A- Taylor Mac: I come from California -- not the California of the sea but the land of tract housing of blending into nothing. I escaped suburbia and fled to New York, which has now become suburbia -- just goes to show you can't run from things.
Q-Gazelle: Taylor, what motivates you to do what you do?
A- Taylor Mac: My major inspiration comes from a desire for the world to be more delightful and less scared. Fear is okay but we are hopped up on it. When people are afraid of exuberance and expression that's when you know you have an addiction to fear.
Q-Gazelle: Anyone in particular that you consider your most inspiration?
A-Taylor Mac: Too many people to pick a most but at this very moment I'm watching Machine Dazzle and Dirty Martini put together their outfits for the invasion of the Pines (an annual event where hordes of drag queens come from Cherry Grove to the Pines in Fire Island). Witnessing these brilliant creatures do their magic has been a continuous inspiration.
Q-Gazelle: Do you sometimes tone down some aspects of your look so that the message behind the costume design mixed with politics can be more easily understood?
A-Taylor Mac: No. The look is the message. The words too but it's all part of the same package. I was recently told I couldn't perform for a theater that does political work 'cause the performance was uptown and they thought my "look" would scare the uptown liberals. Meanwhile they keep asking me to perform for them downtown. They want to ghettoize me. So sad when people who think they're making a difference are actually a part of the problem. Also I once performed in a benefit for John Kerry. The organizer, after I performed, said "The views and fashion sense of the performers are not expressed by John Kerry". Silly as it sounds -- I was offended. I kept thinking wouldn't it be nice if we had a president who could celebrate the extremity of my "looks" rather than have to separate himself from it. I like to think maybe if he'd celebrate what America is supposed to be -- a melting pot -- instead of trying to conform so much -- maybe he'd be president today.
Q-Gazelle: Which one of your shows have been really close to your heart and why?
A-Taylor Mac: My most recent show is always the one that's closest. "Red Tide Blooming" was a complete joyfest. It was the first time I worked with a group of people where there wasn't a single ass hole. Usually there's at least one. Not this time. Everyone was a gem and there was a real sense that we were expressing something important and giving back a gift to the community of people who make New York an interesting place to live and celebrate.
Q-Gazelle: What does frustrate you as an artist?
A-Taylor Mac: When institutions put the institution ahead of the art. When critics don't engage in the conversation being put forth by the artist, regardless of whether they have been inspired to. When money is used as an excuse to not produce. When failure is not celebrated. When success means bigger. When theater artist are expected to introduce their work to producers, journalists, and funding organizations with video (I mean really). When art is made for future purposes rather than for this moment.
Q-Gazelle: Who in the present political scene would be the dream guest in one of your shows?
A-Taylor Mac: Anne Coulter (sp?).
Q-Gazelle: What do you wish people knew about you?
A-Taylor Mac: I save that info. for the shows.
Q-Gazelle: What do you think your mission as a person is?
A-Taylor Mac: To show the multifaceted nature of us all.
Q-Gazelle: And when was the last time you cried of happiness?
A- Taylor Mac: When my friend Scotty the Blue Bunny came and saw a run-through of "Red Tide Blooming", hugged me thanked me for the experience (Scotty doesn't mince words -- if he doesn't like something he'll tell you). We worked so hard on that show and I wanted it to be a gift that the wakadoodles would embrace as something special made specifically for them -- and Scotty is queen of the wakadoodles.
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