Towards Opulence, the Opera (Presented by Skywatchers)
Eastside Cultural Center
2277 International Blvd., Oakland
February 7, 2025
There’s something strikingly powerful about witnessing art that doesn’t just entertain—it speaks to deep, lived experiences. Towards Opulence, the Opera, Presented by Skywatchers, does just that. The performance, a product of over 14 years of collaboration, brings together artists, Tenderloin residents, and musicians to weave a compelling narrative rooted in truth, struggle, and hope.
At the Eastside Cultural Center, figures dressed in purple and gold moved together as one being, reflecting a shared story. Their voices—raised in song and spoken word—spoke of lives lived with immense hardship and triumph. The performance unfolded, and a shiver ran up my spine as I realized that these weren’t actors simply performing words penned by someone else—they were telling their own stories, their own truths, raw and unfiltered.
This was a story from the heart of San Francisco’s Tenderloin, a neighborhood often written off as one of the city’s toughest. The show presented the area’s residents in a different light: not as victims, but as truth-tellers—people whose stories are often ignored or misunderstood.
The opera’s central inspiration was drawn from the Greek myth of Cassandra, the prophetess cursed by Apollo to always speak the truth, yet never to be believed. Towards Opulence placed the residents of the Tenderloin in the same position, asserting that they are “the truth-tellers of our society.” By calling themselves “Cassandras,” these artists challenge us, confronting uncomfortable truths about poverty, addiction, and marginalization.
The show contained a stunning mix of choreography, led in part by Anne Bluethenthal, and soaring vocal performances. Lead vocalist Melanie DeMore carried the songs with a commanding presence, sometimes encouraging the audience to sing along in support of the powerful tales being told. The entire ensemble became a unified force, creating an experience both communal and transformative.
The performers’ ages ranged widely, as did their personal histories. Many have lived through housing insecurity, addiction, and mental and physical struggles. Despite these challenges, they supported each other onstage with radical care and acceptance. Each performer, regardless of mobility or background, contributed to the whole, moving as one. It was an inspiring display underscoring the idea that we are all interconnected.
Towards Opulence works as an act of lifting up a community, giving voice to those often overlooked. The work isn’t easy, nor is it meant to be. It is challenging, raw, and beautiful—an exploration of what it means to struggle and to survive, and what it takes to build a better, more just future. This is the essence of what public art can do at its best.
As the night drew to a close, the performers—Shavonne Allen, Anne Bluethenthal, LaWanna Bracy, Mikayla Brown, Dot Com, Lord Frederick, Maurice Hudson, Nazelah Jamison, Dennis McCauley, Regi Meadows, Sarah Morrisette, Maya Nixon, Duane Sears, Shakiri, Sonic, Lauren Swiger, and Joel Yates—took their bow to a standing ovation. The applause wasn’t just for the performance; it was for the collective effort, for the stories shared, and for the community that came together to make it happen. The contributions of Noelle Castro, Gabriele Christian, Malia Byrne, Chibueze Crouch, Chassity Gantt, Dazié Grego Sykes, Dr. Dreame, Ajani Martin, Lotus Miller, Denise Moss, Shamilah Ivory (vocals), Rose Nylons (cello), Maya Nixon (harp), and Frances Sedayao (dance) were integral to the success of this performance.
In addition to the opera, the evening featured Opulence Portraits—a series of remarkable photo collages by Deirdre Visser. These portraits, titled with evocative names like Joel, The Eternal Elegist, captured the subjects with quiet dignity. Visser spoke about her creative process, noting that each subject was asked to describe their “most opulent self”—whether that was a superhero, a deity, or even a bear, as one subject described. The portraits weren’t just about capturing a moment; they were about honoring the subjects’ dreams of giving back to their communities.
Visser also reflected on the lasting impact that Skywatchers has had on the Tenderloin. “An enduring community project like Skywatchers can make visible the voices and experiences of Tenderloin neighbors to residents of other neighborhoods across the Bay Area, building empathy and solidarity,” she explained. “It can—and we hope it does—inform civic decision-making at City Hall. It can make Tenderloin residents visible to themselves, too.”
As the evening came to a close, I felt a sense of hope that was as much about the people of the Tenderloin as it was about the power of art to bring about change. Towards Opulence is a testament to the resilience of this community and a reminder that, in the end, we all belong to one another.
