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.

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