• Intelligencer
  • The Cut
  • Vulture
  • The Strategist
  • Curbed
  • Grub Street
  • Subscribe to the Magazine Give a Gift Subscription Buy Back Issues Current Issue Contents
    Subscribe to New York Magazine
  • Subscribe
  • Profile
    Sign Out
  • TV
  • Movies
  • Comedy
  • Music
  • TV Recaps
  • Streamliner
  • Vulture Lists
  • Books
  • Theater
  • Art
  • The Gold Rush
  • Podcasts
  • Videos
  • About
  • How to Pitch
  • Newsletters
  • Games
  • Vulture Insiders
  • Vulture Festival
  • NYMag.com
  • New York Magazine
  • Intelligencer
  • Vulture
  • The Cut
  • The Strategist
  • Grub Street
  • Curbed
Subscribe Give A Gift
  • TV
  • Movies
  • Comedy
  • Music
  • TV Recaps
  • Streamliner
  • Vulture Lists
  • Books
  • Theater
  • Art
  • The Gold Rush
  • Podcasts
  • Videos
  • About
  • How to Pitch
  • Newsletters
  • Games
  • Vulture Insiders
  • Vulture Festival
  • NYMag.com
  • New York Magazine
  • Intelligencer
  • Vulture
  • The Cut
  • The Strategist
  • Grub Street
  • Curbed
  • Share
  • Tweet
  • Pin It
+Comments Leave a Comment
behind the scenes
October 12, 2016

Gallery: Inside Taylor Mac’s 24-Hour Performance

By Vulture Editors

Share

  • Share
  • Tweet
  • Pin It
Photo: Sara Krulwich/The New York Times

The giant inflatable red, white, and blue penis floated in around the 21st hour or so, and the crowd batted it over their heads. By then, they had seen 240 years of American history performed in song, including an onstage battle between Stephen Foster and Walt Whitman, an hour in which they were blindfolded to mark the invention of Braille, a moment when audience members were forcibly rearranged to evoke urban “white flight,” and a Civil War skirmish reenacted with flying ping-pong balls. Everyone was at St. Ann’s on October 8 for the climax of Taylor Mac’s pansexual, pangendered A 24-Decade History of Popular Music, a show normally performed in eight three-hour bursts but tonight done in one 24-hour megamarathon. Audience members got snacks and a meal (dinner, during Reconstruction), and an experience that, judging by the tweets from those in the room …

WE MADE IT! IT WAS INCREDIBLE! THANK YOU, TAYLOR MAC pic.twitter.com/5dDOastf5D

— cganz (@mehpatrol) October 9, 2016

Kind of don't want this Taylor Mac experience to end. Is this Stockholm Syndrome or inertia?

— cganz (@mehpatrol) October 9, 2016

Joyous, profoundly political, beautifully performed and utterly frock-tastic @TaylorMacNYC at @stannswarehouse is the show America needs.

— John McGrath (@JohnMIF) October 1, 2016

… was at least spectacular, and perhaps life-altering.

Related

Taylor Mac’s History of Pop
View
1 / 27 Photos
Act 1, hour one, just after noon on Saturday, October 8. Act 1, hour one, just after noon on Saturday, October 8.

Act 1, hour one, just after noon on Saturday, October 8.

Late in Act 1, Taylor invited audience members onstage and dressed them. Late in Act 1, Taylor invited audience members onstage and dressed them.

Late in Act 1, Taylor invited audience members onstage and dressed them.

Photo: Sara Krulwich/The New York Times
From 1796–1806, the third hour of the show. From 1796–1806, the third hour of the show.

From 1796–1806, the third hour of the show.

Photo: Sara Krulwich/The New York Times
Act 2, hour four. Act 2, hour four.

Act 2, hour four.

In hour five, covering 1824, audience members were blindfolded for an hour to mark the invention of Braille ... In hour five, covering 1824, audience members were blindfolded for an hour to mark the invention of Braille ...

In hour five, covering 1824, audience members were blindfolded for an hour to mark the invention of Braille ...

Photo: Sara Krulwich/The New York Tim...

In hour five, covering 1824, audience members were blindfolded for an hour to mark the invention of Braille ...

Photo: Sara Krulwich/The New York Times
... which meant that they never saw these costumes. ... which meant that they never saw these costumes.

... which meant that they never saw these costumes.

