Bayview Opera House

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Bayview Opera House We are the performing arts and cultural center of Bayview.

As San Francisco's oldest community theater, we take pride in our deep history of celebrating Black arts and creating a sense of belonging in the Bayview and surrounding neighborhoods. The building is San Francisco’s Landmark #8, and it was inducted into the National Register of Historic Buildings in 2011. Our namesake, Ruth Williams, was a staunch activist who fought for housing and employment opportunities while also being a playwright who established a theater company and produced plays at the Opera House. The Opera House anchors the Bayview Hunters Point community by acting as a beacon even for community members who have been displaced and no longer live in the neighborhood, providing a central location where the community comes together to enjoy culturally relevant art exhibits and performances, community festivals, and local artists get their first opportunities to perform. Our core programming includes technical skills training, artists in residence, and grants for artists to showcase, celebrate, and acknowledge Black art. Over the past three years, we've hosted over 150 events, productions, and/or rentals for over 12,000 residents and guests.

10/22/2026

🎸🔥 The Jazz Thug takes center stage this Saturday at The Ruth!

After bringing together some of the Bay Area’s most exciting musicians, Giulio Xavier Cetto steps into the spotlight with his own original music for Bayview Sessions #3!

Known for his fearless approach to jazz, funk, hip-hop, and improvisation, Giulio brings a sound rooted in deep grooves, musical exploration, and the unexpected.

This Saturday, Giulio Cetto & Friends invite you into their creative world for an evening of original compositions, spontaneous collaboration, and a community jam where fellow musicians are encouraged to bring their instruments and join the conversation!

🎶 BAYVIEW SESSIONS #3
📅 Saturday, October 24
📍 Ruth Williams Bayview Opera House
4705 3rd Street, San Francisco

Come listen, bring your instrument, or jump into the jam! 🎶

Special thanks to our sponsors and supporters: San Francisco Human Rights Commission (HRC), San Francisco Arts Commission (SFAC), La Fauna Music, and San Francisco Community Challenge Grants Program for helping keep live music and creative expression thriving in Bayview Hunters Point.

LiveJazz BayviewHuntersPoint TheRuth

10/21/2026

This Saturday Giulio Cetto 𝕲𝖎𝖚𝖑𝖎𝖔 𝖃. is debuting his original material at The Ruth. Giulio is one of those musicians that seem to be everywhere at once. Whether it be with his own band Big Trippin, or with internationally acclaimed jazz drummer Kassa Overall, he gets around.

That is why we are honored to host the debut of Giulio's new project where he is playing his own music reflecting his own unique perspective. Make sure you don't miss this one!

Saturday October 24th 7pm - Bayview Sessions #3

🥁 Introducing BA-BA-BA BATUKI! 🎶Based in San Francisco, Batuki blends Brazilian percussion, dance, electronic instrument...
10/21/2026

🥁 Introducing BA-BA-BA BATUKI! 🎶

Based in San Francisco, Batuki blends Brazilian percussion, dance, electronic instruments, and vocals with Afro-Caribbean, Hip Hop, Funk, and Latin influences!

Born during the pandemic through outdoor rehearsals and free performances, Batuki brings people together through the universal language of rhythm.

🌍 Building Community Through Rhythm

Music connects cultures, generations, and communities. Batuki celebrates that connection through accessible arts education and performance!

🥁 FREE DRUMMING CLASSES
📅 Tuesdays | 7–9 PM
📍 Ruth Williams Bayview Opera House

All ages and experience levels welcome! Bring yourself, your curiosity, and your love of rhythm.

🎶 MEET THE TEAM

🥁 Pedro Gomez – Founder and Artistic & Music Co-Director. Master percussionist and educator with 30+ years of experience building community through music.

🥁 Anttwan Stanberry – Artistic & Music Co-Director, youth educator, drummer, and dancer whose journey began with Loco Bloco.

💃 Daniela Garcia – SF-born Latina dance educator empowering youth through Afro-Brazilian, Samba, and Hip Hop traditions.

🎶 Octavio Gutierrez – Multi-instrumentalist, dancer, educator, and the Ruth’s versatile “Swiss Army Knife”!

🔥 SAVE THE DATE! ZUMBI FESTIVAL
📅 Sunday, November 8, 2026
⏰ 3–8 PM
📍 Ruth Williams Bayview Opera House
4705 3rd St., San Francisco

Come celebrate culture, community, and the power of rhythm! 🧡

Introducing BA-BA-BA BATUKI! Based in San Francisco, Batuki blends Brazilian percussion, dance, electronic instruments, ...
10/20/2026

Introducing BA-BA-BA BATUKI!

Based in San Francisco, Batuki blends Brazilian percussion, dance, electronic instruments, and vocals with Afro-Caribbean, Hip Hop, Funk, and Latin influences!

