Soul of the City transcends traditional performance boundaries, offering an audience-participatory exploration of San Francisco’s multifaceted history and identity. The audience follows a storyteller who embarks on a journey to find the soul of San Francisco, weaving a narrative through the city’s diverse cultural landscapes, including Chinatown, Japantown, and The Fillmore. The production showcases a rich blend of traditional Japanese theater, contemporary spoken word, pioneering Afro-Asian American Jazz, and digital visual technology. At the heart of the experience are stories that tell where we came from, who we are, and how we can reconnect with hope, unity, peace, and identity to restore the everyday magic, transformation, activism, and heart once and forever associated with San Francisco. New elements this year include Chinese Lion dancers, Japanese demons, and contemporary dance.

The audience experience begins with a communal celebration in the Presidio Theatre’s outdoor plaza. The Sacred Tree of San Francisco, an installation by Ikebana artist Hiroko Tsunetsugu, will stand in the plaza as a beacon for attendees to hang their composed prayers, hopes, and dreams. Audiences are encouraged to come dressed in celebratory attire, embodying the spirit of the event.