Taylor Mac & Matt Ray: Bark of Millions

In the organizer's words:

A Parade Trance Extravaganza for the Living Library of the Deviant Theme

European premiere

World premiere: October 20, 2023, Sydney Opera House

55 songs for 55 years of queer history: Taylor Mac, Matt Ray and an ensemble of 22 artists sing a song for every year since the New York Stonewall Riots in this four-hour, opulent concert show full of emotion. A celebration of remembrance and community, "a rock opera meditation on queerness".

After their guest performance with the pop odyssey "A 24-Decade History of Popular Music" (2019), Taylor Mac and the artistic team return to the Festspielhaus. Their new show "Bark of Millions", co-commissioned by the Berliner Festspiele, is equal parts rock opera and ritual-meditative gathering. In opulent fantasy costumes by Machine Dazzle, an ensemble of 22 artists sings, plays and dances a total of 55 songs - one for every year since the Stonewall Riots in New York, which in 1969 represented a central milestone in the fight for equal rights for the LGBTQIA+ community. This four-hour celebration of queer art and history is also about upholding the essence of this struggle. Taylor Mac drew inspiration for the song lyrics from important precursors and contemporaries of queer history. Mac's long-standing artistic partner Matt Ray is responsible for the composition of the songs and the musical direction, while Faye Driscoll is in charge of the choreography. After stints at the Sydney Opera House, the Brooklyn Academy of Music and Zellerbach Hall in Berkeley, this "rock opera meditation on queerness" is now receiving its European premiere at the Haus der Berliner Festspiele. "Queer art," says Taylor Mac in an interview about this work, "doesn't always want to take place in a small black box. It wants to have space to breathe. An important part of our activism is conquering the big stages."

The works of Taylor Mac (pronoun: judy) are characterized by their collage-like structure and their community-building moment. Mac studied at the American Academy of Dramatic Arts, has written and directed numerous plays and revues and has received numerous awards, including the International Ibsen Award, two Obie Awards and two Bessie Awards. Judy has also been nominated for a Tony Award and was a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize. In 2017, Taylor Mac and Matt Ray were jointly awarded the Kennedy Prize for Drama Inspired by American History for "A 24-Decade History of Popular Music". Composer, pianist, singer and musical director Matt Ray has worked with Taylor Mac for many years. He has composed and created musical evenings, such as "Matt Ray Plays Hoagy Carmichael featuring Kat Edmonson", and has performed at Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center and the Hollywood Bowl, among others. Faye Driscoll is one of New York's most important contemporary choreographers and her work has been regularly shown at the Tanz im August festival.

Artistic team

Taylor Mac - text, concept, direction

Matt Ray - music and musical direction

Niegel Smith - Co-director

Faye Driscoll - co-direction and choreography

Machine Dazzle - Costumes

John Torres - Lighting

Brendan Aanes - Sound

Matthew Buttrey - Artistic Director

Oscar Escobedo & Zach Blumner - Props

Jeremy Lydic - Production Management

Rachel Katwan - Management

Florent Trioux - Company Manager

Jason Kaiser - Stage Manager

Pomegranate Arts & Nature's Darlings - Producers

Linda Brumbach & Alisa E. Regas - Creative and Executive Producers

With

Ari Folman-Cohen, Bernice "Boom Boom" Brooks, Chris Giarmo, Dana Lyn, El Beh, Greg Glassman, Jack Fuller, Joel E. Mateo, Jules Skloot, Le Gateau Chocolat, Lisa "Paz" Parrott, Machine Dazzle, Mama Alto, Marika Hughes, Matt Ray, Sean Donovan, Steffanie Christi'an, Stephen Quinn, Taylor Mac, Thornetta Davis, Viva DeConcini, Wes Olivier



"Bark of Millions" was commissioned by Pomegranate Arts and BAM (Brooklyn Academy of Music). The work was commissioned by the Sydney Opera House and the Berliner Festspiele, with additional support from the Ron Beller & Jennifer Moses Family Foundation and Hal Philipps. It was created during residencies at Kaatsbaan Cultural Park, MASS MoCA-North Adams (Massachusetts), the Irish Arts Center (New York City) and PEAK Performances at the Alexander Kasser Theater at Montclair State University (New Jersey).

Price information:

reduced 12 EUR