Looking back…

Season 22 (2022-2023): MenAlive opened its 15th Season under the direction of new, world-renowned Artistic Director Steve Milloy, with some good old-fashioned holiday spirit. “Merry & Bright: Tinsletown” was a fun-filled performance featuring music old and new made popular through Hollywood holiday films and television spectaculars. Rhinestone Cowboys: Boots, Hats & Sass” had the audience put on their best boots and grab that hat, because MenAlive was ready to ride. This all-country show had us tapping our toes, itching to dance in the aisles, and featured old favorites and the latest works from country artists representing the entire country music rainbow! We ended the season enjoying some of our all-time favorite show-stopping classics! Whether it’s Broadway or the West End, there’s something magical about seeing a show come to life right in front of you. “Big Gay Broadway” brought these theatre favorites to life!

Season 21 (2021-2022):

Season 20 (2020-2021):

Season 19 (2019-2020): Season 19 started with the return of our annual holiday tradition “Merry & Bright: Sounds of Joy” offering a celebration of the holiday seasons. In the beginning of 2020, everything in our world shifted and our scheduled concerts “Unbreakable” and “The Evil Queen Diaries” were cancelled and our live, in person concert performances were on hold. The pandemic impacted everyone but we knew that our mission was solid and that the show must go on! With that, MenAlive presented MenAlive Live! Our Online Variety Show, featuring some of our favorite MenAlive members performing from the safety of our own homes. You can still visit our Facebook page and YouTube channel to rewatch our variety shows originally broadcast on May 9, 2020 & June 27, 2020.

Season 18 (2018-2019): Season 18 started with our holiday concert “Merry" & Bright” which was the start of MenAlive’s new holiday tradition of musical offerings to celebrate the holiday seasons. Then we invited you to come along and MOVE with MenAlive on an empowering musical journey through life’s motions… like those times when we need to grow stronger and move forward… those times when we need to dance and show off our moves… and, finally, those times when we need to rise up and join the movement! The concert featured music by Queen, Kelly Clarkson, Coldplay, and Melissa Etheridge, plus songs from "The Greatest Showman" and more. For our summer concert, The Boyz are back in town as MenAlive brought you wall-to-wall hits from your favorite guy groups! Featuring popular chart-toppers from The Jackson 5, New Kids on the Block, the Backstreet Boys, N*SYNC, One Direction, plus many more. BOY BANDZ was a dreamy, swoon-worthy show that had all “the right stuff!”

Season 17 (2017-2018): We started with a merry adventure as Orphan Jack set off on Christmas Eve to find his father in “Santa & Son”! Your Christmas Wishes came true as MenAlive took patrons on a magical, musical journey through a Winter Wonderland of song and dance as Jack learned the true meaning of Love, Family and Home. In the spring we took you from La La Land to the City by the Bay and from the sun-drenched Surf City to the snow-capped Sierra Nevadas! In “Greetings From California” MenAlive celebrated the beauty and excitement of the Golden State as only we can! No other place on Earth has inspired more fabulous song than this land we call Home! To wrap up the season in an evening of exciting and inspirational song, MenAlive explored the transformative figures of our age and what it takes to be “Heroes”! With laughter and tears, hope, courage and possibility! And with a special performance of Andrew Lippa’s masterwork “I Am Harvey Milk”!

Season 16 (2016-2017): Come away with MenAlive as we kicked off our 16th Season with a fabulous trip through the music of the holidays! We jingle bell rocked your night away and kicked off the Christmas season with songs merry and bright (and maybe just a little bit naughty)! In the spring, the men of MenAlive brought you an evening of fun and exciting music — with a cool, jazzy edge. For the first time, MenAlive collaborated with the very talented musicians of SwingSet of Laguna on rousing new arrangements of Gershwin and Porter, plus reworked pop hits from Lady Gaga, Meghan Trainor, and even Taylor Swift! For the summer concert, you were granted an audience with our Kings and Queens! Thrilled to the music of Elvis, Madonna, Bowie, Mariah and the entire royal house! Kneel and be (Gladys) Knighted as MenAlive presented their tribute to the true greats of music. You heard from the King of Pop Michael Jackson, the Queen of Soul Aretha Franklin, Carole King, Nat “King” Cole and Queen B(eyonce)! and, of course, a special tribute to Prince!

