FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Media Contact: 
Peter Zimmerman | San Francisco Gay Men’s Chorus
(415) 865-3650 ext. 306 | peter.zimmerman@sfgmc.org

San Francisco Gay Men’s Chorus presents
ELFSTRAVAGANZA
December 8-9, 2017 at Nourse Theater

SAN FRANCISCO (November 29, 2017) – San Francisco Gay Men’s Chorus (SFGMC) and Dr. Timothy Seelig, Artistic Director have announced the holiday performances for Season 40: Unstoppable, featuring three performances of Elfstravaganza, running December 8-9 at the Nourse Theater (275 Hayes St, San Francisco). Performances are Friday, December 8 at 8 p.m. and Saturday, December 9 at 2:30 p.m. and 8 p.m. Tickets range in price from $25-99 and are available now on www.SFGMC.org or by calling City Box Office at (415) 392-4400.

Elfstravaganza delivers exactly what you expect from SFGMC at the holidays: gorgeous music, jubilant production pieces and heartwarming moments. You’ll hear plenty of classic holiday favorites, alongside some new works that are sure to warm your heart and get you in the festive mood. Over-the-top production numbers will be mixed with stunning, tender moments – all done up with SFGMC’s trademark flair. Additionally, the Chorus is joined by the dazzling drag superstar Katya Smirnoff-Skyy for these performances.

“Elfstravanza is exactly what is sounds like: an extravaganza brought to you by the friendly elves at the North Pole,” writes Seelig. “Some of the difficulties we are experiencing in our country also spill over to the North Pole. It has just become a place full of stress and uncertainty. It's our job to Make the North Pole Gay – Again. And no one knows how to do that better than this Chorus!”

“Among the stunning new settings of familiar holiday songs are ‘Noel Nouvelet,’ which will take your breath away, ‘Gloria in Excelsis Deo,’ ‘Silent Night,’ and ‘Jingle Bells.’” adds Seelig. “We will also present several new pieces for SFGMC, like ‘I Want a Lumbersexual for Christmas,’ ‘Opera Takes a Holiday,’ ‘Nobody Cares About Santa’ from Elf — even a Disco Santa Claus song — and so much more! There are plenty of twists and turns to delight you all evening long.”

Nearly 30 years ago, the San Francisco Gay Men’s Chorus gathered for the first time on Christmas Eve in 1990 at the Castro Theatre to bring the holidays home to those who had none. Thus began the annual tradition of joining together every Christmas Eve at the Castro Theatre for this night of joyous music and heartwarming festivities.

This holiday season will mark SFGMC’s 28th Annual “Home for the Holidays” at the Castro Theatre (429 Castro Street, San Francisco) on Christmas Eve. Performances are Sunday, Dec. 24, 2017 at 5 p.m., 7 p.m. and 9 p.m. Drag superstar Katya Smirnoff-Skyy will be the Chorus’ special guest artist for Home for the Holidays. Tickets range from $30-40 and are available now on www.SFGMC.org or by calling City Box Office at (415) 392-4400.

The Chorus will be taking its holiday show to three other locations around the Bay Area this season. On Friday, December 1, 2017, members of the San Francisco Gay Men’s Chorus head to Freight & Salvage Coffeehouse (2020 Addison Street, Berkeley, CA) to honor World AIDS Day with a very special holiday performance by the vocal ensembles of the Chorus (The Lollipop Guild, SWAG and HomoPhonics).

On Saturday, December 2, 2017, the Chorus celebrates the 27th edition of “Home for the Holidays” in Santa Rosa, presented with longtime partner Face to Face Sonoma County AIDS Network, at 3 p.m. at Santa Rosa High School (1235 Mendocino Avenue, Santa Rosa, CA). Proceeds from the performance will be donated directly to Face to Face, which assists those living with HIV/AIDS in Sonoma County, while providing services and education in prevention of the disease.

Lastly, on Saturday, December 3, 2016, SFGMC returns to Livermore for two performances of “Home for the Holidays” at the Livermore Valley Performing Arts Center’s Bankhead Theater at 3 p.m. and 7 p.m. (2400 First Street, Livermore).

About San Francisco Gay Men’s Chorus
For nearly 40 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, visit www.sfgmc.org and @sfgmc (Facebook/Twitter/Instagram).

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