Bark of Millions

A fifty-five song—and counting—parade trance extravaganza for the living library of the deviant theme, with lyrics by Mac and music by Matt Ray.  Performing non-stop, from beginning to end, with an ensemble of 21 singers/musicians, it becomes an abstract rock opera meditation on queerness.  

UPCOMING PERFORMANCES

October 9 - 12, 2024

Berliner FestspieleBerlin, DE

PAST PERFORMANCES

February 23–25, 2024 Cal PerformancesBerkeley, CA

February 5–10, 2024 Brooklyn Academy of Music (BAM) Brooklyn, NY

October 20, 2023 Sydney Opera House Sydney, AUS

EXCERPT (from the song "Oscar Wilde" from "Bark of Millions):

OH THE PRISON IS DAMP AND UNBENDING

AND THE TIME IS LONG AND UNKIND

CENTURIES TO GO

AND BARELY KEEPING MIND

repeat

HIS LUNGS ARE FULL OF PUDDLES

HIS BONES ARE SWOLLEN AND SORE

ROUND THE YARD HE ROAMS

AND BARELY KEEPING SCORE

repeat

WHEN CARNATIONS ARE HELD

FROM THE WARMTH OF COMPANIONS,

THEY WILL WILT LIKE THE GREEN

WHEN THE FROST COMES A CALLING.

THEY WILL FALL TO THE GROUND

WITHOUT THINKING OR KNOWING.

THEY WILL DIE ALL ALONE

AND BE GONE WHILE THEY’RE GOING.

OH THE WILDE FOR A LOVER IS BREATHLESS

HIS LIGHT IS FROM YEARS THAT HAVE PAST

ALL HIS HOPE IS FOR

A BEAUTY THAT NEVER LASTS

WHEN CARNATIONS ARE HELD

FROM THE WARMTH OF COMPANIONS,

THEY WILL WILT LIKE THE GREEN

WHEN THE FROST COMES A CALLING.

THEY WILL FALL TO THE GROUND

WITHOUT THINKING OR KNOWING.

THEY WILL DIE ALL ALONE

AND BE GONE WHILE THEY’RE GOING.

repeat into catharsis

SHOW CREDITS:

Lyrics and Direction byTaylor Mac

Music and Musical Direction byMatt Ray

Produced by Pomegranate Arts and Nature's Darlings.

The Ensemble:  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, Wes Olivier

Co-Director Niegel Smith

Co-Director / Choreographer Faye Driscoll

Costume Design Machine Dazzle

Lighting Design John Torres