Season 15 (2015-2016): MenAlive opened its 15th Season by performing selections from “Elton John - The One” at the Hollywood Bowl. In December, Bob Gunn, along with MenAlive’s Creative Manager, Robb Neale and the MenAlive Chorus presented “It’s a Wonderful Christmas, Carol!” A mashup of “It’s A Wonderful Life” and “A Christmas Carol”. For the spring concert, we felt it was time to share our own personal stories of struggle, triumph and love with our audience in a concert titled “We Are Family”. MenAlive was fortunate to be invited to share selections from this concert at several Outreach events around Orange County that included performances at Church of the Foothills in Tustin, Irvine United Congregational Church and at the opening ceremonies for the 30th Anniversary OC AIDS Walk at William Mason Regional Park in Irvine. We ended our 15th Season returning to the Great White Way, Broadway in “B’Way@15”. Where MenAlive highlighted the latest music from Broadway Musicals such as “Hamilton”, “The Book of Mormon” and “Kinky Boots”, just to name a few

Season 14 (2014-2015): Incoming Artistic Director, Bob Gunn, kicked off the season with “Jolly Holly Follies” - an old-fashioned holiday variety show – an affectionate update of the holidays we all love and remember – and a rockin’ holiday bash! In the spring, the music of Aretha, Beyoncé, Cher, Katy, Lady Gaga and, of course, Madonna rocked our stage as we paid tribute to the fabulous females who have rocked our world and had our backs for the last half century. “She Got the Beat - Dedicated to the Ones We Love.” And, finally our summer show followed the Yellow Brick Road for a raucous and rollicking show highlighting the music music of our very own diva, “Elton John – The One”. We all felt the love as we celebrated his multi-faceted and glittering career.

Season 13 (2013-2014): Our holiday show, “A Snowy White Christmas” brought cheer to a small cottage deep in the snowy woods with music from the first full-length animated movie. Snow White’s score was so popular it became the first movie to release a soundtrack album. Spring’s “The Beatles” provided a wealth of gems from their vast and varied songbook. MenAlive brought the Fab Four’s legacy to life with 28 gems in a groovy evening of guitars, gurus, mop-tops and toe-tapping joy. Summer brought “Top of the Charts,” a mash up of blockbuster pop hits from the 60s, 70s and 80s with mega hits from Motown, Queen, Michael Jackson, Abba, Tina Turner and more. A fitting finale as our founding Artistic Director stepped down from the podium after starting and leading MenAlive through 13 seasons of great growth and great joy. We are forever indebted to Rich Cook for having the courage and vision to start MenAlive in conservative Orange County. In the process, he provided a home for and built a family of more than 400 hundred gay men in Southern California. Bravo, maestro!

Season 11 (2011-2012): In December, we hosted the Riverside City College Marching Tigers under the direction of Gary Loche at The Wonderful Worlds of Christmas. The audience cheered as the band members played and marched down the aisles to join the chorus onstage for The March of the Toy Soldiers. Our toy drive benefitted Giving Children Hope. This was followed by Candlelight Vespers, a free concert for the community, on December 23 at Newport Harbor Lutheran Church. A love offering benefitted The Trevor Project. 

Academy Affair 2012 was held at the glamorous Grand Ballroom of the Balboa Bay Club and Resort. Honorees at this event were Pearl Jemison-Smith and Robin Voss. Our Spring show, Pop Goes the Opera, was a hit with the audience. In May, we were invited to perform at AIDS Walk in California Adventure, Disneyland. In addition, MenAlive walkers raised money to help fight AIDS/HIV. July found the entire chorus of 130 singers in Denver for the Ninth GALA Festival. Among almost 200 gay and lesbian choruses, MenAlive’s performance of Von Trapped! was an outstanding hit. Barely a week later, the show was performed at our home, the Irvine Barclay Theatre to sell-out crowds.

Season 10 (2010-2011): To kick off the Tenth Anniversary season, a founders/members reception was held at the Anaheim White House in October. The event was underwritten by a generous donor who wishes to remain anonymous. 

