67 years ago, openly gay civil rights activist Bayard Rustin was arrested on a discriminatory, anti-gay “lewd conduct” charge for having consensual sex with two white men in a parked car in Pasadena.
“The Man Behind the Dream” premiered in 2018 by six LGBTQ+ choruses across the country. This multi-movement piece, with music by Steve Milloy and lyrics by Vanessa German, honors the life and work of Rustin.
A mentor to Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and organizer of the 1963 March on Washington, Rustin was pushed to the margins of the movement due to his sexuality.
For the Inland Empire premiere, the South Coast Chorale will be joined by the Raincross Master Chorale, the Riverside Resistance Revival Chorus and the UCR Chamber Singers, accompanied by a live band and video projection. The concert will also include a performance by the DC6 singers of Los Angeles.
More information about SCC and the Bayard Rustin performance can be found at sccsingers.com. Tickets can be purchased at riversidelive.com. Use code MBD10 at checkout will save $10 per ticket.
