Maude Maggart and Molly Pope Join Justin Sayre for The Meeting* on Thursday

The Meeting* hosted by Justin Sayre, 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, will present their newest edition on Thursday, December 15 at 9:30 PM. The Meeting* – the monthly gathering of the I.O.S. (International Order of Sodomites) – is a gay romp through politics (sexual and otherwise), social news, music, comedy skits, and other important life-changing information. Justin Sayre and The Meeting* were named one of the Top 10 nightclub shows of 2011 by Time Out New York and got a 2011 MAC Award nomination for Best Male Comedy Performance and just na. The show's special guests will include Maude Maggart (Entertainment Weekly's "Must List"), Molly Pope ("Best Singer to Turn Life into a Cabaret" – Village Voice Best of NYC 2011). Randy Rainbow (VH1, "Randy Rainbow Is Dating Mel Gibson"), Cole Escola (Logo TV's "Jeffrey & Cole Casserole") and the celebrated musical comedy performer Sidney Meyer. Each edition of The Meeting* honors a different gay icon; the holiday extravaganza will pay tribute to once again to famed gay writer and raconteur Quentin Crisp, who was born on Christmas Day.

The Meeting* hosted by Justin Sayre 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 centuries-old secret organization of homosexuals and their friends. He says, "I wanted a show where we could have a good laugh at ourselves, while getting some information out there. The Internet is great and easy to create a virtual community, but I think so much more is done in person, face to face. Plus if you can get a laugh, well that's just heaven." Audience response has been ecstatic.

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 Frank DeCaro, Natalie Joy Johnson, Kenny Mellman, Jack Ferver, Murray Hill, Jeffery Self and Cole Escola, Molly Pope, Steve Hayes, Bridget Everett, Poor Baby Bree and more.

In June 2011, The Meeting* presented Night of A Thousand Judys at Joe's Pub honoring the iconic entertainer Judy Garland, its second annual all-star benefit for The Ali Forney Center – the nation's largest organization dedicated to serving homeless LGBT youth. The sold-out evening featured performances by Jackie Hoffman, Daisy Egan, Paul Iacono, Gay Marshall, Randy Rainbow, Emily Bergl, Ryan O'Connor, Jeff Hiller and more. Yale University presented a special edition of The Meeting* this spring as part of their Pride Month. Justin's official monthly podcast of The Meeting*, co-hosted by I.O.S. Secretary and MAC Award-winner performer Matt Sigl, is available at www.themeetingpodcast.blogspot.com.

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 July 2011, two of his short plays were presented by the "Fame and Shame on the LES" performance series. This 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.

Maude Maggart, the chanteuse who started her performing career in the clubs of New York and Los Angeles, has exploded into one of today's most compelling international concert artists. She has been hailed as "bewitching" by The New York Times, "utterly enchanting" by the New York Post, "stunning" by the Los Angeles Times and "transfixing" by New York Magazine. Maude has been featured on NPR's "Morning Edition," a Time Out New York cover story and Garrison Keillor's "A Prairie Home Companion." She made her screen debut in a new movie about composer Kurt Weill by director/actor/screenwriter Robert Downey, Sr. Maude is the scion of an acclaimed show business family: her grandmother starred in the George White Scandals of 1926, her grandfather was the star vocalist for the famed Harry James Big Band, her parents met while performing with Lauren Bacall in the Broadway musical Applause, and her sister is Fiona Apple.

Molly Pope was recently named the "Best Singer to Turn Life Into a Cabaret" by the Village Voice in their 2011 "Best of NYC" issue. She is a rising actress, concert artist and comedienne whose shows include "The Diva-lution of Molly Pope" (Joe's Pub, The Laurie Beechman Theater), "The Molly Pope Show" (Joe's Pub). She is a frequent guest at the critically "The Meeting* with Justin Sayre", and has performed in the hit long-running Top Ten Countdown show, "Our Hit Parade", at Joe's Pub over 25 times. Other concert and live appearances include "Cafe Panache" at the Griffin, "Foreign Affairs" at the Night Hotel, "Tingel Tangel Club", and regular guest hosting at "Mostly Sondheim" at The Duplex. Current projects include the monthly "MIXER with Molly Pope" at Vlada Bar (Time Out New York Critic's Pick), headlining the Springfield Black Tie 2011 AIDS in the Ozarks fundraiser and a debut album, slated for release summer 2012.

Cole Escola is best known for his anti-legendary TV show "Jeffery & Cole Casserole" on the Logo Network which came about after a series of YouTube videos he created with friend and co-writer Jeffery Self became popular. He has appeared on "Law & Order" as a special needs teenager and performs regularly all over New York City – including his one-man nightclub act at Joe's Pub – as various older women, Taylor Swift, himself, or some combination of the three. His proudest achievement is his Twitter profile. You can follow him @ColeEscola.

Randy Rainbow (yes, real name) is a writer, actor, comedian and Internet celebrity based in New York City. Rainbow is most notable for a series of humorous YouTube viral videos, including his breakout video, "Randy Rainbow is Dating Mel Gibson," which received more than 60,000 views in its first week. He has been a theatrical critic/interviewer for HX Magazine (one of New York's most prominent gay publications) and has hosted and performed in a number of theatrical concerts and benefits around NYC. He has been heard as both a guest and guest co-host on Sirius XM's OutQ radio. His videos appear regularly on popular blogs such as Towleroad, Queerty, PerezHilton.com and VH1's BestWeekEver.tv. Randy has most recently been seen on VH1's "The 100 Hottest Songs of the 2000's" special and is currently working on a live show, which will tour in 2012. He is single, if you know anyone.

Sidney Myer is an acclaimed performer called "an engagingly mischievous dispenser of musical repartee" by The New York Times, "a superb entertainer" by the New York Post and simply "a howl" but the New York Daily News. In 2009 he was featured above the fold in the cover story on the New York Times "Arts & Leisure" section with the headline "Saviors of the American Songbook." His Off-Broadway credits include Grandma Sylvia's Funeral, Dressing Room, Split Ends, the Kaye Playhouse's 25th Anniversary revival of Irene, La Gran Scena Opera Co.'s appearance at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival and Beauty and the Beast at Theater By the Sea. Off Broadway credits include Times Square Angel with Charles Busch, The Boys In The Band, Laughing Wild and The Call. He was a regular on the nationally syndicated radio program "The Joey Reynolds Show," has appeared in TV commercials for RCA Victor and New York Lotto, and is the recipient of Mabel Mercer Foundation's Cabaret Classic and Paula Lawrence Awards.

"If you fancy yourself a smart, funny homosexual, you simply have to attend The Meeting*", according to Frank DeCaro of Sirius XM Radio, "But while you're sitting there sipping a Brandy Alexander, don't imagine yourself to be smarter, funnier or gayer than host Justin Sayre because you're not. He's as sharp as they come, hilarious as all get out and even Oscar Wilde would have told him to butch it up – which makes this fearless leader of the I.O.S. a most commanding presence on stage."

The Meeting* hosted by Justin Sayre will be presented at The Duplex, located at 61 Christopher Street at 7th Ave, New York, NY 10014, on Thursday, December 15 at 9:30 PM. There is a $10 cover charge and a two-drink minimum. You must be 21+ years of age to attend. For reservations, please visit www.theduplex.com. The Meeting* hosted by Justin Sayre is produced by Adam J. Rosen and Dan Fortune.