A HOUSE THAT JAZZ BUILT

An exuberant musical
recalls the Fillmore’s glory days

Cathleen Ridley (center) and cast

Now playing at The Strand Theater in San Francisco is an original and vibrant new musical produced by the San Francisco Bay Area Theatre Company. Every Saturday Night: A Harlem of the West Musical is set here in the Fillmore District and captures the essence of the neighborhood from the 1950s during its celebrated jazz era. Back then, it was referred to as the “Harlem of the West” specifically because of the jazz clubs and nightlife in the African-American community.

Every Saturday Night

The story is set in the present day with flashbacks to the 1950s as seen through the eyes of one family still living in their original Fillmore District home. We meet Donte (Darryl Vincent Jones), an older man who is now living by himself and comes to realize that he just doesn’t need such a big house anymore. (Sarah Phykitt’s set is terrific.) He meets an upwardly mobile young African-American family who want to relocate to San Francisco. At first, it appears to be an ideal fit as they seem to appreciate the history of the house and the neighborhood. Donte seems to bond in particular with Adarè (Trevor Miller), the teenage son. With the original furniture and pictures on the wall, Donte tells them about his mother Ardella (Cathleen Riddley), who worked three jobs to be able to buy the house. Through her love of music, she turned their home into a community gathering place for friends and neighbors to come by on Saturday nights. There was cooking, singing, and dancing where everyone was welcome. From this, young Donte (Jacob Henrie-Naffaa) grew to love music and discover his own natural talent as a performer.

Jacob Henrie-Naffaa (right)

With the story going back and forth between past and present, we learn how gentrification and displacement ultimately changed the shape of the neighborhood because local (white) politicians had their own plans to remake it.

Darryl V. Jones and Trevor Miller

In addition to the principal actors, a talented ensemble playing multiple roles sings and dances their hearts out. All the songs are original jazz pieces and are performed with passion and exuberance. The six-piece band, under the musical direction of Othello Jefferson, is slightly obscured through a see-through screen, but the music rings through and is an essential part in telling the story. The title song, “Every Saturday Night,” and “Keeping It All Together,” featuring the full cast, are infectious. Kudos to AeJay Antonis Marquis’s direction and choreography. The actors sing and dance up and down stairs without missing a beat, seemingly having the time of their lives smiling through some of the more rigorous numbers.

Velina Brown (center) and VDarryl V. Jones (right, seated)

Every performer delivers. Standouts, though, include Riddley and Henrie-Naffaa, who both give memorable performances. Creator and composer Danny Duncan’s story, written with playwright Michael Gene Sullivan, captures this unique era in San Francisco that may not be known amongst local residents (myself included). It’s a spirited celebration of a neighborhood whose history deserves to be remembered. Don’t miss it!

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photos by Alexa LexMex Treviño

Every Saturday Night: A Harlem of the West Musical
San Francisco Bay Area Theatre Company
The Strand Theater, 1127 Market St. in San Francisco
2 hours and 30 minutes, including intermission
Thu–Sat at 7:30; Sun at 3
ends on November 7, 2026
for tickets ($34–$66), visit SFBATCO

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