Last week, Red Curtain Addict proudly hosted the first-ever Bay’s Stage Arts Soirée, a groundbreaking evening celebrating the creativity, talent, and diversity of San Francisco’s performing arts community.

Held at Local Edition on Thursday, March 27, the sold-out event brought together arts leaders, artists, and enthusiasts from across the Bay Area for an unforgettable evening of mini-performances, including special guest speaker, Mayor Daniel Lurie. These performances showcased some of the region's finest arts organizations, from iconic institutions to hidden gems. 

Click above to watch our official episode featuring highlights from the event! 

The event was designed to spotlight the strength and innovation of the Bay Area’s arts scene, featuring a dynamic lineup that fused classical artistry with contemporary flair. Performers from SF Opera, ODC, Festival Napa Valley, SFJAZZ, One Found Sound, and the Community Music Center all contributed to the evening’s unforgettable atmosphere. “We wanted to celebrate the renowned arts destinations while also introducing some of the region’s hidden gems,” says Kari Lincks Coomans, CEO and Co-Founder of Red Curtain Addict. “The goal was to encourage our audience to continue exploring and discovering the arts.”

Scroll below to read and see some of the highlights from the night...! 

A full photo gallery of the event can be found at the end of this article.

This evening would not have been possible without the generous support of our sponsors: Glenfiddich, Hendrick's, Alexis Bittar, Relation Insurance, Five Star Bank, TIYA, The Caviar Co., and Local Edition. Their incredible commitment to the arts ensures these experiences continue to inspire and connect us all!

As guests arrived, they were greeted with artfully crafted cocktails featuring Hendrick’s Gin and Glenfiddich, paired with gourmet bites from TIYA and decadent caviar bumps from The Caviar Co. The buzz of conversation and creative synergy filled the air as the evening’s festivities kicked off. “This has been a dream come true,” Kari shares. “I’ve been envisioning this moment for years, and with the launch of our new platform, it felt like the perfect time to bring it to life.”

Transforming the Arts Discovery Experience

The evening also marked the official introduction of Red Curtain Addict’s new technology, designed to simplify how audiences discover the arts. “We’re solving key challenges,” Kari continues. “No more toggling between websites or guessing what performances to attend. Our platform brings everything together in one place, offering personalized recommendations that keep audiences updated on their favorite organizations as well as other arts experiences that should be on their radar.” This new platform aims to make it easier than ever for people to discover, learn about, and attend arts experiences both locally and while traveling.

“Another aspect we’re incredibly proud of is the community we’ve built over the years,” says Parker Coomans, Co-Founder of Red Curtain Addict. “We’ve hosted many bespoke events, offering our community VIP experiences across all performing arts genres. But this time, we’re bringing it all together in one unforgettable evening. We’re thrilled for this inaugural event and have big plans to grow it—both in size and impact—over time!”

Performances That Captured the Spirit of the Bay Area Arts Scene

The program began with a captivating cello duet presented by Festival Napa Valley, featuring Jonah Kim, associate principal cellist of San Francisco Ballet, and Eileen Moon, former associate principal cellist of the New York Philharmonic. 

This performance was a perfect showcase of the world-class artistry featured at their summer festival and year-round concerts, all centered around their mission to make the arts accessible to all through exceptional performances and inspiring arts education programs. Sienna Peck, Executive Producer of Festival Napa Valley, also took the stage to offer a glimpse into their renowned festival and diverse year-round offerings. To learn more about their remarkable programs, click here!

Next, the San Francisco Community Music Center took the stage, presenting Mamboléo, a vibrant Latin jazz ensemble featuring rising young talent from across the Bay. These musicians regularly perform and take lessons at CMC's newly renovated facility in the Mission. 

As one of the oldest and largest community arts organizations on the West Coast, CMC is dedicated to making high-quality music accessible to all, regardless of financial means. Last year alone, they awarded nearly $3 million in tuition assistance, serving over 3,100 students of all ages, backgrounds, and income levels. You can learn more about their incredible work here!

