San Francisco Gay Men’s Chorus to sing and screen in Sonoma

Singers accompany documentary screening at Sebastiani|

A new film about the San Francisco Gay Men’s Chorus and its tour of the southern United States in 2016, “Gay Chorus Deep South,” chronicles the tour the chorus made in the wake of the divisive national election, and the effect it had on the performers and their listeners. While on the tour, the chorus performed in churches, community centers and concert halls throughout the Deep South. The film screens Oct. 13 at 2 p.m. at the Sebastiani Theatre.

Since the film’s premier April 28 at the Tribeca Film Festival, representatives of the chorus have made over 100 appearances at other film fests and events. Chris Verdugo, executive director of the Gay Men’s Chorus, said, “That’s why I am a little loopy but it has been great.” He added that he has “been surprised how people have received it. We got an especially uplifting message from a person who saw the film and our performance who said, ‘This just shows that we are all children of god.’”

The film is directed by David Charles Rodrigues. His film has altered opinions and beliefs, Verdugo said, adding, “but I don’t want to spoil the movie for you.”

Chorus member Jimmy White lives in Santa Rosa and is featured in the film. Of the tour of the South, White said, “It was a wonderfully rewarding experience. We met all types of people.”

He has been a member of the chorus for 23 years. White said that they rehearse on Monday nights in San Francisco, and “it is healing time, and it’s wonderful to get together weekly to see the friends you love and sing with them.”

Verdugo was excited about the appearance in Sonoma. “It is always really awesome when we get to perform in our home town, and we consider the whole Bay Area our hometown,” he said.

After the showing of “Gay Chorus Deep South,” the Men’s Chorus will perform a few songs from the movie. Verdugo said, “The movie editing process usually only allows a minute or a minute and a half of the song to be heard, so we perform the song in its entirety.”

Tickets to the 2 p.m. event include the showing of the film and the performance, and also a wine reception and a Q&A session.

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