We try so desperately to describe people as geniuses……. it’s such an overused term ….. but we always make an exception when talking about Taylor Mac. American actor, playwright, performance artist, director, producer and singer-songwriter who is self-described a “fool” and “collagist”. He has resisted categorization by the press after being described as Ziggy Stardust meets Tiny Tim!
The last time Mac was featured here in Queerguru was when we covered Taylor Mac’s 24 Decades History of Popular Music a 24 Hour Marathon on Oct 8 – 9 2015 (noon to noon) at St Ann’s Warehouse New York a highly anticipated event that was 5 years in the making and never to be repeated. This whole extraordinary masterpiece was filmed by Academy Award winners Rob Epstein and Jeffrey Friedman who had the near-impossible task of editing the recording down to under 2 hours, and we got to talk with the filmmakers at the Provincetown Film Festival (Check our interview HERE)
Now this multi-award-winning artist is working with Obie award-winning composer Matt Ray and they have created Bark of Millions. Part rock opera, part reimagined pride parade, this epic production will stage 55 original songs over some 4 hours, Billed as both a celebration and a gift to the queer canon expanding the archive for generations to come..
It has been co-directed by Niegel Smith and Faye Driscoll and it showcases the extravagance of Machine Dazzle’s costume design, Bark of Millions is being brought to life at Zellerbach Hall, Berkeley, CA by an international ensemble of 22 artists.
It is, like most of Taylor Mac’s pieces a once-in-a-lifetime event that promises to shatter conventions, push boundaries, and bring a bold new perspective to the stage. Just like before Mac and his artistic community use music, dance, and drag spectacle to subvert and deconstruct conventional narratives and joyfully, transgressively celebrate queerness in all its forms.
Beg Borrow or Steal to get a ticket for this Unmissable Event
Taylor Mac & Matt Ray’s Bark of Millions A Rock Opera Meditation on Queerness Zellerbach Hall Feb 23–25, 2024 https://bit.ly/49fRVyb
Labels: 2024, Bark of MIllions, Faye Driscoll, Matt Ray, Niegel Smith, Rock Opera, Taylor Mac, Zellerbach Hall
