Andrea McArdle, Tonya PInkins and More Set for NIGHT OF A THOUSAND JUDYS, 6/18

The second annual "Night of A Thousand Judys" - the Pride concert to benefit The Ali Forney Center - will take place at Playwrights Horizons on Monday, June 18.

The show is a special presentation of the acclaimed variety show The Meeting* hosted by Justin Sayre, which has been called "delicious and delightfully droll" by The New York Post, and "fearless, commanding and hilarious" by Sirius XM Radio. There will be a pre-show VIP reception at 6:30 PM and the show at 8:00 PM. "Night of A Thousand Judys" - which will honor the legendary singer and actress Judy Garland with special skits, tributes and songs from her storied career - will be directed by Ben Rimalower (Project: Lohan, Leslie Kritzer Is Patti LuPone at Les Mouches). Lance Horne serves as Music Director and Jason Wise is choreographer.

The show will feature appearances by Andrea McArdle (Tony Award nominee for Annie), Howard McGillin (Phantom of the Opera, Anything Goes) Tonya Pinkins (Caroline Or Change, Tony Award winner for Jelly's Last Jam), Daniel Reichard (Jersey Boys), Nellie McKay (Three Penny Opera), Murray Hill (Shortbus, "Bored To Death"), Ashley Brown (Broadway's original Mary Poppins), Jessica Molaskey (Parade, Songs for A New World), Michael Musto (The Village Voice), Karen Akers (Nine, Grand Hotel), Cole Escola (Logo TV's "Jeffery & Cole Casserole"), Jenn Harris (Silence! The Musical), Flotilla DeBarge (Too Wong Foo, The Three Penny Opera), Erin Markey ("Our Hit Parade," PS 122), Bridget Everett (At Least It's Pink), Darius de Haas (Once On This Island, Rent), Molly Pope (Wonderful Town, Ars Nova), Frank DeCaro (Sirius XM Satellite Radio, "The Daily Show"), Colleen McHugh (Carnegie Hall, 92nd Street Y) and Summer & Eve (Joe's Pub, UCB)

Justin commented, "Every month at The Meeting* we pay homage to a gay icon; we have done everyone from Bette Davis to Miss Piggy. But every June we honor perhaps the greatest gay icon of all time. Judy Garland was born on June 10, and her death at age 47 on June 22, 1969 was said to have been a contributing factor to the Stonewall riots. She loved her gay fans, and they have worshiped her for decades. For the month of gay pride, we could not think of a better fit. Night of A Thousand Judys will celebrate all things Garland and let everyone, performers and audience members alike, find a little Judy magic."

The Meeting* hosted by Justin Sayre has been called "a riotously funny and campy variety show" by Next Magazine, and "a rollicking, wry affair complete with funny political commentary on current events" by Gay City News. The Meeting* won the 2012 Bistro Award for "Comedy Artistry," was nominated for a 2011 MAC Award for Best Male Comedy Performance and was named one of the Top 10 nightclub shows of 2011 by Time Out New York. The organization operates under the myth of the "gay agenda" and is structured as any organizational meeting for homosexuals would be - business of the day, upcoming events and social issues are discussed, ridiculed, and interwoven between comedy sketches, musical numbers, and other "homo-hijinks." In addition to writing the show, Justin serves as the Chairman of the I.O.S., The International Order of Sodomites, the centuries-old secret organization of homosexuals and their friends. Past "agenda items" have addressed current issues such as "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" in "Serving In Silence: The Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer Story," the continuing romantic saga of gay penguins at the San Francisco Zoo, and a guide to the so-called "Gay Panic" defense. The monthly events have featured popular guest stars such as Lea DeLaria, Christian Campbell, Frank DeCaro, Lady Rizo, Tituss Burgess, Natalie Joy Johnson, Kenny Mellman, Randy Rainbow, Maude Maggart, Jack Ferver, Murray Hill, Poor Baby Bree and more.

The Ali Forney Center is the nation's largest and most comprehensive organization dedicated to homeless LGBT youth. AFC's goal is to provide homeless LGBT youths, aged 16-24, with the support and services they need to escape the streets and begin to live healthy and independent lives. For more information on The Ali Forney Center, visit www.aliforneycenter.org

"The work that the Ali Forney Center is crucial to young LGBT people in New York," says Justin. "It enables them to thrive and grow in a healthy and warm environment, where they are celebrated for their identity rather than chastised for it. Life may have dealt you a raw hand, but there are people out there to help you through it. In her film roles and in her personal life, Judy Garland embodied an innocence and a resilience that still thrills young and old alike. She had tragedy in her life and yet she continued to give herself to a public that adored her. If Judy Garland was the comeback kid, The Ali Forney Center is the comeback place. I can't imagine a better combination."

Carl Siciliano, the Executive Director of the Ali Forney Center commented, "We are so thrilled to be the beneficiary of this fantastic event! With Mayor Bloomberg's recent proposed multi million dollar budget cut for homeless youth services, the support from our community with events like these is vital to the Ali Forney Center, and we truly appreciate it."

Justin Sayre demonstrated a supernatural instinct for "camp" at an early age. Justin is a child of Forty Fort, Pennsylvania who moved to New York believing it was still 1947. He was terribly misinformed. In 2006, Justin received rave reviews for his solo show "Without A Song." As an actor, he has worked and studied with some of the finest professionals in New York. As a gay, Justin has excelled at scarf placement, devilish quips, and a healthy but firm love of the American musical. He has also performed at Comix, Symphony Space, "Our Hit Parade" at Joe's Pub and at the Leslie/Lohman Gallery for their Tennessee Williams 100th Birthday Celebration, curated by illustrator Robert W. Richards. Justin contributed a story about Justin Bond for Radical Faerie Digest - one of the oldest gay publications in the country. In 2011, two of his short plays were presented by the "Fame and Shame on the LES" performance series. Last summer he was chosen as a 1st year fellow for the Queer |ART| Mentorship, working with Everett Quinton of Charles Ludlam's Ridiculous Theatrical Company, to develop a new play. A new show of his short plays, Justin Sayre Is Alive and Well... Writing - called one of the "Top 10 Events on the New York Stage" by the New York Daily News - sold out two shows at Ars Nova in April. In September, he will host a special centennial performance event to celebrate Harry Hay, co-founder of the Mattachine Society, at New York's Center for Gay and Lesbian Studies. This June, Justin will narrate Stravinsky's "The Soldier's Tale" at the Greenwich Music Festival. Justin also writes for the screen with writing partner James Hawkins.

Yale University presented a sold-out special edition of The Meeting* last year as part of their Pride Month. Justin Sayre and The Meeting* will be featured this summer at the Ice Palace's "Icon Series" in Cherry Grove on Fire Island among such legends as Liza Minnelli, Margaret Cho, Alan Cumming, Sandra Bernhard and more. Tickets go on sale soon. The new website, www.InternationalOrderofSodomites.com, was recently launched with podcasts, videos, blogs and more.

"Night of A Thousand Judys" - a special presentation of The Meeting* hosted by Justin Sayre - will take place at Playwrights Horizons, located at 416 West 42nd Street, New York, NY 10036, on Monday, June 18. Ticket are $25 and $60 (which includes a VIP pre-show reception at 6:30 PM). The performance begins at 8:00 PM. For tickets and more information, please call www.AliForneyCenter.org. The Meeting* hosted by Justin Sayre is produced by Adam J. Rosen and Dan Fortune.

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