John Francisco News

Immediately following the November 21 world premiere of his opera, Girls of the Golden West, composer John Adams was presented with the San Francisco Opera Medal by Company General Director Matthew Shilvock. With the opening night audience in attendance and surrounded onstage by members of the cast and creative team for his new work set during the tumultuous California Gold Rush, the internationally renowned composer, conductor and Berkeley resident received San Francisco Opera's most esteemed award.

Recorded on both sides of the equator, Americana/Rock artist, John Haesemeyer's new EP,Maybe If I Try, will be released on April 29, 2017. John Haesemeyer (HAZE-mire) is a San Francisco based performing artist who fuses folk and pop genres, emphasizing intimate vocals, acoustic guitar, orchestral instruments, and the rhythm section of a rock band.

 The 34th season of Schwabacher Debut Recitals continues on Sunday, April 9 at 5:30 p.m. in the Dianne and Tad Taube Atrium Theater with mezzo-soprano Renée Rapier, bass Anthony Reed and pianist and San Francisco Opera Head of Music Staff John Churchwell. They will present The Woods: A Rom-Com Recital, a series of songs by American composers compiled by Reed into a narrative with original dialogue. The performance will be directed by first-year San Francisco Opera Adler Fellow Aria Umezawa.

The San Francisco Early Music Society's 2016-17 Season comes to a close the weekend of April 7 with three concerts by HALLIFAX & JEFFREY with guests Marie Dalby Szuts, Josh Lee and John Lenti, in a program dedicated to French music for viola da gamba from Louis Couperin to Marin Marais and Michel Corrette. Hallifax & Jeffrey are the duo of Peter Hallifax and Julie Jeffrey, and together with Szuts and Lee they comprise a consort of bass viols. Lenti on theorbo will play the continuo parts.

The San Francisco Symphony (SFS) honors John Adams's 70th birthday in a special three-weekend celebration of his music, February 10-25.

The San Francisco Symphony (SFS) honors John Adams's 70th birthday in a special three-weekend celebration of his music, February 10-25.

The San Francisco Symphony (SFS) honors John Adams's 70th birthday in a special three-weekend celebration of his music, February 10-25.

About Face Theatre will present a one-night-only benefit reading of its 2011 runaway hit THE HOMOSEXUALS by AFT Artistic Associate Philip Dawkins, directed by original director Bonnie Metzgar and featuring the full original cast. Throughout its 20th anniversary season, About Face is serving up readings of some of their most succesful and pivotal plays from the last two decades. THE HOMOSEXUALS benefit reading will be held Saturday, December 19, 2015 at 6:30 pm at The Chicago History Museum's Rubloff Auditorium, 1601 N. Clark St. in Chicago. BroadwayWorld has a sneak peek at the cast below!

About Face Theatre is excited to present a one-night-only benefit reading of its 2011 runaway hit THE HOMOSEXUALS by AFT Artistic Associate Philip Dawkins, directed by original director Bonnie Metzgar and featuring the full original cast.

Votes are cast; polls are closed; and results have been tabulated! This was our biggest year yet! After a record number of voters in more than 60 regions worldwide, BroadwayWorld is very excited to announce the 2014 San Francisco winners! Thanks to all who voted, and huge congratulations to all the winners!

For that special mix of naughty and nice, About Face Theatre, in association with Theater Wit, presents BIG RED and THE BOYS, a non-traditional evening of songs, stories and spirits starring Meghan 'Big Red' Murphy, John Francisco*, Patrick Andrews* and Nick Davio. This sexy and spicy holiday concert plays five performances only December 12 - 13, 15, 19 - 20, 2014 at Theater Wit, 1229 W. Belmont Ave. in Chicago. Tickets are available at www.aboutfacetheatre.org, by calling (773) 975-8150 or in person at the Theater Wit Box Office.

For that special mix of naughty and nice, About Face Theatre, in association with Theater Wit, presents BIG RED and THE BOYS, a non-traditional evening of songs, stories and spirits starring Meghan "Big Red" Murphy, John Francisco*, Patrick Andrews* and Nick Davio. This sexy and spicy holiday concert plays five performances only December 12 - 13, 15, 19 - 20, 2014 at Theater Wit, 1229 W. Belmont Ave. in Chicago. Tickets go on sale Friday, November 14 at www.aboutfacetheatre.org, by calling (773) 975-8150 or in person at the Theater Wit Box Office.

