Editor's Note: This article has been updated to clarify the Bay Area appearances and distinguish them from the earlier production of “Bark of Millions” and its companion book.
Taylor Mac has two upcoming Bay Area appearances: “Let the Poets Speak: A Celebration of Philip Glass and Allen Ginsberg” at Stanford's Bing Concert Hall on October 30, 2026, and “Tender Heart Revolution” at San Francisco's Curran Theatre on November 6, 2026. These are separate programs, not a return engagement of “Bark of Millions.”
Two Different Bay Area Programs
Stanford Live lists “Let the Poets Speak” for Friday, October 30, 2026, at 7:30 p.m. at Bing Concert Hall. The program features Mac, pianist Timo Andres, members of the San Francisco Girls Chorus and other performers in a celebration of Glass's collaborations with poets, including Ginsberg. Glass will not be performing.
The Curran's official box office calendar lists “Taylor Mac in Concert: Tender Heart Revolution” for Friday, November 6, 2026. Tickets and current performance information are available through the presenters.
“Bark of Millions” Played Berkeley in 2024
“Bark of Millions,” with lyrics by Mac and music by Matt Ray, previously played Cal Performances in Berkeley from February 23 through 25, 2024. Mac's production page lists those dates as past performances, along with the October 20, 2023, Sydney Opera House performance and the February 5–10, 2024, BAM engagement in Brooklyn. Those earlier dates should not be confused with the separate Bay Area appearances scheduled for October and November 2026.
A Companion Songbook
The book “Bark of Millions: Queer Songs for the Living Library of the Deviant Theme” is a companion to the rock opera, rather than an announcement of a new Bay Area production. In an August 30, 2026, announcement, Ray gave its publication date as September 29, 2026, through Black Dog & Leventhal.
Ray describes a slipcased, two-volume set: Book I contains Mac's lyrics and essays, while Book II contains lead sheets for 50 songs. Both volumes include illustrations by Zach Blumner and design by Nina Simoneaux.
