Photos by Stefan Cohen
The San Francisco Gay Men’s Chorus presented Totally 80s at the Curran Theatre on March 21, 2026, featuring iconic hits from that era by Madonna, Whitney Houston, Queen, Cyndi Lauper, Heart, Journey, Tina Turner, the Pet Shop Boys, The Pointer Sisters, The Weather Girls, and more. Led by Artistic Director Jake Stensberg, the chorus delivered a high-energy, nostalgic, and often emotional show. As the chorus later posted, “There wasn’t a dry eye in the house during ‘Like a Prayer’ at Totally 80s last weekend. A reflection, a release, a reminder of what it meant to live, love, and hold onto each other in a time that asked so much of this community.”
Christopher Verdugo
Vintage cartoons, such as Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and Inspector Gadget, added to the 80s vibe, as did shared memories from chorus members who are Millennials or who otherwise remember that era of MTV pop culture, big hair, the emergence of home computing, and much more.
The nostalgia really hit home, as even upbeat songs like Houston’s “I Wanna Dance With Somebody (Who Loves Me),” which were performed with multiple dancers, got some tears flowing. Audience members shared that the song reminded them of artists like Houston who are no longer with us, romances from the past, and also that the performances brought out tears of heartfelt joy.
Jacob Stensberg
The chorus will next perform Dolly! A Pride Show on June 6 at the Green Music Center at Sonoma State University and on June 13 at the Curran Theatre. https://www.sfgmc.org/
San Francisco Gay Men’s Chorus
Published on April 9, 2026