A 24-Decade History of Popular Music (Abridged)

Taylor Mac is the American theater’s most beloved maximalist. Creating extravagant performances with jester-like charm, Mac’s work reflects the vast mosaic of the American imagination.

With Mac as our puckish guide, join us for an abridged version of his epic 24-hour performance art concert, which decodes the social history of the United States—all 240 years and counting—through popular songs ranging from “Yankee Doodle Dandy” to disco. The show is a dazzling, community-building experience that reflects our nation’s diverse and sometimes dysfunctional story in order to reinvigorate a distinctively American sense of possibility.

A 24-Decade History of Popular Music is the winner of the 2017 Edward M. Kennedy Prize for Drama Inspired by American History and a finalist for the 2017 Pulitzer Prize for Drama.

In partnership with Stanford Live, the entirety of A 24-Decade History will be performed in four parts at the Curran in San Francisco on September 15, 17, 22, and 24. For information, visit sfcurran.com.

Recommended for mature audiences

Co-Direction by Niegel Smith
Music Direction/Arrangements by Matt Ray
Costume Design by Machine Dazzle
Dramaturgy by Jocelyn Clarke
Scenic Design by Mimi Lien
Lighting Design by John Torres