Before intermission, ODC dancers Jenna Marie and Jaime Garcia Castilla debuted 12x12, a unique performance created exclusively for Red Curtain Addict’s Arts Soirée. The piece playfully responded to the intimacy of the stage, which was much smaller than the grand venues they typically perform in, as it took place in the underground jazz club, Local Edition.

“I’m so excited to be here tonight, experiencing all the incredible performers on stage,” said Brenda Way, Founder and Artistic Director of ODC. “It’s thrilling to perform in a space just a few blocks from our own theater that I’ve never been to before. It’s going to be a night full of exploration and surprises!” If you love contemporary ballet, make sure to check out ODC’s upcoming performances by clicking here.

Inspiring Moments and Surprises

After a lively intermission, guests eagerly returned to their seats, excited not only for the second half of the performances but also for a special announcement from Kari and Parker Coomans. They introduced a distinguished guest speaker, San Francisco Mayor Daniel Lurie. “Now this - this-this is really cool!” said Mayor Lurie. “This is what makes San Francisco so unique, so special.” Mayor Daniel Lurie shared that his daughter is currently dancing with the San Francisco Ballet and spoke about how this city is known for its arts, culture, and diversity. 

“We know we took a few steps back. We have our challenges. We know that. But I’ve always said the arts are going to lead us back. And the people in this room and the creative class is going to be what drives our recovery. We are a city on the rise!” His words were met with applause, as the room filled with excitement, hope, and a shared sense of affirmation for the future of San Francisco’s arts and culture.

Kari and Parker Coomans returned to the stage to introduce a special performance by One Found Sound, a conductorless orchestra renowned for their wildly inventive pop-classical mashups. The ensemble seamlessly blended Backstreet Boys with Beethoven, Elton John with Mahler, and a dazzling Britney Spears medley reimagined with orchestral flair. 

As this "hidden gem" of an orchestra took the spotlight, many guests were surprised to learn that they were based right here in San Francisco, with several expressing excitement to purchase tickets for their upcoming performances. “For us, this is what Red Curtain Addict is all about—connecting audiences with unexpected, unforgettable arts experiences that deserve to be discovered,” says Parker Coomans. To find out more about One Found Sound, click here!

SFJAZZ then presented local legend Mary Stallings, hailed by The New York Times as “perhaps the best jazz singer singing today.” A San Francisco native, Mary’s career took off after being discovered by Dizzy Gillespie as a teenager singing in the Fillmore. She went on to tour with the Count Basie Orchestra and share the stage with icons like Ella Fitzgerald and Tony Bennett. Mary’s performances have graced legendary venues worldwide, including Jazz at Lincoln Center and the Monterey Jazz Festival. 

When Mary began to sing, you could have heard a pin drop. The room went completely still, as everyone knew they were witnessing a legend. To find out more about SFJAZZ's summer festival (and more!), click here.

And to end the night on a high note, the finale act introduced a performance from San Francisco Opera featuring four singers from their Adler Fellowship, a program that nurtures young talent in the world of opera. The ensemble’s performance captivated the room with powerful renditions of iconic arias, including "Sempre libera" from La traviata by Verdi, "Nessun dorma" from Turandot by Puccini, Pierrot’s Tanzlied from Die tote Stadt by Korngold, and "O soave fanciulla" from La bohème by Puccini.

The beautiful sounds were met with a rousing standing ovation, marking the perfect conclusion to a remarkable evening celebrating the arts. To find out about their upcoming season, click here.

A Night to Remember

To wrap up the unforgettable evening, Kari and Parker Coomans reflected on the significance of the night. “This was more than just an event; it was a celebration of everything that makes the Bay Area’s arts scene so unique,” says Kari. “We’re incredibly proud to have brought together so many incredible artists and organizations under one roof, and we look forward to continuing to create opportunities for audiences to discover, learn about, and connect with the best of what this vibrant community has to offer.”

To find out more about Red Curtain Addict, click here. To see more photos from this special night, click here!