Born during the pandemic through outdoor rehearsals and free performances, Batuki brings people together through the universal language of rhythm.

🌍 Building Community Through Rhythm

Music connects cultures, generations, and communities. Batuki celebrates that connection through accessible arts education and performance!

🥁 FREE DRUMMING CLASSES
📅 Tuesdays | 7–9 PM
📍 Ruth Williams Bayview Opera House

All ages and experience levels welcome! Bring yourself, your curiosity, and your love of rhythm.

🎶 MEET THE TEAM

🥁 Pedro Gomez – Founder and Artistic & Music Co-Director. Master percussionist and educator with 30+ years of experience building community through music.

🥁 Anttwan Stanberry – Artistic & Music Co-Director, youth educator, drummer, and dancer whose journey began with Loco Bloco.

💃 Daniela Garcia – SF-born Latina dance educator empowering youth through Afro-Brazilian, Samba, and Hip Hop traditions.

🎶 Octavio Gutierrez – Multi-instrumentalist, dancer, educator, and the Ruth’s versatile “Swiss Army Knife”!

🔥 SAVE THE DATE! ZUMBI FESTIVAL
📅 Sunday, November 8, 2026
⏰ 3–8 PM
📍 Ruth Williams Bayview Opera House
4705 3rd St., San Francisco

Come celebrate culture, community, and the power of rhythm! 🧡

🌎❤️ As we close out Latino Heritage Month, the celebration of our cultures, histories, and communities continues!We’re f...
10/19/2026

🌎❤️ As we close out Latino Heritage Month, the celebration of our cultures, histories, and communities continues!

We’re filled with gratitude as we reflect on another incredible AFRO LATINX Festival, celebrating five years of bringing together the music, art, and traditions that connect Africa, Latin America, the Caribbean, and the African diaspora right here in Bayview Hunters Point.

A heartfelt thank you to all the incredible performing and visual artists, our community partners, TATO san francisco, and everyone who came out to celebrate with us! Your creativity, generosity, and participation are what make this gathering so special.

We’re also deeply grateful to our sponsors and supporters: Creative West, the National Endowment for the Arts, Kenneth Rainin Foundation, San Francisco Community Challenge Grants Program, San Francisco Arts Commission, San Francisco Office of Economic and Workforce Development, Zellerbach Family Foundation, and San Francisco Human Rights Commission. Your support makes celebrations like this possible!

🎨 The celebration isn’t over just yet! Our AFRO LATINX art exhibition remains on display at the Ruth Williams Bayview Opera House through November 3. Stop by, explore the work of our talented local artists, and consider purchasing a painting to support their creative journeys.

While Latino Heritage Month comes to a close, our commitment to celebrating cultural diversity, uplifting artists, and building connections across communities continues year-round.

Thank you for another unforgettable year. Until next time, AFRO LATINX! 🌍✨

CommunityThroughCulture

Meet Giulio Xavier Cetto: Artist, Producer & Musical Director. Giulio "The Jazz Thug" joins our Art is Resistance cohort...
10/16/2026

Meet Giulio Xavier Cetto: Artist, Producer & Musical Director. Giulio "The Jazz Thug" joins our Art is Resistance cohort as the curator of the Bayview Sessions. Through this innovative series, Giulio unites a diverse array of musicians to foster a space for collaboration, experimentation, and community-focused live music.

EXPERIENCE THE BAYVIEW SESSIONS

The Bayview Sessions is not just a concert series, its a hub for musicians, artists, students, educators, families, and music enthusiasts to witness the transformative power of live jazz and the creative synergies that arise when various musical backgrounds converge.

Upcoming Dates:

October 19, 2026
Featured Artist: Thomas Pridgen

October 24, 2026
Featured Artist: Giulio Xavier Cetto & Friends

October 26, 2026
Featured Artist: Javier Santiago

A heartfelt thank you to all our sponsors: San Francisco Human Rights Commission , San Francisco Arts Commission, La Fauna Music, and the San Francisco Community Challenge Grants Program for their support of live music and creative expression in Bayview Hunters Point!

10/16/2026

From the birth of Bay Area hip-hop to the stage of the Ruth Williams Opera House, Fresh II Def is a story of music, culture, and legacy. 🎤

George “GROC” Williamstells the story the evolution of Bay Area hip-hop bringing a unique perspective to the culture and the stories that shaped it fromhis own experience. Fresh II Def celebrates hip-hop's lasting cultural impact.

But this project is also deeply personal.

GRoc's mother, Ruth Williams, was a playwright, director, and passionate advocate for the arts and her community. He honors that legacy by bringing his own theatrical vision to the very stage that bears her name.

Hear GROC share the inspiration behind FRESH II DEF, then join us this Saturday to experience his vision come to life!

