a rich, dark, and focused mezzo that carried the power of Carmen’s passion across the orchestra pit and into the heart. Their voice moves nimbly between moods — anger giving way to vulnerability, lyricism veering suddenly into mockery.”
- Classical Voice SF
"Bay Area singer Nikola Printz gets personal in a magnificent vocal recital"
- Datebook
FEATURED ARTISTS
Nikola Printz - Vocalist
Katherine Goforth - Vocalist
Polly Amber Ross - Drag performer and Vocalist
Robert Mollicone - Piano
Jessie Nucho - Flute
