Author: Alfredo Casuso

Media contact: David Perry & Associates, Inc. (415) 676-7007 / news@davidperry.com 

AsiaSF / Palm Springs Rebrands as The Sonoran Event Venue

www.asiasf.com

26 September 2022 – Palm Springs, CA: Almost immediately after a spectacular opening in January 2020, AsiaSF/Palm Springs (www.asiasf.com) — the SoCal branch of the storied San Francisco restaurant and cabaret featuring  performances by the world-famous transgender Ladies of AsiaSF – was forced to close in the onslaught of COVID, like tens of thousands of restaurants around the country. After several courageous attempts at a “reboot”, however, the model of dinner plus show proved untenable. Beginning this month, AsiaSF/Palm Springs has ceased operations as a day-to-day restaurant and club, and switched to a business model of special event hosting, providing a preeminent location known as The Sonoran Event Venue which includes spectacular indoor and outdoor options with pool and cabanas.  Complete food and beverage service will also be available for all events.

“This has been a very challenging and difficult transition for us, but we look forward to continuing the success we’ve achieved with our special event bookings,” said Larry Hashbarger, Founder and CEO of AsiaSF,  noting that occasional one-off  “pop up” versions of the AsiaSF experience may continue in the Palm Springs area. “We are so incredibly grateful to the thousands of people who have visited us over the last two years, and greatly appreciative of the support given us by our fellow business owners, the Palm Springs Chamber of Commerce, Visit Greater Palm Springs, the Desert Business Association and all of our promotional and marketing partners especially KGAY Radio and Gay Desert Guide. We are especially humbled by the support and encouragement of the Palm Springs City Government during our initial opening, and during our post-COVID attempts at relaunch, with special acknowledgement to Lisa Middleton.”

Operations at the original AsiaSF in San Francisco, now in its 25^th record breaking  year, are not impacted by the transition in Palm Springs. In addition, several previously booked special events at AsiaSF/Palm Springs, including next month’s Equality California event, will continue as previously contracted and booked.

In the coming weeks, further details on events, prices and availabilities at the Sonoran will be made available and posted online.

Media Contacts

David Perry / news@davidperry.com / (415) 676-7007

Alexandra Greenberg / agreenberg@falconpublicity.com

San Francisco’s Castro Theatre Screens Landmark Documentary
“Dani’s Twins” September 29
Event includes Accessibility Roundtable with Producer / Star Dani Izzie

October is National Disability Employment Awareness Month

View the Dani’s Twins trailer here: https://youtu.be/NPmnyndtNsM

“Beautiful, powerful and demonstrates how strength and belief in oneself can combat discrimination.”

– Judith Heumann, Disability Rights Activist

“A glimpse into a world of motherhood that most people think impossible.”

– Angela Rockwood, Producer “Push Girls”

“A beautiful exploration of the joys of interdependence.”

– Nina Tame, Disability Advocate

The Dani’s Twins documentary provides a rare, intimate look into the topics of disability, pregnancy and adaptive parenthood, viewed through the lens of one woman’s personal journey.  On Thursday, September 29 leading into Disability Awareness Month, San Francisco’s iconic Castro Theatre will host a screening of the film followed by a roundtable with its subject and producer Dani Izzie alongside Steve Dorst Director, Cinematographer, Angie Gentile Producer and Andy Arias Producer.  Doors for the event open at 6:00 pm with screening beginning at 7:00 pm.  Tickets for the event are on sale now for $25 at the Castro Theatre box office or online at www.castrotheatre.com.

The 40-minute documentary film captures the pregnancy and early parenting journey of Dani Izzie, one of the few quadriplegics in history to ever give birth to twins. Dani’s pregnancy is highly unusual and susceptible to an array of risks, from stroke to early labor. When Covid strikes, it raises the stakes for an already complicated pregnancy and, with the filmmakers physically distanced, puts the documentary at risk. Incredibly, Dani works with the team to capture her own story, despite her limited dexterity and the strains of pregnancy. Amid these ups and downs, Dani’s story depicts her unwavering determination against all odds to deliver healthy babies and be a great mother.

Having already screened as an official selection at such notable festivals as DC Shorts International Film Festival, Toronto International Women Film Festival and Mountainfilm Festival, Dani’s Twins comes to San Francisco’s Castro Theatre for a special screening and roundtable.  A roundtable discussion, featuring Jennison Asuncion (panel moderator and Head of Accessibility Engineering Evangelism, LinkedIn), Lawrence Carter Long (disability advocate and Director, DisCourse & Development), and Dani Izzie, among others, will offer a fresh look at how access and disability inclusion are evolving in a changing world.  The venue in partnership with Bay Area independent promoter Another Planet Entertainment, who has a long-standing history of working to preserve and improve historic buildings, is in motion to update the legendary entertainment house including plans for increased accessibility for the disability community.

“My aim is for this film to be part of the current cultural moment that is seeing disabled people take ownership of disability narratives,” says Dani Izzie. “When our experiences are authenticated through honest representation and the reappropriation of our own voices, we can catalyze change and foster inclusion.” 

