New year, new company members! Starting today, Dear San Francisco: A High-Flying Love Story—the intimate and immersive resident production from The 7 Fingers—welcomes three new company members to the production. Soaring their way into the production are San Francisco Bay Area natives Dominic Cruz and Maya Kesselman, as well as Shengnan Pan, partner of current company member Enmeng Song. Original company members Isabella Diaz, Melvin Diggs, Ruben Ingwersen, Jérémi Levesque, Natasha Patterson, and Enmeng Song remain with the production.
Dear San Francisco was created by San Francisco Bay Area natives and The 7 Fingers co-founders Shana Carroll and Gypsy Snider, and pays homage to the stunning beauty, storied characters, and astounding resilience of the City by the Bay. Powered by exhilarating acrobatics, choreography, spoken word, video projections, shadow play, and original music, Dear San Francisco invites locals and visitors alike on a heart-stopping romp through both the essence and the myth that has San Francisco indelibly etched on our collective imagination. From the 1906 earthquake and Summer of Love to beat poetry and the mysterious fog, San Francisco comes vividly to life through a series of tableaus (acts), including hoop diving, Chinese pole, Korean plank, hand-balancing, juggling, and “hand-to-trap” (a form first created by Shana Carroll), performed by an international cast of world-class acrobats. The production earned the highest rating from the San Francisco Chronicle and has been hailed as a “living, breathing love letter” (TheaterDogs), “breathtaking” (San Francisco Examiner), and “a stunner” (Hoodline).
Food and beverage options for performances include a curated menu of cicchetti (small bites and plates) sourced from local purveyors, plus a selection of wines and beers that complement the club’s Italian roots. Food and beverage service will be available at every seat in the venue and the unique design of the Club’s seating will allow for patrons to arrive early, socialize with groups, and mingle with the performers following the show.
The creative team for Dear San Francisco includes Gypsy Snider (Artistic Director), Shana Carroll (Artistic Director), Alexander V. Nichols (Production Designer), Colin Gagne (Composer), Jake Rodriguez (Sound Designer), and Keiko Shimosato Carreiro (Costume Designer).
The Club Fugazi Experiences team includes David Dower (Co-Producer and Executive Director), Eric Eislund (Co-Producer and General Manager), and Deborah Barrera (Co-Producer). Nassib El-Husseini, CEO of The 7 Fingers, serves as Executive Producer.
Proof of vaccination with valid ID is required for guests age 12 and up for performances through January 31, 2022, as it has been all along. Effective February 1, 2022 and until further notice, Club Fugazi will require proof of full vaccination with valid ID upon entry for every person, regardless of age. “Full vaccination” means boosters for every eligible person. For children ages 5–12 who are not yet eligible for a booster, or people who are within six months of completing their first doses, evidence of two doses is required. Acceptable forms of proof include your physical vaccination card, a photo of your vaccination card, or a digital vaccination record. (California residents can request a digital vaccination record at myvaccinerecord.cdph.ca.gov/). Masks will be required for all patrons, including children, at all times when not actively eating or drinking. To view the full COVID policy, visit clubfugazisf.com/health-safety-protocols.
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ABOUT THE 7 FINGERS
Since its inception in 2002, the Montreal-based The 7 Fingers has become one of the world’s leading contemporary circus troupes and has been seen by over seven million people in 672 cities in 54 different countries. Known for redefining circus by stripping down the spectacle to its thrilling essence, the collective has expanded from its own signature touring shows to creating theatrical experiences as varied as the artistic directors themselves—original productions ranging from intimate one-person shows to large-scale arena performances, Broadway musicals, and artistic collaborations with renowned international artists and companies. The 7 Fingers have developed performances for a wide range of high-profile projects, including The Royal Variety Performance for the Queen of England, ceremonies for the Sochi, Vancouver, and Turin Olympics, the National Circus School end-of-year show, and much more.
ABOUT CLUB FUGAZI
Located in the heart of San Francisco’s North Beach district, Club Fugazi—built in 1913—has a long and storied arts history. Under the ownership and management of the Italian Community Services, the venue served as the location for jazz pianist Thelonious Monk to record his acclaimed solo album, “Thelonious Alone in San Francisco” (1959). Throughout the 1950s and early 1960s, the venue held readings for Beat poets, including the legendary Lawrence Ferlinghetti, Jack Kerouac, and Alan Ginsberg. In 1967, the Grateful Dead held a release party at Club Fugazi for their first album. The venue became home to Steve Silver’s Beach Blanket Babylon, the world’s longest-running musical revue, in 1975 where it remained for 45 years. The production played for more than 17,200 performances and to over 6.5 million guests, taking its final bow in 2019. Club Fugazi Experiences will further build on the venue’s artistic legacy. The world premiere of The 7 Fingers’ Dear San Francisco: A High-Flying Love Story took place on October 12, 2021 to rave reviews from audiences and critics alike.
