Two-Minute Cinema: Taylor Mac Brings the Color Back to San Francisco

Taylor Mac brings his eccentric beauty, art and magic to San Francisco in a new show at the Curran.

A 24-Decade History of Popular Music is a unique multi-year project that draws a subjective portrait of the history of the United States, using a mashup of music, history, art and performance. The experience features over 200 songs, from WWI tunes to a mashup of the Bee Gees and Led Zeppelin. Having premiered the 24-hour marathon performance in Brooklyn last year, this new version will be performed in four six-hour chapters.

"In the show, I use 'Amazing Grace' as a way to talk about how, during the performance, we're not going to worship the creator but the act of creation, we won't worship the artist but the making of the art, and we won't worship the noun but the verb," Mac told Rolling Stone. "It's my way of using an iconic religious song in a subversive and more inclusive way. Plus it's fun to sing it in a minor key."

Mac sings this hauntingly beautiful rendition of "Amazing Grace" in a new video promoting the production. He and his band of colorful faeries and performers hit the streets of San Francisco with a trail of colorful smoke.

Taylor Mac's four-part performance of A 24-Decade History of Popular Music will play September 15-24 at the Curran. An abridged version will premiere September 27 at Stanford's Bing Concert Hall. Watch the video below: