Famed SF nightclub announces reopening date after multi-million dollar donation
On the night of the San Francisco premiere of his highly anticipated new movie "Lady Champagne," drag icon D'Arcy Drollinger had some other exciting news to share for the crowds at the Castro Theatre: The reopening of his popular bar and nightclub Oasis is just within reach after undergoing a major transformation.
The club originally opened on New Year's Eve in 2014 and was co-founded by Drollinger and the late drag legend Heklina. News of its closure last July devastated fans; at the time, Drollinger said its razor-thin margins made it too difficult to keep going after he had already dipped into his savings and drained his retirement account to keep the club afloat.
It was saved at the 11th hour on Christmas Eve after its nonprofit arm, Oasis Arts, received a multimillion-dollar donation from Bay Area philanthropists Mark and Mary Stevens. (Mark Stevens is a venture capitalist who worked for Sequoia Capital and is a part owner of the Golden State Warriors.) The couple's son, Sky, has been a regular at Oasis, calling it "a cultural institution that has provided me, and countless others, immense joy."
Now, the club is preparing to reopen its doors on July 17 with a weeklong celebration of shows titled "The Grand Reveal." Programming has yet to be announced, but Drollinger teased in a recent interview with SFGATE that he'd love to see "DISASTROUS!" welcome patrons back to the venue - the third entry in his trilogy of 1970s exploitation movie-inspired shows starring his alter ego, Champagne White.
"It is an absolute privilege and delight to welcome our artists, patrons, and community back home to Oasis," Drollinger said. "They are the reason Oasis became this glittering, joy-soaked piece of San Francisco magic. As this city keeps reinventing itself, Oasis stands as proof that a thriving, creative LGBTQ+ arts scene isn't just nice to have, it's essential to this city's soul."
Initial details on the club's redesign were limited, with the news release noting it will "enhance both the audience and artist experience while preserving the venue's signature atmosphere and fierce energy." However, visitors of the club built out of an 8,000-square-foot converted gay bathhouse can expect "an even more immersive experience designed to surprise and delight audiences," which is enough to send the imaginations of any previous attendees of "The Rocky Horror Show" or "Jurassic Parq" running wild. Sneak peeks will be featured on its social media in the coming days.
Over the past decade, Oasis has been at the heart of SF's queer nightlife scene, welcoming the likes of actress Jane Fonda, Cher and Lil Nas X as weekly parties like "Princess" and "Reparations" hosted a rotating cast of "RuPaul's Drag Race" royalty and local drag favorites.
"Through this transformation, the heart and spirit of Oasis remain exactly what artists and audiences have always loved - joyful, innovative, sexy ... and unapologetically San Francisco," the executive director of Oasis Arts, Greg Sottolano, said in the news release. "Our re-opening is a reminder that the San Francisco Bay Area has always been, and will always be, an essential home, and source of inspiration, for the queer community."
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