You got to love it when a you get to see a killer musical performance that simultaneously offers you a different perspective for understanding the world.
This Friday night at East Hampton’s Guild Hall actor, auteur, singer-songwriter, drag icon and all-around tour-de-force performer Taylor Mac will do just that.
Mac’s upcoming performance is aptly dubbed “Born to Run (To and From the Hamptons). While the show “punctures New York’s beautiful bubble with a set built to meet Hamptonites on their own turf via a fresh look on our fragile democracy,” according to a press release from Guild Hall, Mac’s signature stage presence, at times overtly irreverent and unexpectedly wise, is what truly makes it a palpably unique experience.
A self-described traveling troubadour, this debut East End performance sees Mac (who has chosen to take the name Judy as his pronoun) providing attendees with an eclectic evening that not only celebrates a certain kind of theatricality, but a discernible sense of community and togetherness. Friday night’s show will feature a carefully curated selection of songs written in collaboration with composer, music director and longtime friend Matt Ray. Set to be an evening predominantly composed of musical acts, with some created especially for Friday’s performance, the show will be peppered with plenty of Mac’s now signature banter and colorful stage presence.
“The last time I was here in the Hamptons I was cater waitering,” the California-born, New York-bred performer says. “So, I’m interested to see it from this perspective. Let me know if you have any tips!” he laughs.
Not that Mac will need them, as the work tends to speak for itself, turning the typical theatergoing experience on its head in a really smart way.
And if you need a little convincing, there are some serious accolades (or “competitive kindnesses,” as Mac cheekily calls them) to prove that this performer may be seriously onto something when it comes to understanding the world.
Over a decade ago, Mac and Ray developed “A 24-Decade History of Popular Music,” a concert that covered pop music in the United States from 1776 to 2016 (with one hour dedicated to each decade, plus accompanying costumes designed by longtime collaborator and friend Machine Dazzle). The performance was a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize for Drama in 2017. Mac was also nominated for a Tony Award, was the recipient of the “Genius Grant” from the MacArthur Foundation, won two Obies and a New York Drama Critics Circle Award, plus has written several plays, operas and vaudeville productions.
While Hampton theatergoers can expect to see and hear lavishly designed outfits from Dazzle and ingenious yet classically arranged musical pieces from Ray — with help from musicians Viva DeConcini, Gary Wang and Shirazette Tinnin — it may be the attention the message of the performance that will evoke the greatest reaction.
“Stephen Sondheim said, ‘content dictates the form,’ and that absolutely reigns true in my work,” Mac says. “I tend to use a lot of American history in my work. There’s context for it because America is so all over the place these days, especially now.”
While Mac’s work isn’t political in nature, the performances do force the audience members to consider myriad forms of action that aren’t anchored in conflict, ultimately pushing them to wonder about different ways to engage with one another, both inside and outside of the theater.
“I think the reasons why we have problems [as a society] is due to a lack of community,” Judy says. “Problems tend to come from times of isolation. So, at my shows, I really try to bring people together.”
“Born to Run (To and From the Hamptons)” is this Friday, Sept. 27, beginning at 7 p.m. at Guild Hall. Tickets start at $85. Get yours here.
