Taylor Mac's 24-Decade History of Popular Music

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Taylor Mac's 24-Decade History of Popular Music

Released Jun 28, 2023

1h 46m

Documentary

Music

LGBTQ+

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Popcornmeter

100%

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12 Reviews

58%

Popcornmeter

Fewer than 50 Ratings

In 2016, Taylor Mac performed a one-time-only, 24-hour immersive theatrical experience in front of a live audience at St. Ann's Warehouse in Brooklyn. The concert offered an alternative take on U.S. history, narrated through music that was popular from the nation's founding to the present, with Mac transforming hourly by changing into elaborate, decade-specific costumes by Mac's longtime collaborator Machine Dazzle. The documentary, TAYLOR MAC'S 24-DECADE HISTORY OF POPULAR MUSIC, captures Mac's marathon performance in New York, alongside footage from other shows on the tour, which played throughout the world. In the show, Mac and 24 musicians interpret 24 songs, from "Yankee Doodle" to "Gimme Shelter," "Born to Run," and "Gloria," with one performer leaving the stage each hour, until Mac is on stage alone in the final 24th hour.

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Randy Myers

San Jose Mercury News

Through interviews with Mac and scenes of backstage preparations, we feel we’re a part of this 10-years-in-the-making production.

Rated: 3.5/4

Jul 6, 2023

Full Review

Elisabeth Vincentelli

New York Times

Offers a necessarily abridged look at Mac’s towering achievement, which showcased an incredible range as an interpreter, a theatrical gusto and a mischievous, often biting humor.

Jun 27, 2023

Full Review

Noel Murray

Los Angeles Times

This movie is a lovingly crafted memento of a remarkable achievement, one that compressed Mac‘s life and much of modern history into 24 hours of wild stunts and show-stopping show-tunes.

Jun 27, 2023

Full Review

John Paul King

Washington Blade

In any case, it’s a stirring and memorable document of a signature work by one of America’s most brilliant queer artists, which makes it essential viewing as far as we’re concerned.

Jul 13, 2023

Full Review

Johnny Loftus

Decider

Taylor Mac’s 24-Decade History of Popular Music is an epic journey of visuals, musical performance, and meta-community that powerfully manifests both its marathon scope and weighty themes.

Jul 5, 2023

Full Review

Glenn Dunks

The Film Experience

...the film accentuates both the incredible intimacy and the mammoth scope of the show in equal measure. It is a joy to watch. And vibrantly queer, too.

Jul 4, 2023

Full Review

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Steve A

One of the greatest concert films ever created. Absolutely genius!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

08/04/24

Full Review

Chris S

I swam part of this in Australia at the time, and have seen other Taylor Mac shows since. Tho captures the insanity and the glorious inventiveness of Taylor Mac. Unapologetically queer and utterly fabulous

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

08/09/23

Full Review

Carl W

People who give this a low review are the people who most need to see it. This was a glorious moment in the history of performance art. Since I couldn't see it in person, I feel so privileged to have seen this small piece of it. Mac is a treasure for our nation.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

07/09/23

Full Review

JL W

Taylor and Machine Dazzle are, as the friend who introduced me to their work said, national treasures. The show is genius. It is enlightening, entertaining, exquisitely done, and DEEP. I am so glad it is captured on film. I attended part of 24-Decade in person, and Taylor's Christmas Special at The Curran in SF. They were unforgettable experiences. This is allows everyone to be there, but also in a meta way to see it behind the curtain and from above, to see the audience and the performances as a whole. It is a 24 hour state of amazing grace. I will watch it on repeat. Highly recommend it to anyone and everyone. You could read/know about the content in advance, or just jump in not knowing anything and let Taylor take you on the journey. Brilliant masterpiece.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

07/02/23

Full Review

burrenshep s

Incredible. The best concert doc I’ve ever seen.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

06/09/25

Full Review

Dave D

An amazing, astonishing, important and wonderful work of Performance Art. Defines the term 'thoughtful entertainment' at the highest level like nothing else!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

07/01/23

Full Review

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Rob Epstein

Director

Jeffrey Friedman

Director

Taylor Mac

Self

Machine Dazzle

Self

Matt Ray

Self

Nigel Smith

Self

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Synopsis

In 2016, Taylor Mac performed a one-time-only, 24-hour immersive theatrical experience in front of a live audience at St. Ann's Warehouse in Brooklyn. The concert offered an alternative take on U.S. history, narrated through music that was popular from the nation's founding to the present, with Mac transforming hourly by changing into elaborate, decade-specific costumes by Mac's longtime collaborator Machine Dazzle. The documentary, TAYLOR MAC'S 24-DECADE HISTORY OF POPULAR MUSIC, captures Mac's marathon performance in New York, alongside footage from other shows on the tour, which played throughout the world. In the show, Mac and 24 musicians interpret 24 songs, from "Yankee Doodle" to "Gimme Shelter," "Born to Run," and "Gloria," with one performer leaving the stage each hour, until Mac is on stage alone in the final 24th hour.

Director: Rob Epstein, Jeffrey Friedman
Producer: Rob Epstein, Jeffrey Friedman, Joel Stillerman, Linda Brumbach, Alisa E. Regas, Taylor Mac, Mari Rivera
Distributor: Max
Production Co: Telling Pictures
Genre: Documentary, Music, LGBTQ+
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Jun 28, 2023, Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Jun 27, 2023
Runtime: 1h 46m

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