Image courtesy of Stefan Cohen
On Saturday, March 21, the ‘80s called, and the San Francisco Gay Men’s Chorus answered with a spectacle only they could produce. We’re talking iconic hits from a-ha, Madonna, Cyndi Lauper, Heart, Journey, Tina Turner, Pet Shop Boys, The Pointer Sisters, Queen, and the Weather Girls—to name a few—woven together with cartoon throwbacks like Jem, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Inspector Gadget, and He-Man, along with deeply resonant personal stories from chorus members who lived through the decade.
Before the show, I had the rare opportunity to witness something quieter and emotionally powerful. All 300 performers, many with family and friends beside them, gathered for a ceremony honoring what the chorus calls the “fifth section”: members who have passed.
As Artistic Director and Conductor, Jacob Stensberg explained, before every show, a bowl filled with hundreds of names of former chorus members is passed around at the start of the day. Each singer carries one, two, or three names in their pockets, keeping them close throughout the evening.
Before taking the stage, the chorus and their guests gather to sing “The Irish Blessing” “to honor and remember them, keeping their legacy alive. But there’s another purpose, too: “to welcome our ever-expanding family, so that we always have one eye pointed toward the past, remembering where we came from, and one eye looking toward the future,” Stensberg says.
Image courtesy of Stefan Cohen
Standing among them, I could feel the connection between performers, their loved ones, and members past and future. I had goosebumps.
That ritual of reverence and remembrance resonates in every SFGMC performance, shaping everything that follows.
Totally 80s moved from camp to candor throughout the night, but it wasn’t all singing and dancing. Chorus members who lived during the decade told personal stories about coming out in a time when staying closeted felt safer, losing loved ones and colleagues during the AIDS epidemic, and moving to San Francisco and finally finding the freedom to be themselves. Even lighter memories of watching Saturday morning cartoons and pop culture touchstones felt threaded with something deeper.
Image courtesy of Stefan Cohen
Onstage, that emotional layering translated into performances that weren’t just fun; they were also genuinely beautiful. Standout moments included Clarence Hairston Bellotti’s powerful rendition of Tina Turner’s “The Best,” accompanied by guest saxophonist Justin Ward, who added texture to Hairston-Belloti’s soulful voice.
Then there was the playful performance of the Weather Girls’ “It’s Raining Men.” Soloists Mitch Galli, Mark Mezak, and Vinney Lê were magnetic, while beatboxer Ben White anchored them with a steady, driving beat. Dancers glided across the stage with umbrellas, dialing up the camp.
One of the most striking moments of the evening was the beautiful choral arrangement and emotionally resonant choreography for Queen and David Bowie’s "Under Pressure," which drove home the song’s plea for empathy and love in a world under strain. It was one of several moments that pointed to a larger emotional thread running through the evening.
Image courtesy of Stefan Cohen
The interplay between joy and grief, love and loss, celebration and remembrance, gave the night an emotional depth beyond nostalgia. The choreography, costumes, humor, and vocals were all very 80s: bold, vibrant, theatrical, and joyful, but the show didn’t shy away from the reality of the decade, a time of both self-expression and devastating loss for the LGBTQ+ community. For me, it’s the quieter, more vulnerable moments that linger.
Image courtesy of Stefan Cohen
Beyond the neon clothes and pop anthems, SFGMC’s latest tribute is a poignant time capsule of a community finding its voice and strength through a decade marked by loss and liberation.
Even now, I find myself thinking back to that moment backstage before the show: the names folded into pockets, people holding hands and hugging, voices coming together in reverence and hope. “Totally 80s” wasn’t just a celebration of the decade, but a way of carrying forward the people and stories that shaped it—and were shaped by it.
What’s next for SFGMC:
The Songs and Stories of Stephen Schwartz, April 17 & 18, 2026, @ 7:30 pm, The Chan National Queer Arts Center
Shine on: An Ensemble Showcase, May 30, 2025 @ 7:30 pm, The Chan National Queer Arts Center
Dolly! A Pride Show, June 6, 5:00 PM Green Music Center Rohnert Park & June 13, 1:00 & 7:30 PM, The Curran Theatre San Francisco
