Pardon Me, Boys!

"On October 29th and 30th at the Starr King Salon at First Unitarian Center, San Francisco Gay Men’s Chorus presents its 9th annual Cabaret, Pardon Me, Boys, which this year showcases timeless torch songs of the 1930s and 1940s.

'War was in the air, but so was love,' says Artistic Director, Dr. Kathleen McGuire. 'The songs of the era speak of love dreamy, love doubted, love sudden, and love spurned. These classic melodies are reinvented and seem ‘queerly’ through the eyes of some of our finest vocalists.'

Directed by Carl Pantle, the program features soloists, from the Chorus performing sensuous, seductive, sentimental and sassy selections made famous by the likes of Gershwin, Nat King Cole, Cole Porter and featured in movies like Casablanca. In keeping with the period, there will be a special 40s costume contest for audience members with some vintage chic in their closets. 'Think Bakelite jewelry, small hats and the infamous de-mob suit,' quipped McGuire.

Topping the bill, as emcee, is rising Bay Area Cabaret starlet, Carly Ozard, whose 2008 debut, Bitter and be Gay, was quickly followed by her winning title of “Best New Cabaret Performer, 2009,” which in turn led to her critically acclaimed production, “Bewitched, Bothered and Bipolar.” Known as “the Kathy Griffin of Cabaret,” Carly says: “It’s been a dream of mine to perform with the men of the Chorus and it’s such a thrill to be singing with them in a concert that features the greats from the era of classic cabaret.” Carly’s latest show, Somebody to Love, a tribute to Freddie Mercury, debuts at the Razz Room this weekend.

Pardon Me, Boys, is presented in the Starr King Salon at First Unitarian Center where guests, seated at their own private tables, can relax with a beverage and enjoy an intimate evening of performance, including authentic swing dancing by the Queer Jitterbugs. The program includes “Ain’t Misbehavin,” “As Time Goes By,” “Smoke Get’s In Your Eyes,” and “a very special ‘Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy’ as only a trio of Chorus boys can deliver,” says McGuire.

Tickets start at $15 and are available from the Community Box Office at the LGBT Community Center, by phone at (415) 865-2787 or on-line at www.sfgmc.org. A special $10 ticket is available for “unwaged” supporters e.g., students. Showtime is 8 p.m., with a special 5 p.m., matinee performance on 10.30.10 benefitting Larkin Street Youth Services."