Photo: Sara Krulwich/The New York Times
Act 2, hour five. Act 2, hour five.

Act 2, hour five.

Act 3, hour seven, bringing the story up to 1846. Act 3, hour seven, bringing the story up to 1846.

Act 3, hour seven, bringing the story up to 1846.

Photo: Sara Krulwich/The New York Times
At one point, Taylor asked everyone to lie down in a heap. At one point, Taylor asked everyone to lie down in a heap.

At one point, Taylor asked everyone to lie down in a heap.

Photo: Sara Krulwich/The New York Times
Audience dancing. Audience dancing.

Audience dancing.

Photo: Sara Krulwich/The New York Times
Act 3, hour eight. Act 3, hour eight.

Act 3, hour eight.

Act 4 begins with 1866. Act 4 begins with 1866.

Act 4 begins with 1866.

At 9 p.m., Taylor’s helpers, the Dandy Minons, served boxed dinners to the audience. At 9 p.m., Taylor’s helpers, the Dandy Minons, served boxed dinners to the audience.

At 9 p.m., Taylor’s helpers, the Dandy Minons, served boxed dinners to the audience.

Photo: Sara Krulwich/The New York Times
More dinner. More dinner.

More dinner.

Photo: Sara Krulwich/The New York Times
In the balcony at St. Ann's, blankets were provided for audience members who needed to nap. In the balcony at St. Ann's, blankets were provided for audience members who needed to nap.

In the balcony at St. Ann's, blankets were provided for audience members who needed to nap.

Photo: Sara Krulwich/The New York Times
Restorative nap in the lobby. Restorative nap in the lobby.

Restorative nap in the lobby.

Photo: Sara Krulwich/The New York Times
Taylor was made up onstage during the ninth hour of the show. The costume's made out of hot dogs, invented during this decade. Taylor was made up onstage during the ninth hour of the show. The costume's made out of hot dogs, invented during this decade.

Taylor was made up onstage during the ninth hour of the show. The costume's made out of hot dogs, invented during this decade.

Photo: Sara Krulwich/T...

Taylor was made up onstage during the ninth hour of the show. The costume's made out of hot dogs, invented during this decade.

Photo: Sara Krulwich/The New York Times
The end of Act 4, hour 12. The end of Act 4, hour 12.

The end of Act 4, hour 12.

Act 5, hour 15. Act 5, hour 15.

Act 5, hour 15.

Act 6, hour 17. Act 6, hour 17.

Act 6, hour 17.

It's the ’70s! An inflatable penis arrives, just in time for the Stonewall riots and sexual liberation. It's the ’70s! An inflatable penis arrives, just in time for the Stonewall riots and sexual liberation.

It's the ’70s! An inflatable penis arrives, just in time for the Stonewall riots and sexual liberation.

Photo: Sara Krulwich/The New York Times
Act 7, hour 19. Act 7, hour 19.

Act 7, hour 19.

Act 8, hour 22: Matt Ray, musical director, leaves the stage so Taylor can perform by himself, around 11 a.m. on Sunday. Act 8, hour 22: Matt Ray, musical director, leaves the stage so Taylor can perform by himself, around 11 a.m. on Sunday.

Act 8, hour 22: Matt Ray, musical director, leaves the stage so Taylor can perform by himself, around 11 a.m. on Sunday.

Photo: Sara Krulwich/The New...

Act 8, hour 22: Matt Ray, musical director, leaves the stage so Taylor can perform by himself, around 11 a.m. on Sunday.

Photo: Sara Krulwich/The New York Times
Act 8, hour 22. Act 8, hour 22.

Act 8, hour 22.

Act 8, hour 23. Act 8, hour 23.

Act 8, hour 23.

Act 8, hour 24. Act 8, hour 24.

Act 8, hour 24.

It's a wrap, at noon on Sunday. Taylor Mac wears a robe signed by audience members. It's a wrap, at noon on Sunday. Taylor Mac wears a robe signed by audience members.

It's a wrap, at noon on Sunday. Taylor Mac wears a robe signed by audience members.

