Interview: NIGHT OF A THOUSAND JUDYS Honoree Steven Tartick on the LGBT+ Benefit Concert

The 14th annual Night of a Thousand Judys, a Pride concert to benefit The Ali Forney Center, returns to Joe’s Pub on Monday, June 1. The Ali Forney Center is a non-profit that offers services and shelters to support homeless LGBTQ+ youth. Night of a Thousand Judys is written and hosted by Justin Elizabeth Sayre, and features a star-studded cast including Grammy Award winner Nathan Lee Graham (“Mid-Century Modern,” Priscilla Queen of the Dessert), Jay Armstrong Johnson (ABC-TV’s “Quantico,” On the Town), Grammy Award nominee Claybourne Elder (“The Gilded Age,” Company), Alysha Umphress (On the Town, Smokey Joe’s Café), Marty Lauter (Cabaret at the Kit Kat Club, “Marcia Marcia Marcia” on “RuPaul’s Drag Race”), Aisha de Haas (Rent; Caroline, or Change), Grammy Award winner Adam Kantor (The Band’s Visit, Fiddler on the Roof), Leah Siegel (Sting, Kesha), and Jae W.B. (Joe’s Pub, GLAM Award nominee).

We chatted with this year’s Good Judy Award honoree, Steven Tartick, pictured above (photo credit: Emil Cohen). The award recognizes an industry leader for their longtime dedication to uplifting the LGBTQ+ community. Tartick is the co-founder of The Season, a theatrical producing and marketing company whose marketing and design work includes Cats: The Jellicle Ball and Proof. Steven previously served as a Managing Partner at RPM, where he developed campaigns for shows including Chicago, Death Becomes Her, Hamilton, Slave Play, and The Phantom of the Opera. Steven is a founding board member of Starring Buffalo, an arts organization bringing together Broadway stars and Buffalo’s professional theater scene. When he's not at the theater, Steven is likely designing board games with his company Fourth Wall Games.

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How does it feel to be receiving the Good Judy Award?

It feels terrific! This is the time of year I’m usually working on marketing for Broadway shows that are vying for awards - it’s quite a surprise and an honor to be receiving one myself!

What do you love the most about Night of a Thousand Judys?

Joe’s Pub is my favorite New York venue. For this one night, it’s transformed into the palace of the greatest performer of all time. It becomes… Judy’s Pub! Who wouldn’t want to spend an evening with the best cabaret performers celebrating the best there ever was?!

Are there any performers at this year’s event you’re particularly excited to see?

All thousand of them are thrilling, though to see Justin Elizabeth Sayre at Joe’s Pub again is a particularly sweet treat. 

Can you tell us about some of your work for Broadway with The Season?

The Season is a creative marketing studio for theater. This season we’ve designed and led the marketing campaign for CATS: The Jellicle Ball and PROOF. We also produce shows, with an exciting slate of plays and musicals coming to NYC next season. 

How do you try to support the LGBTQ community? What would you recommend for anyone who wants to get involved?

I’m lucky to work in an industry that uplifts LGBTQ artists every day. A show like CATS: The Jellicle Ball is bringing queer joy to the masses; It’s an honor to help spread that message of positivity. 

And while the arts are important, there are direct lines of support that are downright essential. The Ali Forney Center works 24/7 (literally) to help queer kids in New York and beyond. Sign up to volunteer with them on their website (https://www.aliforneycenter.org/volunteer), or make a donation to help fund their life-saving work. You’ll be the Best Judy for doing so. 

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Tickets to the June 1 show can be purchased at ThousandJudys.com