Behind the Curtain on Valencia Street

In February 2020, the chorus opened its new building to the public.

“Behind the Curtain”

The Chronicle’s Annie Vainshtein reported that the National LGBTQ Center for the Arts at 170 Valencia Street was launching an event series. It began Sunday, February 23, with a “Behind the Curtain” panel of “Hamilton” cast members moderated by Chronicle columnist Tony Bravo. Later conversations would feature opera star Deborah Voigt, “Glee” star Alex Newell and Oakland Interfaith Gospel Choir director Terrance Kelly. The Gay Men’s Chorus of Los Angeles was booked for May and the Beijing Queer Chorus for June.

“Take the facade off, take the makeup off.”

— Tim Seelig, as quoted by the Chronicle

A promised land

The chorus had rehearsed in the building, the former Baha’i Center, from 2013 until it was put up for sale. After moving around, it bought the $9.6 million building with a fundraising campaign and a $5 million gift from original member Terrence Chan. Seelig told the paper it was the only LGBTQ arts group in the country that owned its own rehearsal and performance space. He said the chorus had wandered in the wilderness for 40 years and found its promised land in its 41st.

Weeks later, the pandemic shut down live performances across the city.

Visit The Chan

From the archives: this post retells reporting by the San Francisco Chronicle. The original articles survive only in newspaper archives, so we have told the story here in our own words. Details attributed to those outlets are their reporting; see the sources below.

Sources