Photo: Sara Krulwich/The New York Times
1 / 27

Tags:

  • taylor mac
  • a 24-decade history of popular music
  • music
  • pop music
  • behind the scenes
  • More

More Galleries

scenes May 18, 2022
PinkPantheress Fans Only  Everyone’s a main character at the anonymous singer’s live New York debut. 
By Rebecca Jennings
life in pictures Apr. 12, 2022
Sexy Cyrano  Behind the scenes at BAM with James McAvoy as he brings a smoldering version of de Bergerac Stateside. 
By Pari Dukovic
grammys 2022 Apr. 3, 2022
See Every Red Carpet Look From the 2022 Grammy Awards  Doja Cat, BTS, Olivia Rodrigo, Billie Eilish, and more. 
By Savannah Salazar
oscars 2022 Mar. 27, 2022
See Every Red-Carpet Look From the 2022 Oscars  As the cast of High School Musical 3 once said, “Tonight’s the night!” 
By Savannah Salazar
reasons to love new york Dec. 10, 2021
Snapshots of the City Where Movies Were Born  Because every street has a story to tell; all you need is a camera to tell it. 
By Vulture Editors
gallery Nov. 19, 2021
The Faces of Vulture Festival 2021  We welcomed Issa Rae, Henry Winkler, John Cho, and dozens of other stars (plus one good dog) to our photo studio. 
By Bobby Doherty
emmys 2021 Sept. 19, 2021
See Every Red Carpet Look from the 2021 Primetime Emmys  Michaela Coel, Elizabeth Olsen, Anya Taylor-Joy, and more grace the Emmys red carpet. 
By Savannah Salazar
met gala 2021 Sept. 14, 2021
See Every Celebrity Look From Met Gala 2021  Including Rihanna, Billie Eilish, and more. 
By Charu Sinha
vmas 2021 Sept. 12, 2021
See Every Red-Carpet Look From the 2021 MTV VMAs  Doja Cat, Kacey Musgraves, Lil Nas X, and more arrive on the red carpet. 
By Savannah Salazar
oscars 2021 Apr. 25, 2021
See Every Red-Carpet Look From the 2021 Oscars  Colman Domingo, Steven Yeun, Emerald Fennell, and more are gracing the red carpet of the 93rd Academy Awards. 
By Savannah Salazar
grammys 2021 Mar. 14, 2021
See Every ‘Red Carpet’ Look From the 2021 Grammy Awards  Check out Billie Eilish, Megan Thee Stallion, DaBaby, and more in their red carpet looks. 
By Savannah Salazar
the gold rush Feb. 28, 2021
See Every ‘Red Carpet’ Look From the 2021 Golden Globes  Here’s to looking glam even at home. 
By Savannah Salazar
emmys 2020 Sept. 20, 2020
See Every ‘Red Carpet’ Look From the 2020 Emmys  At home and all dolled up. 
By Rebecca Alter
art June 29, 2020
See Peter Hujar’s Portraits of a Long-Ago Queer Downtown  Including a kittenish Fran Lebowitz. 
By Trupti Rami
psa Apr. 17, 2020
A Times Square Tribute to All of Us  Two dozen artists say thank-you. 
By Michael Kaler
shakespeare in the park Apr. 17, 2020
Shakespeare in the Park Canceled as Public Theater Furloughs Staff  Richard II and As You Like It were planned for this summer. 
By Jackson McHenry
oscars 2020 Feb. 9, 2020
See Every Red-Carpet Look From the 2020 Oscars  Greta Gerwig, Janelle Monáe, Cynthia Erivo, and more are gracing the red carpet of the 92nd Academy Awards. 
By Rebecca Alter
gallery Feb. 6, 2020
30,000 Ways to See New York  Drawings from the final year of Jason Polan’s “Every Person in New York” project. 
By Jason Polan
gallery Jan. 31, 2020
The Faces of Sundance 2020  Vulture welcomed Tessa Thompson, Mila Kunis, Glenn Close, Ethan Hawke and more to our photo studio. 
By Vulture Editors
grammys 2020 Jan. 26, 2020
See Every Red-Carpet Look from the 2020 Grammys  Lizzo, Ariana Grande, Lil Nas X, and more. 
By Rebecca Alter
More Galleries
  • TV
  • Movies
  • Comedy
  • Music
  • What To Stream
  • Newsletters
  • About Us
  • Help
  • Contact
  • Media Kit
  • We’re Hiring
  • Press
  • Trademark
  • Privacy
  • Terms
  • Ad Choices
  • Do Not Sell My Info
  • Accessibility
vulture is a Vox Media Network. © 2022 Vox Media, LLC. All rights reserved.