By Cicero A. Estrella
San Francisco Pride 2021 just hit a home run.
As part of its month-long celebration in June, SF Pride will screen the much-anticipated film adaptation of Lin-Manuel Miranda’s Tony Award-winning musical In the Heights at Oracle Park, the home of the San Francisco Giants.
The June 11 screening of the Jon M. Chu’s film will serve as the first night of the inaugural Pride Movie Nights at Oracle Park. A second, yet-to-be named movie will be shown the following evening.
SF Pride is teaming up with Giants Enterprises, the City and County of San Francisco and Frameline—the nonprofit behind the Frameline45 San Francisco International LGBTQ+ Film Festival—to present the two-night event.
“I can’t think of a better way to kick off Frameline45 than with an in-person screening of Jon M. Chu’s highly anticipated film of In the Heights, a film that celebrates the spirit of community,” said James Woolley, executive director of Frameline.
Said Fred Lopez, executive director of SF Pride: “Our theme this year is ‘All in This Together,’ and after 15 months of distance and separation, we’re finally able to come together as a community. We’re optimistic that current trends will continue, so by June we’ll get to see and hear our friends and allies at Oracle Park cheering, laughing and simply being together.”
“In the Heights” will be released on the same day as the June 11 screening. Among its stars are Anthony Ramos, Corey Hawkins, Leslie Grace, Melissa Barrera and Olga Merediz. Hamilton creator Miranda co-produced the film and wrote the music and lyrics.
Bay Area native Chu, who is best known for Crazy Rich Asians, is the director.
“It’s such an honor to be able to share this film with the city that I grew up in,” he said. “In the Heights reflects the same sense of community, pride and joy that this event represents. I hope that this film will inspire others as Frameline and SF Pride have continued to do in this next chapter of returning to see each other again.”
The socially-distanced screenings will be subject to state-mandated capacity limits, and guests will be required to wear masks. Pre-movie festivities will take place each evening at 6:30 p.m. with a lineup of in-person and virtual appearances, along with SF Pride 2021’s community grand marshals. The movie screenings begin at 8 p. m.
Tickets range from $24.99 (General Admission) to $44.99 (Club Level Experience). The On-Field Experience package is priced at $2,499.96 and includes tickets for up to 12 guests, who will be provided “pod” seating in the outfield.
For more information, visit frameline.org/pridemovienight.
Photos: Courtesy of Warner Bros.
