THE MEETING Honors FUNNY GIRL with Colleen McHugh, Santiago Venegas and Tori Scott, 10/18

The Meeting* hosted by Justin Sayre - the acclaimed gay comedy/variety show will continue their fourth season on
Thursday, October 18, 2012 at The Duplex in New York's West Village. According to Time Out New York, "The Meeting* has become a cult hit among a young, festive and culturally aware crowd. Sayre is an avatar of modern-retro cultivation." Each edition of The Meeting* honors a different
gay icon; the October show pays tribute to the classic musical "Funny Girl". Special musical guests include Colleen McHugh, Santiago Venegas and Tori Scott, with others to be announced. Tracy Stark serves as Musical Director.

The Meeting*, the monthly gathering of the I.O.S. (International Order of Sodomites), has become a downtown sensation with its signature blend of outrageous comedy, political and social activism, and cultural education. 

Justin Sayre - the show's creator, writer and host - serves as the Chairman of the Board. Each month, the I.O.S gathers to educate the membership on
essential business of the day through musical performances, skits, trivia and regular features such as "Letters to the Chairman" and "New Rulings from the Board." Justin Sayre and The Meeting* were named one of the Top 10 nightclub shows of 2011 by Time Out New York, received the 2012 Bistro Award for "Comedy Artistry" and a 2011 MAC Award nomination for Best Male Comedy Performance. The remainder of the season will celebrate the Hollywood legend Marlene Dietrich (November 15) and the annual Holiday Extravaganza (December 13).

The I.O.S is the centuries-old secret organization of homosexuals and their friends - modeled after The Mattachine Society and other groups - that sets the mythic gay agenda. "At the heart of the show is community," Justin comments, "something that even with all our advancements, we still find hard to create or to maintain. But the thing that has been amazing to me is the reach of the show. So often, straight men and women, fathers and
girlfriends, tell me they have had the best time. Comedy can really show people that we are all funny, fallible human beings stumbling around trying to do the right thing. There are differences of course, but by accepting them and celebrating them we show a pride in our common humanity that is infectious. The Meeting* is a gift: not something that I give, but something that I get. A chance to share my thoughts and ideas but also a great opportunity to celebrate gay culture. That's pretty good, huh?"

Below are the remaining dates and themes of the Fall 2012 Season:

Thursday, October 18
"FUNNY GIRL"

Among the classic musicals of the last 50 years, "Funny Girl" may be among
the most iconic - and gayest - with its towering breakout performance by
leading lady Barbra Streisand, infectious score by Jule Styne and Bob
Merrill and juicy theatrical lore. This edition of The Meeting* will feature
songs from this seminal backstage musical, in addition to special trivia.

Thursday, November 15
Marlene Dietrich

The essence of Deco glamour, the international film legend donned a tuxedo
and top hat to pioneer androgynous fashion at a time when Hollywood's gender
lines were rigidly defined. Privately bisexual, she flirted with onscreen
lesbianism. Also a noted song stylist, she introduced the famed torch song
"Falling In Love Again" and the camp classic "The Boys in the Back Room."

Thursday, December 13
HOLIDAY EXTRAVAGANZA

The annual Christmas show - always filled with musical merriment and comedy
shenanigans - both lampoons and celebrates the happiest time of the year,
with that special gay twist. Past features include "The Nativity of Quentin
Crisp," "Serving in Silence: The Rudolf The Red-Nosed Reindeer Story" and
the famous "Truth or Dreidel" game.

Past "agenda items" have addressed current issues such as the Anti-Homosexuality Bill in Uganda, the romantic saga of gay penguins at the San Francisco Zoo, and a guide to the so called "Gay Panic" defense. The organization's valuable Public Service Announcements have included the Houseboy Relocation Program, helping Fire Island's displaced hired hands, and the Twink Literacy Campaign, dedicated to educating today's youth about classic gay culture (soon to be a digital short).

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