Onassis USA, BAM and Pomegranate Arts present "Bark of Millions" by Taylor Mac
A rock opera meditation on queerness. Lyrics and Direction by Taylor Mac, Music and Musical Direction by Matt Ray
In all its overflowing maximalism, Bark of Millions feels like a spiritual successor to the work that made Mac a superstar.
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A powerhouse collective of international artists ignite an electrifying collision of performance, live music, and drag spectacle in the latest from theater-making renegades Taylor Mac, Matt Ray, and Machine Dazzle. The team unleashes their creativity in a rock opera meditation on queerness, featuring 55 original songs by Mac and Ray and a bevy of costumes by Dazzle. With the fierce elation of a pride parade, Bark of Millions is a luxuriant, provocative spectacle unlike any other.
From the award-winning creative and producing teams behind A 24-Decade History of Popular Music, this joyous epic is both a celebration of and a gift to the queer canon, expanding the archive for generations to come.
"Bark of Millions" is taking place from February 5th to 10th, 2024, at BAM.
It’s queer church at its ecstatic best.
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To the ancient Egyptians, creation is a process of unfurling with the undivided. The first god, Atum (also the first genderqueer) created themself by uttering their name in an infinite expanse of darkness and directionless water called Nun. Atum (also called Temu, Tem, Ra, depending on the point in their rebirthing process) then turned into a Bennu bird and, similar to a phoenix, would burst into flames, then be reborn each day. In this action the earth was created as a reflection of the heavens. At some point the eye of Atum separated and wandered off on its own and in a struggle to return it, it cried tears, which created humans. Years later, in Atum's senility, humans plotted against their creator, which separated the heavens from earth and sent Atum into the heavens, leaving humans below (presumably no longer a reflection). This separation creates the Bark of Millions. It is sometimes depicted as a boat version of the sun (representing Atum) and sometimes depicted as a vessel Atum captains, while pulling the sun behind it. Because Atum is no longer with us, they must bring the sun to us. Day after day, year after year, this bark sails around the heavens bringing light to the earth. Each evening, Atum on their Bark (or as the bark) does battle against the serpent Apep (the aspect of chaos), who tries to bring darkness to the planet. Each morning, Atum is victorious and is able to bring themself back to us (the millions in the Bark of Millions refers to the years of battles and victories).
With Ari Folman-Cohen, Bernice “Boom Boom” Brooks, Chris Giarmo, Dana Lyn, El Beh, Greg Glassman, Jack Fuller (Vocal Captain), Joel E. Mateo, Jules Skloot, Le Gateau Chocolat, Lisa “Paz” Parrott, Machine Dazzle, Mama Alto, Marika Hughes, Matt Ray, Sean Donovan (Associate Choreographer), Steffanie Christi’an, Stephen Quinn, Taylor Mac, Thornetta Davis, Viva DeConcini, and Wes Olivier.
Co-directed by Niegel Smith
Co-directed and choreography by Faye Driscoll
Costume design by Machine Dazzle
Lighting design by John Torres
Sound design by Brendan Aanes
Props design by Oscar Escobedo and Zach Blumner
Produced by Pomegranate Arts and Nature’s Darlings
Commissioned by Pomegranate Arts and BAM (Brooklyn Academy of Music)
Co-commissioned by Sydney Opera House and the Berliner Festpiele with additional support by the Ron Beller & Jennifer Moses Family Foundation and Hal Philipps. Residencies at Kaatsbaan Cultural Park, MASS MoCA-North Adams, MA, Irish Arts Center-New York City, and PEAK Performances in the Alexander Kasser Theater, Montclair State University-Montclair, NJ.