Adds Izzie, “I am thrilled to partner with APE for the screening of our film at the legendary Castro, which will soon become a more inclusive space. The renovation plans are a deeply vital element for both patrons and artists in the disability community, and will expand the reach of this treasured theatre. As a disabled woman, artist, and producer, I feel grateful to screen Dani’s Twins and warmly welcome an often-underserved population in such an historical place.”

Dani Izzie, Producer and Protagonist,the subject of the film, is a new mom, wife, communications professional and disability influencer. When Dani became a quadriplegic as a young adult in 2009, she didn’t have any insight into the lives of upwards of 20% of the US population living with a disability. Dani’s recovery entailed more than just medical journey—it involved a profound reset of her own disability biases. As she adapted to her situation and as her understanding of disability evolved, she came to embrace her new identity. Today she’s a disability culture advocate, who is informed, confident and proactive. Her chair and lifestyle are an extension of who she is: A badass, smart, creative person. Dani is sharing her personal journey to help others with disabilities who are considering or experiencing parenthood. As her platform grows, it will inspire people to rethink their preconceptions and gain a new understanding of what ability means. Learn more about Dani Izzie at http://DaniIzzie.com and YouTube.com/daniizzie.

Dani’s Twins is the premiere release of PERPETUO FILMS, a studio that produces entertaining content for people who give a damn. Our active slate of programming includes Dani’s Twins; Patrol, the battle to preserve Nicaragua’s rainforest from illegal cattle ranching; and Eat Bitter, the first English-language documentary out of the Central African Republic, capturing the tensions between Chinese migrants and local workers during a civil war. In 2021, our films secured grants and partnered with the biggest global names in nonfiction storytelling: Hot Docs Canadian International Documentary Festival, International Documentary Film Festival Amsterdam (IDFA), the Ford Foundation, the Sundance Institute, Mountainfilm, the European Union, Re:wild, Netflix Ambulante, Durban FilmMart, and others. Perpetuo Films and aims to accelerate the web3 creator economy to amplify filmmaker autonomy, control, and ownership. 

Another Planet Entertainment is partnering with Bay Properties, Inc., owners of the Castro Theatre,  on an evolution and preservation of San Francisco’s world-renowned entertainment and LGBTQ community landmark. With a long-standing history of working to preserve and improve historic buildings such as the Fox Theater in Oakland, the Greek Theatre in Berkeley and the Bill Graham Civic Auditorium in San Francisco, Another Planet seeks to enhance the Castro Theatre by implementing substantial disability upgrades along with significant improvements to the sound, lighting, production, heating and ventilation and the theatre’s trademark marquee, among other facets of the building: all of this, always, with an eye to honoring its unique place in the life of the Castro and celebrating its communities and residents.

The Castro Theatre is located at 429 Castro Street, San Francisco, CA 94114.  Follow www.APEConcerts.com/TheCastro  for more information.

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Media Contact:  DP&A, Inc. / David Perry 
(415) 676-7007 / news@davidperry.com 

November 25 – December 24
“Winter Wanderland” 

Holiday Market in Hallidie Plaza
Presented by The Union Square Alliance

WHAT:
Winter Wanderland in Union Square, the first holiday market for Union Square, turns Hallidie Plaza into a shining fairytale land. Local, handmade gifts, holiday tree decorations, sweets and warming drinks await as well as live entertainment, Santa’s Workshop and DIY crafts for kids and adults alike. Come celebrate and gather in our holiday market.

The holiday market, alongside the Safeway Holiday Ice Rink in Union Square, Macy’s Holiday Tree and the Bill Graham Menorah, will be the foundation of the Union Square Alliance’s holiday campaign. Winter Wanderland in Union Square will be linked together by magical illuminations to encourage visitors an enchanting exploration throughout the district.  Winter Wanderland in Union Square will illuminate the area and awaken the senses from twinkling lights and gentle snowfall to holiday carols, warm candied nuts, and hot cocoa. Guests will wander in awe, relax to the sounds of San Francisco’s finest entertainment and marvel at the variety of arts and crafts only San Francisco has to offer.  

The holiday market is a pilot collaboration between Willy Bietak Productions, owner and operator of The Safeway Holiday Ice Rink in Union Square and the Union Square Alliance. Hallidie Plaza is a public square located at the entrance to Powell Street Station on Market Street in the Union Square area of downtown San Francisco.

WHERE:
Hallidie Plaza in the Union Square District of San Francisco
(At the Cable Car Turnaround at Powell & Market Streets)

WHEN:
Friday, November 25 – December 24, 2022
Ribbon Cutting November 25: Time TBA

HOURS *:
November 25 – 27: 10am – 8pm
November 28 – December 16: 12pm – 8pm Monday through Friday; 10am – 8pm Saturday & Sunday
December 17 —  24: 10am – 8pm daily
*Hours are subject to change 

WEB:
www.visitunionsquaresf.com 

WHO:
About the Union Square Alliance:
The Union Square Alliance serves members and creates a high-quality visitor experience by managing and activating public spaces, attracting new investment, and advocating for the district’s future success. Union Square is the vibrant heart of San Francisco and an international destination where visitors come to enjoy exceptional retail experiences, luxury hotels, world-class cultural institutions, and great public spaces found only in the City by the Bay. A lively 27-block community surrounding Union Square Park in the heart of San Francisco makes up the Union Square Alliance. It is bordered on the north by Bush Street, on the east by Kearny Street, on the south by Market Street and on the west Taylor Street. For more information on the Alliance, go to www.visitunionsquaresf.com

Media contact:
David Perry & Associates, Inc. / David Perry
news@davidperry.com / (415) 676-7007

CONTEMPORARY CHAMBER OPERA
UNBOUND

COMES TO PALM SPRINGS
October 20 – November 6, 2022

21 September 2022 — PALM SPRINGS, CA: Denver composer Nathan Hall’s acclaimed UNBOUND, a four-character contemporary chamber opera, comes to Palm Springs for its West Coast premiere in a limited run produced by Jerome Joseph Gentes and TigerBear Productions. Composed by Hall with a libretto by San Francisco writer Alan Olejniczak, the piece uses operatic singing against an electronic score to depict a young man’s erotic and emotional experience in a fetish club. UNBOUND will be performed October 20 – November 6 at Superbloom Studios, 292 West San Rafael Drive, Palm Springs. For tickets ($55-$95) and more information, the public may visit unboundopera.com or call (760) 636-6768.

UNBOUND is the third work in a trilogy by Nathan Hall that gives stories of queer desire and sexuality traditional operatic form. The young man at the center of the piece makes a few attempts at erotic connection at a sex club in Sweden, then meets another man who introduces him to Shibari, a specialized type of Japanese rope bondage art. As with its Denver premiere last summer, audiences will be immersed directly in the experience alongside the actors. “We’re allowing guests to wander even more freely around the actors as they sing and act,” said Gentes. “You’ll feel like you’re in the club with the characters, cruising and choosing and watching.” Varying ticket tiers will give attendees choice about the degree of immersion they want, from basic show-only attendance to a fuller, two-hour experience in the venue. Colorado Public Radio described UNBOUND as a work that is “striving to change audience perceptions of both desire and opera” and The Denver Post hailed Hall as “a seriously talented composer.”

Composer Nathan Hall is a former Fulbright Fellow and a McKnight Visiting Composer (2021), who holds a Doctorate in Musical Arts (DMA) from CU Boulder. His works have been performed and exhibited in 14 countries and 12 American states by the Royal Scottish National Orchestra, the GALA Choruses, The Gay/Lesbian Chorus of San Francisco, International Orange Chorale San Francisco, pianist Adam Tendler, and a convention of roller coaster enthusiasts, among others. He has been awarded numerous grants including a New Music USA grant and the Denver Music Advancement Fund. His residencies include Bunnell Street (Homer, AK), Mattress Factory (Pittsburgh, PA), Denver Art Museum’s first Creative in Residence, Acadia National Park, and Boulder Public Library Maker in Residence. Hall is currently Adjunct Faculty in Composition at the University of Denver and Music Production at the Rocky Mountain College of Art and Design. 

Alan Olejniczak is a San Francisco playwright and opera librettist. He is the Playwright in Residence with The Proscenium, a London-based online theatre company whose first season included his plays Next of Kin, Helt, Texas, and his adaptation of A Christmas Carol with David Ricardo-Pearce. ​His first opera, Death of Ivan Ilych with music by John Young, premiered as a co-production in 2021 with Opera Orlando and Chicago’s Thompson Street Opera Company. Next year his play Concerto will premiere with Lyric Theatre of Oklahoma, and his opera Dreams Americanos with music by Chris Pratorius Gómez will premiere in Houston with I Colori dell’opera. Olejniczak was the Artist in Residence and the first playwright resident with the National Parks Arts Foundation. He is currently an artist in residence with Nocefresca in Sardinia.

UNBOUND is being presented by Jerome Joseph Gentes and TigerBear Productions. Based in Palm Springs, Gentes is a multi-disciplinary creative producer and writer on a mission to produce and create diverse stories through diverse experiences. A two-spirit Standing Rock Lakota and Fort Belknap A’aninin, Gentes co-produced the Musical Cafe Showcase Series, a Berkeley-based performance series for new musical theatre projects. He co-produced Sheherezade’s Last Tales (2015 Theatre Bay Area Award for Outstanding Anthology) and PCSF PlayOffs (2016 Theatre Bay Area Finalist for Outstanding Anthology). He is the Producer for New Play Development at the legendary Magic Theatre in San Francisco. This summer his company, TigerBear Productions, produced Prince Charming, You’re Late in NYC, and Deal With The Dragon, a hit of the 2016 Edinburgh Festival, in San Francisco. For Modernism Week 2021, in collaboration with Nickerson-Rossi Dance and the Paniktem Bird Singers of the Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians, Gentes presented “Lines of Movement, Lines of Modernism,” a cross-disciplinary experience that connected traditional local Native bird singers and dancers, modern dance, and architectural modernism.