Jerome Kern and Oscar Hammerstein II's Show Boat opens San Francisco Opera's Summer Season on June 1 with nine subsequent performances through July 2, 2014. A watershed of American musical theater, Show Boat receives its Company premiere in director Francesca Zambello's new grand-scale "beautifully sung, smartly staged and handsomely designed (Chicago Tribune)" production. A beloved story of life on the Mississippi in the 1880s, Show Boat is both a poignant love story and a powerful reminder of America's bitter legacy of racism. The score is filled with unforgettable songs such as "Ol' Man River" and "Can't Help Lovin' Dat Man," and the dazzling production features large, colorful sets, sumptuous costumes and exhilarating dance numbers. Of recent performances at Houston Grand Opera, the Houston Chronicle wrote "[This is] a towering work. . . there's a magnificence in its music, its narrative sweep, its deep awareness of something bigger than ourselves."

The San Francisco Early Music Society's 2013-14 concert series comes to a close next month with a program of love songs and consorts performed by the Farallon Recorder Quartet with soprano Jennifer Paulino and lutenist John Lenti. Titled Amaryllis, Farallon's concert features a variety of Renaissance music from across Europe that explores the possibilities for recorder consort, lute and voice. Farallon performs today, March 14 - 16 in Palo Alto, Berkeley and San Francisco.

The San Francisco Early Music Society's 2013-14 concert series comes to a close next month with a program of love songs and consorts performed by the Farallon Recorder Quartet with soprano Jennifer Paulino and lutenist John Lenti. Titled Amaryllis, Farallon's concert features a variety of Renaissance music from across Europe that explores the possibilities for recorder consort, lute and voice. Farallon performs March 14 - 16 in Palo Alto, Berkeley and San Francisco.

Yoshi's Jazz Club on Fillmore Street announced upcoming performances at the San Francisco venue.

About Face Theatre concludes its 15th anniversary season and kicks-off GLBTQ Pride Month with the world premiere of THE HOMOSEXUALS by Chicago playwright Philip Dawkins, directed by AFT Artistic Director Bonnie Metzgar and featuring AFT Artistic Associates Patrick Andrews, Scott Bradley, Elizabeth Ledo and Benjamin Sprunger with Stephen Cone, Eddie Diaz and John Francisco. THE HOMOSEXUALS plays June 11 - July 24, 2011 at The Victory Gardens Richard Christiansen Theater, 2433 N. Lincoln Ave. in Chicago. Tickets are currently available at www.aboutfacetheatre.com or (773) 871-3000.

About Face Theatre concludes its 15th anniversary season and kicks-off GLBTQ Pride Month with the world premiere of THE HOMOSEXUALS by Chicago playwright Philip Dawkins, directed by AFT Artistic Director Bonnie Metzgar and featuring AFT Artistic Associates Patrick Andrews, Scott Bradley, Elizabeth Ledo and Benjamin Sprunger with Stephen Cone, Eddie Diaz and John Francisco.

About Face Theatre concludes its 15th anniversary season and kicks-off GLBTQ Pride Month with the world premiere of THE HOMOSEXUALS by Chicago playwright Philip Dawkins, directed by AFT Artistic Director Bonnie Metzgar and featuring AFT Artistic Associates Patrick Andrews, Scott Bradley, Elizabeth Ledo and Benjamin Sprunger with Stephen Cone, Eddie Diaz and John Francisco. THE HOMOSEXUALS plays June 11 - July 24, 2011 at The Victory Gardens Richard Christiansen Theater, 2433 N. Lincoln Ave. in Chicago. Tickets are currently available at www.aboutfacetheatre.com or (773) 871-3000.

About Face Theatre concludes its 15th anniversary season and kicks-off GLBTQ Pride Month with the world premiere of THE HOMOSEXUALS by Chicago playwright Philip Dawkins, directed by AFT Artistic Director Bonnie Metzgar and featuring AFT Artistic Associates Patrick Andrews, Scott Bradley, Elizabeth Ledo and Benjamin Sprunger with Stephen Cone, Eddie Diaz and John Francisco.