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About Just out. (Portland, OR) 1983-2013 | View Entire Issue (Dec. 16, 1994)
ju s t o u t ▼ d a c e m t x r 1 0 , 1 0 0 4 T 3 1 B ay A ria The life o f San Francisco City Supervisor Harvey Milk becomes material for a new opera ▼ by Jann Gilbert ouston Grand Opera, Ne w Y ork City African Americans, the Latina/o community, se Opera and San Francisco Opera nior citizens, women, and labor unions. have joined forces to commission Dan White was the "all-American boy,” with and produce a ground-breaking new a strong belief in patriotism. As a Vietnam vet opera. The work, by composer eran, a policeman, a fireman, and eventually a city Stewart Wallace and librettist Michael supervisor. Korie, is White saw himself as a protector of titled, simply, Harvey Milk, its subject is the life home, family, church and children. On Nov. 27, of the murdered San Francisco City Supervisor, 1978, Dan White put a gun in his pocket and the city’s First openly gay elected official. crawled into San Francisco City Hall through a basement window. He then murdered fellow Su pervisor Harvey Milk and Mayor George Moscone. ‘T o be involved in the birth of any opera is incredibly exciting,” said Lotfi Mansouri, San The opera will have its world premiere Jan. 2, Francisco Opera’s general director. “(F]or San 1995, at Houston Grand Opera’s Brown Theater. Francisco Opera to be involved in the creation of In April 1995 the opera will travel east for perfor an opera depicting the life of Harvey Milk is mances at the New York City Opera, and in especially so, because Harvey was historically November 1996 it will open in San Francisco. significant in the community that has so loyally Performances are also scheduled at the Opera of supported San Francisco Opera for many years. Bielefeld, Germany, in September 1995. Like opera itself, Harvey was colorful, passionate Harvey Milk grew up in Long Island. He was and larger than life.” H PHOTO BY STEVE J SHERMAN M ilk’s background as a Jew and a gay man gave him insight into the complaints of other marginalized communities. As the mayor of Castro Street and as a city supervisor, Milk was successful in building alliances with Asian Americans, African Americans, the Latina/o community, senior citizens, women, and labor unions. Stewart Wallace (left) and Michael Korie a young boy when the Allies liberated the concen tration camps at the end of World War II. Like many Jews of his generation, he saw that remain ing silent was no longer an option. It was here that his moral outrage and courage began to develop. For a time. Milk led a conventional life, be coming a closeted Wall Street businessman. He moved in the early ’70s to San Francisco’s Castro Street, one of a handful of "gay meccas” in the world. It was here that Milk became politicized, developed into a street activist, and earned the unofficial title of “mayor of Castro Street.” After seeking office several times, he was elected to the position of city supervisor. Milk’s background as a Jew and a gay man gave him insight into the complaints of other marginalized communities. As the mayor of Castro Street and as a city supervisor, Milk was success ful in building alliances with Asian Americans, Stewart Wallace and Michael Korie have col laborated before. They created Where’s Dick?— an opera inspired by comic strips, detective fic tion, film noir and vaudeville— which premiered at Houston Grand Opera in 1989. Later that same year, another collaborative effort, Kabbalah, pre miered at Dance Theater Workshop in New York. Based on Jewish mysticism, that opera has texts in Aramaic, Hebrew, German and Medieval Span ish. Harvey Milk, an opera in three acts—"The Closet,” describing Milk’s life prior to his move to San Francisco, "The Castro,” which describes his progressively more powerful position in the area’s political scene, and “City Hall”—will star Robert Orth as Milk in the Houston and New York performances. Much of the casting is still in progress. Antiques & Collectibles • Great Holiday Gifts! Roseville • Weller • Van Briggle • Rookwood Pottery Collectible cookie jars Exquisite A ustrian Crystal Prisms • Sun Catchers • Jewelry Tree Ornaments • Crystal Balls Crystal Pyramids • Crystal Figurines Great stocking stuffers under $10 3719 SE Hawthorne Blvd 234-7230 Holiday Shopping Hours: Mon-Sat 10:30am-9pm Sun noon-8pm I ' O H T I A N P A REA ,'.V. g Y - B l 'S I M t S S t t s u c u m i v n