🎭 FRESH II DEF
📅 Saturday, October 17
⏰ Doors open 7PM
📍 Ruth Williams Bayview Opera House
4705 3rd Street, San Francisco

Celebrate Bayview history , family legacy, and the culture that continues to inspire new generations!✨

📢 ROLL CALL! Introducing the Freshman Class of our Art is Resistance Cohort!First up: Teu le Vā Artist Collective (TLV),...
10/14/2026

📢 ROLL CALL! Introducing the Freshman Class of our Art is Resistance Cohort!

First up: Teu le Vā Artist Collective (TLV), a vibrant group of Pasifiken artists, organizers, and cultural workers from across the Bay Area, creating spaces for connection, collaboration, and cultural expression.

Their month-long exhibition at the Ruth Williams Bayview Opera House, “It’s Giving Hella Pasifika,” celebrates Pasifika Joy: A Collective Homecoming.

In Sāmoan, teu le vā means nurturing the space between us—honoring the relationships that connect us. Through art and community, TLV celebrates ancestral journeys, Indigenous wisdom, and resilience, reminding us why Art is Resistance.

🎨 MEET THE ARTISTS (in order of appearance):

✨ Spulu Nism — Creative mover, storyteller, dance maker, body historian, fashion designer, and interdisciplinary artist working on Chochenyo Ohlone land. S P U L U®

✨ Epi Aumave — Community leader, co-founder, and President/Director of Operations of Samoan Solutions, supporting Sāmoan and Pasifika communities through cultural advocacy and civic engagement.

✨ Sophia Tupuola — First-generation Sāmoan-American raised in Bayview Hunters Point on unceded Ramaytush Ohlone land. Her liberation work centers Black and Brown communities through grassroots organizing and collective empowerment. A proud Mama, Warrior, and World Maker.

✨ Oshún — Afro-Pasifika youth and emerging artist practicing personal liberation through emotional awareness and problem-solving. Her journey in the Liberated Kid short story series celebrates culture keeping and self-determination.

🌺 Homecoming matters. Reconnecting with our roots honors our ancestors, celebrates resilience, and challenges conventional Western values. Together, we redefine artistry and create space for Pasifika voices to thrive.

🙏 Supported by the San Francisco Arts Commission, San Francisco Human Rights Commission, Community Challenge Grant, and generous donors.

10/13/2026

🌎❤️ THANK YOU FOR FIVE YEARS OF AFRO LATINX!

What a celebration of music, culture, art, and community! The 5th Annual AFRO LATINX Festival brought together artists, neighbors, and friends from across the Bay Area and beyond to celebrate the connections between Africa, Latin America, the Caribbean, and the African Diaspora.

A huge thank you to Los Rakas, Guanaco, Bayonics, ELENAH, Gina Madrid, and Kulcha Latino for bringing their music, energy, and cultural perspectives to the stage. To our visual artists Gustavo Castillo, Marcos Odara, Alexis LeeAnn, and Yadira Cazares, thank you for bringing another dimension of storytelling and cultural expression to this year's celebration.

Special thanks to Tato's for welcoming our community to Third Street for an incredible pre-show gathering, and to Yrak Saenz, DJ Leydis, and Batuki for filling the evening with music before the concert even began.

We're deeply grateful to our funders and supporters: Creative West, the National Endowment for the Arts, Kenneth Rainin Foundation, San Francisco Community Challenge Grants Program, San Francisco Arts Commission, Office of Economic & Workforce Development, Zellerbach Foundation, and San Francisco Human Rights Commission. Your support helps us continue creating accessible, culturally rooted programming that brings artists and communities together.

And most importantly, THANK YOU to everyone who showed up, contributed, danced, listened, connected, and celebrated with us.

AFRO LATINX has always been about more than a concert. It's about recognizing the histories we share, celebrating the cultures that make us distinct, and creating opportunities for those connections to grow right here in Bayview Hunters Point.

Five years in, and the conversation continues. 🌍🥁

With gratitude from La Fauna Music and the Ruth Williams Bayview Opera House.

10/13/2026

🎤 Take it from GROC! This Saturday's FRESH II DEF show is going to be something special! 🔥

Producer George “GROC” Williams, son of the legendary Ruth Williams, is bringing hip-hop, style, music, and creative expression to the very stage that carries his mother's name.

For GROC, this is more than a show. It's about carrying forward a family legacy rooted in Bayview Hunters Point, celebrating the culture that helped shape the neighborhood, and creating space for the next generation of artists and performers.

✨ FRESH II DEF
📅 Saturday, October 17
⏰ 7–9:30 PM
📍 Ruth Williams Opera House, San Francisco

Bayview history. Hip-hop culture. The next generation. Be there!

Address

4705 3rd Street
San Francisco, CA
94124

Telephone

+14158240386

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