The season shows opened with Desperately Seeking Santa at the Irvine Barclay Theatre. Our first toy drive was a huge success. This year, the number of season subscribers exceeded 800. Inspiration Vespers was held at St. George’s Episcopal Church in January. Our second annual gala fund raiser, Academy Affair 2011 was held in February at The Westin South Coast Plaza where we honored John Chaing, Dr. Max Schneider and Ron Smelt, and Lieutenant Dan Choi with Bridge Awards. April found audience members dancing in the aisles to ABBAQueen. Our spring audience donated generously to the Japan Relief Fund following the devastating earthquake and tsunami.

In May we collaborated with Orange County Equality Coalition to hold a Harvey Milk Day celebration in downtown Santa Ana. Our tenth anniversary show in July, Greasy Hairspray with guest star Nikki Blonsky, played to three sold-out houses. A Latino outreach, Fiesta Abriendo Caminos, was held at Yost Theater in Santa Ana. 

Season 9 (2009-2010): MenAlive ushered in the holiday season in December 2009 with Laughing All the Way.  In February MenAlive had a gala fundraiser at the Anaheim White House Restaurant, Academy Affair.  This was followed by Fever of Love in March.  May found MenAlive presenting “Masterpiece Matinee” entitled Songs of Hope and co-hosting the First Annual Orange County Harvey Milk Day Celebration.  A highlight of the season was MenAlive opening Abba Fest at the Hollywood Bowl before an audience of 17,000.  The season ended on a high note with Comedy Tonight, featuring music from films, TV and Broadway and guest-starring Leslie Jordan.

Season 8 (2008-2009):  During the eighth season, MenAlive added a new bonus show to its annual show schedule: the classically-driven Masterpiece Matinee. The season concluded in July 2009 with Wicked to Oz, the fastest selling show in the chorus’ history.  Celebrating the magical Land of Oz, the concert featured the great songs from the beloved classic The Wizard of Oz, the enduring The Wiz, and the Broadway smash hit Wicked.  The show performed to sold-out, SRO audiences.

Season 7 (2007-2008): MenAlive began its 7th Season with a very special cabaret show in October 2007, with special guest Sam Harris.  This was followed by three performances of the holiday show, Holly, Jolly Hollywood at the very beginning of December. 

Season 6 (2006-2007): Entering its sixth season, membership in MenAlive topped 100 singers for the first time, and season subscribers exceeded 700 patrons.  In December 2006, MenAlive presented its holiday concert at the newly opened Renee and Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall at the Orange County Performing Arts Center, the first gay-identified organization to perform in the new venue.

Season 5 (2005-2006): In the fall of 2005, MenAlive performed with Debbie Reynolds and Ruta Lee at the star-studded Thalians' 50th Anniversary Ball in West Los Angeles. With the purpose of raising funds and awareness for mental illness, the Thalian Gala Affair drew more than 800 attendees including a long list of noted celebrities. In December 2005, MenAlive performed two sold-out performances of its holiday show at the Irvine Barclay Theater. And in July 2006 the Chorus closed its season with its 5th Anniversary Celebration concert, its first ever all-Broadway show, with special guest noted Broadway and Cabaret singer Michael Feinstein. 

Season 3 (2003-2004): In the spring of 2004, in the middle of its third season, MenAlive was presented at the Pacific Chorale Invitational Choral Festival at the Orange County Performing Arts Center where they performed with the Pacific Chorale and other distinguished choruses. This was a wonderful accomplishment for such a young chorus less than three years old at the time. To close its third season in early July 2004, the Chorus performed before near-capacity audiences at the beautiful Irvine Barclay Theatre. And a week later, MenAlive traveled to Montreal to perform at the Gay and Lesbian Association of Chorus' 7th International Choral Festival, an event that attracted nearly 200 choruses and 6000 people from around the world.

Season 2 (2002-2003): During the second season, Chorus membership continued to grow, reaching more than 70 members. By the end of the season, in the summer of 2003, MenAlive made the leap from holding its concerts in church venues and presented its summer concert at the South Coast Repertory Theater.

Stay tuned for even more accomplishments as MenAlive continues to grow due to the enthusiastic support of audience members like you. Thank you!