YBCA AND OPERA PARALLÈLE PRESENT HARVEY MILK REIMAGINED, A BOLD REVIVAL OF THE TRAILBLAZING OPERA HONORING LGBTQ+ ICON HARVEY MILK
Media Contacts:
David Perry / (415) 676-7007 / news@davidperry.com
Lauren Macmadu / (415) 350-1884 / lmacmadu@ybca.org
YBCA AND OPERA PARALLÈLE PRESENT HARVEY MILK REIMAGINED, A BOLD REVIVAL OF THE TRAILBLAZING OPERA HONORING LGBTQ+ ICON HARVEY MILK
Coinciding with what would have been Milk’s 95th birthday and the launch of Pride Month 2025, performances run May 31 – June 7, 2025 with a special commemorative display in partnership with the GLBT Historical Society
15 April 2015 – San Francisco, CA: Yerba Buena Center for the Arts (YBCA) proudly presents Harvey Milk Reimagined, a groundbreaking revival of the acclaimed opera by composer Stewart Wallace and librettist Michael Korie, in partnership with Opera Parallèle. Directed and conceived by Opera Parallèle’s Creative Director Brian Staufenbiel and conducted by Artistic Director Nicole Paiement, this bold new staging honors the life and legacy of Harvey Milk—the civil rights leader and first openly gay elected official in California. Performances run May 31–June 7, 2025 at the Blue Shield of California Theater at YBCA, launching Pride Month 2025 and commemorating what would have been Milk’s 95th birthday.
Recently spotlighted by the San Francisco Chronicle as a “reimagined, streamlined, multimedia version” of the original 1995 opus, Harvey Milk Reimagined brings Milk’s story to a new generation. The production features a fresh orchestration, dynamic digital design, and a stirring performance by baritone Michael Kelly in the title role.
“Harvey Milk’s legacy lives in the hearts and voices of those who continue to fight for equality and inclusion,” said Mari Robles, CEO of YBCA. “We’re honored to partner with Opera Parallèle to bring this transformative opera to our stage, and share a unique window into his life through this historic collaboration.”
In tandem with the opera, YBCA will debut a special commemorative display in the theater lobby, presented in collaboration with the GLBT Historical Society. Featuring rarely seen personal artifacts, letters, campaign materials, and historic photographs from Milk’s life and political journey, this curated installation offers audiences an intimate window into Milk’s life and legacy, as well as the history of the LGBTQ+ rights movement in San Francisco.
Opera Parallèle’s Artistic & General Director Nicole Paiement said, “OP is thrilled to be returning to YBCA, where our first production took place, as part of our 15th anniversary season. The basis of our collaboration with Stewart Wallace and Michael Korie was to take a new look at Harvey Milk, to rework it into a new and tighter version with a much more dramatic arc. We are so very pleased to present this new orchestration, a sparkling new production and a very talented cast of artists. This fresh, reimagined perspective on the opera is sure to resonate deeply with audiences, honoring Milk’s courageous work in a powerful new way.”
Harvey Milk Reimagined is presented as part of YBCA’s 2024–25 performance season and affirms the organization’s mission to be a gathering space for creative expression that fosters meaningful connection for all.
PERFORMANCE SCHEDULE:
Blue Shield of California Theater at YBCA
700 Howard Street, San Francisco, CA
- Saturday, May 31, 2025 | 7:30 PM
- Sunday, June 1, 2025 | 3:00 PM
- Friday, June 6, 2025 | 7:30 PM
- Saturday, June 7, 2025 | 5:00 PM – Audio Described Performance & Haptic Tour by Gravity Access Services
Full production information available at: https://operaparallele.org/harveymilk/
TICKETS:
Available now at https://ybca.org/harveymilk. Prices range from $50 – $188. A limited number of $35 under 35 tickets available for each performance.
YBCA programs are made possible in part by Blue Shield of California, the City and County of San Francisco, The William and Flora Hewlett Foundation, Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS), San Francisco Office of Economic and Workforce Development, Bloomberg Philanthropies, Helen Frankenthaler Foundation, James R. Lilienthal Trust, California Arts Council, Yerba Buena Partnership, Meridee Moore, Beard Family Foundation, Schwab Charitable Fund, Gaia Fund, David and Carla Crane Foundation, Andrew Skillman and Lydia Choy Charitable Fund, Amy and Hannah Eliot, Maria Kim, Tides Foundation, Wayee Chu and Ethan Beard, Amanda Minami, Klau Family Fund, Peter Rigano and Cody Hicks, Harvey and Leslie Wagner Foundation, Robert and Junko Kenmotsu, The San Francisco Foundation, and YBCA Members.
For more information visit www.ybca.org.
About YBCA:
Opened to the public in 1993, Yerba Buena Center for the Arts (YBCA) was founded as the cultural anchor of San Francisco’s Yerba Buena Gardens neighborhood. Our work spans the realms of contemporary art, performance, film, civic engagement, and public life. By centering artists as essential to social and cultural movement, YBCA is reimagining the role an arts institution can play in the communities it serves. For more information, visit ybca.org.
YBCA is open Wednesday through Sunday from 11:00am to 5:00pm. General admission is $10, and $5 for students and seniors. Tickets can be purchased in person or reserved in advance at ybca.org. Admission is free every Wednesday and on the second Sunday of each month.
About Opera Parallèle:
Opera Parallèle merges tradition with innovation to re-invent opera for our modern world. Founded in 2007 by conductor Nicole Paiement, the company has been a driving force in redefining the operatic experience for modern audiences. Opera Parallèle is deeply committed to presenting works that explore relevant social and cultural themes. Its productions often challenge traditional operatic norms by incorporating multimedia elements, technology, and unconventional staging. By blending classical opera with contemporary ideas, the company has garnered a reputation for pushing artistic boundaries and fostering creativity within opera.This dedication to artistic exploration and collaboration has made Opera Parallèle a significant cultural contributor to the vibrant San Francisco arts scene. Through awards and critical acclaim, Opera Parallèle continues to be recognized for its innovation, technical excellence, and highest caliber performances. For more information, visit operaparallele.org.
About The GLBT Historical Society:
Founded in 1985, the GLBT Historical Society is a global leader in LGBTQ+ public history. The Society collects, preserves, exhibits, and makes accessible to the public materials and knowledge to support and promote understanding of LGBTQ+ history, culture, and arts in all their diversity. Through the Dr. John P. DeCecco Archives, the organization maintains one of the world’s largest archival collections of LGBTQ+ historical materials. In 2011, the Society established and continues operating the first museum of LGBTQ+ history and culture in the United States. The Society’s operations are centered at two sites: the GLBT Historical Society Museum, located in the heart of San Francisco’s Castro neighborhood, and the Dr. John P. De Cecco Archives and Research Center, open to researchers and located in the Mid-Market district. For more information, visit www.glbthistory.org.