Spotlight on Hollywood

Mark your calendars for Saturday, June 11, 2022 when the San Francisco Lesbian/Gay Freedom Band crowd-favorite Spotlight gala concert fundraiser rolls out the red carpet again after a three year hiatus. Dress to impress at the show which will expand from its Broadway roots to spotlight Hollywood and the greatest music from the world of film.

Spotlight on Hollywood will see the debut of SFLGFB guest conductor Dee Spencer. She will lead The Official Band of San Francisco through music composed by John Williams, Leonard Bernstein, Henry Mancini, and others, from films including Jurassic Park, Disney’s Aladdin, The Wizard of Oz and The Wiz, Star Trek, Purlie, West Side Story, and more!

Movie theater concessions and beverages will be available. Guests will have the exciting opportunity to bid on two Hawaii vacations, a quilt hand-made for the Band by the sister of the Band’s founder (Jon Sims), a wall of wine, and the opportunity to conduct the band before the end of the evening!

Get Tickets

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Our Wonderful Entertainers

Guest Conductor

Dr. Dee Spencer is a well-known Jazz artist with a large following thanks to her live appearances around the Bay Area. Dee is a Professor of Jazz and Musical Theatre at San Francisco State University, founding the Jazz Studies degree program, and holds degrees from Florida A&M, Washington University, and University of San Francisco. Among the artists she has taught and performed with & for: Wynton Marsalis, Tower of Power, Senator Kamala Harris, Mayor London Breed, Jimmy Scott, Louis Bellson, Jason Brock, Braxton Brothers, and the legendary GLIDE ensemble.

Locally, Dee performs her weekly “Dee’s Keys” shows at Catch Restaurant and Beaux Bar. Learn more at deespencer.com.

Host

Donna Sachet is thrilled to join the Band once again for Spotlight on Hollywood! For over 25 years, Donna has called San Francisco home and has dedicated her talents as singer, emcee, fundraiser, hostess, producer, and activist to the LGBTQ+ community. As the 30th Empress of San Francisco, she has sung all over the country, Canada, and Australia, but is most proud of singing the National Anthem for the SF Giants at AT&T Park in 2009, co-anchoring the television coverage of the SF Pride Parade for over 10 years, and starring in the weekly brunch show “Sunday’s a Drag” at the Starlight Room in Union Square for 12 years. Donna currently writes a bi-weekly column “Donna’s Chronicles” for The Bay Times and serves as President of the Board of Directors of the Rainbow Honor Walk.

Special Performer

Local people know Renée Lubin as the big-voiced, big-haired star of Beach Blanket Babylon, the world’s longest running musical revue, delighting San Franciscans and visitors for 45 years. Featured in the show for 33 years, Renée herself is the longest running performer in a musical revue, ever. She has been honored as “resident diva” and “local treasure” by the SF Chronicle, Board of Supervisors, multiple mayors, and more. A native San Franciscan educated at San José State University, Renée directs the Jazz Choir and is the Vocal Jazz Coach at SF State University. Learn more at reneelubin.com.

Silent Auction

Spotlight will feature an exciting assortment of live and silent auction prizes, which will help support the Band’s continuing mission as the first openly gay musical organization in the world. Donations will support the inaugural year of a new “composer-in-residence” program which will create the opportunity for new or up-and-coming underrepresented composers to work with a full concert band on new compositions that will help diversify the repertoire of concert band music available to the public.

Can’t make it to the show in-person? You can still participate in our silent auction (bidding closes 6/11 at 9:30 PM Pacific). See some of the prizes below, but make sure to check out the rest, too!

…and many more!

Photos

Getting There

We encourage all guests to take public transportation! YBCA is located in the heart of downtown San Francisco at 701 Mission Street (corner of  Mission and Third Street), just blocks away from Montgomery Street Muni/BART station and the Salesforce Transit Center.

If you choose to drive, SFTMA’s Moscone Center Garage is very close by and there are also several other private garages.

Special Thanks

Spotlight on Hollywood is generously supported by:

Health and Safety Information

The event venue, Yerba Buena Center for the Arts, has the following health and safety requirements.

Face coverings

Everyone aged 2+ must wear well-fitted masks that cover their nose, mouth, and chin when inside the facility unless they are actively eating or drinking. YBCA recommends N95 or KN95 respirators as the first choice for masks. Gaiters, kerchiefs, and other coverings of similar type do not meet the definition of a well-fitted mask.

Health Screening and Vaccination Verification Requirements

All individuals ages 5+ must provide proof of COVID-19 vaccination in order to enter YBCA buildings. Proof of vaccination means an individual has received a complete initial series of vaccination against COVID-19, with the last dose being at least two weeks prior to building entry. Valid forms of proof of vaccination include:

• Original, copy, or electronic photo of the CDC vaccination card (or similar documentation issued by another foreign governmental jurisdiction)
• Documentation from a healthcare provider
• Personal digital COVID-19 vaccine record issued by the State of California; by another State, local, or foreign governmental jurisdictions; or by an approved private company.

Each person ages 18+ must also provide a photo ID. Valid forms of ID must include a name and photo. Examples include:

• State issued identification card
• State issued driver’s license
• Student identification card
• Military identification card
• Passport
• Passport Card

Proof of negative test will not be accepted in lieu of proof of vaccination for any individual ages 5+.

Click here to view more details on health and safety from YBCA.

The San Francisco Lesbian/Gay Freedom Band takes Covid-19 seriously. See the band’s full Safe Return Plan for more information.