Streets will be closed later this month when Britney Spears tapes a performance for “Good Morning America” outside the Castro Theatre, according to Supervisor Scott Wiener.
Click on the photo to the right to see a slideshow of Britney's most memorable moments.
The 400 and 500 blocks of Castro Street between Market and 19th streets will be closed starting just before midnight on March 26 until about 4 or 5 p.m. on March 27, said Wiener, whose district includes the Castro neighborhood. The actual one-hour performance is slated to begin at noon. The piece is set to air on GMA the following Tuesday, March 29.
Wiener said a yet-to-be determined number of people will be allowed in to see it for free. ABC producers have been meeting with local groups to hash out plans for the segment.
The cost of the whole affair is unknown at this point, Wiener said, but ABC will foot the bill for any city expenditures, which could include police for crowd control, rerouting of Muni services and movement of street cables to accommodate the stage and recording equipment. Wiener said the 24 and 33 lines would be rerouted, and the F Line could also be impacted.
Wiener said ABC producers are in the process of submitting permit applications and details will be solidified in the coming weeks. Spears is set to arrive in San Francisco a few days before the Sunday performance, most likely to meet with youth organizations including the Lavender Youth Recreation and Information Center and Larkin Street Youth Services.
Other than wanting to meet with kids, locals say Spears is clearly courting a gay audience, for good or ill.
“It’s a calculated move on Britney’s part to come down and sort of ‘reclaim my gays,’” said Heklina, a well-known local drag queen who founded Trannyshack, a monthly cabaret.
Still, Heklina said rooftop parties are already planned for the event and the novelty, at the very least, is exciting for the neighborhood. Former Supervisor Bevan Dufty said the rebounding pop star’s appearance can’t be a bad thing.
“The Castro is really rooting for Britney,” Dufty said.
dschreiber@sfexaminer.com
