Tonya Pinkins and More Set for THE MEETING* Benefit for Black Lives Matter

The Meeting* hosted by Justin Sayre - the monthly gathering of the International Order of Sodomites, the centuries-old organization which sets the mythic Gay Agenda - will open its eighth and final season on Sunday, September 18 at 9:30 PM at Joe's Pub at The Public Theater.

All proceeds from this evening will benefit "Black Lives Matter" and will feature performers who were slated to appear at the event that was to be presented on September 11 at Feinstein's/54 Below, but was cancelled by the venue.

Sunday night's show will include original songs from artists of color dedicated to and inspired by the "Black Lives Matter" movement, Broadway performers sharing songs in the spirit of the event, and activists educating the audience about the scope of the problems we have and how to promote positive change.

Performers include Tonya Pinkins, Anastacia, Jaime Cepero, Adriane Lenox, Zane Mark, Badia Farha, Michael R. Jackson and Abby Dobson. Tracy Stark serves as the evening's music director.

According to the "Black Lives Matter" benefit's original director Tonya Pinkins, "I am grateful to the brilliant Justin Sayre for his generous offer to donate the proceeds of his sold-out evening of The Meeting* to "Black Lives Matter" and "Say Her Name." The Movement For Black Lives recognizes that when we silently allow oppression of anyone we tacitly invite oppression of everyone. Myself, Adriane Lenox, Abby Dobson, Michael R. Jackson, Badia Farha and African American Policy Forum and BLM are delighted to share are our artivism."

The Meeting*, the acclaimed comedy/variety show known for its audacious humor, trailblazing political discourse and button-pushing cultural exploration, will come to an end at the conclusion of the 2016-2017 season. The show has been called "delicious and delightfully droll" by The New York Post and "hilarious and sardonic" by The Village Voice. A story for Slate.com called the evening "so deliciously icy that it left me shivering with fear and delight." Last season's shows sold out after a profile in The New York Times "Arts & Leisure" section. Other Fall 2016 season shows will feature tributes to gay icons Bette Midler (October 23), and Angela Lansbury (November 20), with the 8th Annual Holiday Spectacular! being held December 18.

The Meeting* will return to Oasis in San Francisco for its fifth show on November 5. Tickets are available HERE. Sparkle & Circulate with Justin Sayre, the official podcast of the International Order of Sodomites, was recently named among "10 Comedy Podcasts You Should Listen To" by Backstage. The show, featuring interviews with Randy Harrison, Alaska 5000, Nellie McKay, Justin VivIan Bond, Michael Musto, Frank DeCaro and R&B legend Sarah Dash, is available on iTunes here.

"The Gay Agenda" - the debut comedy album from Justin Sayre - is currently available on iTunes HERE and will be released as a physical CD on September 16, 2016.

Justin Sayre and The Meeting* - known for a signature blend of outrageous comedy, politics, culture and everything in between - were named among the Top nightclub shows of 2013 by Time Out New York, and received the 2012 Bistro Award for "Comedy Artistry" and a 2011 MAC Award nomination for Best Male Comedy Performance. Each month, the I.O.S gathers to honor an artist or a cultural work that is iconic to the gay community. Justin Sayre, the show's creator, writer and host, serves as the Chairman of the Board of the International Order of Sodomites and brings his singular wit to essential business of the day through such regular features such as "Letters to the Chairman" and "New Rulings from the Board." To keep up to date with videos from recent shows, subscribe to the I.O.S. YouTube channel.

Night of a Thousand Judys - the special all-star concert presentation of The Meeting* to benefit the Ali Forney Center - returned for its sixth annual installment in June 2016. The first five sold-out annual concerts featured the talents as R&B legends Martha Wash and Sarah Dash; jazz vocalists Madeleine Peyroux, Jane Monheit and Jessica Molaskey & John Pizzarelli; singer/songwriters Nellie McKay and Erin McKeown;Broadway ladies Carolee Carmello, Jackie Hoffman, Tonya Pinkins and leading men Howard McGillin, Telly Leung, Rory O'Malley and Daniel Reichard; downtown stars Justin VivIan Bond, Bridget Everett and Lady Rizo; nightlife fixtures Karen Mason, Maude Maggart and Karen Akers; and New York personalities Michael Musto, Austin Scarlett and Frank DeCaro, among many others. For more information, visit www.AliForneyCenter.org.

Justin Sayre, who has been described by Michael Musto in The Village Voice as "Oscar Wilde meets Whoopi Goldberg," was recently hailed as one the "Funniest People in Brooklyn" by Brooklyn Magazine and among "LA's 16 Most Talented LGBT Comics" by Frontiers Magazine. He currently works as a staff writer on the CBS sitcom "2 Broke Girls" and has appeared opposite Lisa Kudrow on HBO's "The Comeback." His first young adult novel, Husky, was published by Penguin Books in 2015 and a sequel will hit stands in 2017. His works for the theatre include: The Boy Sonata, presented at Hot! Queer Theatre Festival and The Wild Project; Rite of Water for Queer Pop-Up Museum; Justin Sayre Is Alive and Well...Writing at Ars Nova, which was called one of the "Top 10 Events on the New York Stage" by the New York Daily News; and The Click of the Lock which was a finalist for the Eugene O'Neill Festival and was last presented at The Players Club with Zachary Booth and Justin VivIan Bond. As Edge New York said: "Comedian, raconteur, performing artist, gay rights activist and sexual outlaw: I'm not sure Justin Sayre is classifiable. The veteran performer is on his way to becoming a Downtown Manhattan institution along the lines of Charles Ludlum or Charles Busch."

The Meeting* monthly events have featured popular guest stars such as Lea DeLaria, Tonya Pinkins, Tituss Burgess, Robin Byrd, Marilyn Maye, Christian Campbell, Joe Iconis, Frank DeCaro, Lance Horne, Lady Rizo, Kenny Mellman, Maude Maggart, Jack Ferver, Murray Hill, Jeffery Self, Cole Escola, Bridget Everett and more. Previous shows have paid tribute to singers such as Dolly Parton and Diana Ross; films like "Valley of the Dolls" and "Beaches"; actresses such as Bea Arthur and Molly Ringwald; as well as playwrights and filmmakers like Tennessee Williams and John Waters. 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."

Visit www.InternationalOrderofSodomites.com for more information.

The Meeting* hosted by Justin Sayre will be presented at JOE'S PUB at The Public Theater. The venue is located in The Public Theater, 425 Lafayette Street (between East 4th and Astor Place) NYC. . For tickets - which cost $20 - call (212) 967-7555 from 10:00 AM to 7:00 PM or visit joespub.com, or visit in person at The Public Theater Box Office at 425 Lafayette Street from 2:00 PM daily. There is a $12 food / two (2) drink minimum per person per show, unless otherwise noted. The Meeting* hosted by Justin Sayre is produced by Dan Fortune and Adam J. Rosen, with Dan Fortune serving as executive producer.

Named for Public Theater founder Joe Papp, Joe's Pub at The Public opened in 1998 and plays a vital role in The Public's mission of supporting young artists while providing established artists with an intimate space to perform and develop new work. Joe's Pub consistently presents the best in live music and performance nightly, continuing its commitment to diversity, production values, community and artistic freedom. The organization also offers unique opportunities like New York Voices, an artist commissioning program that provides musicians the resources and tools needed to develop original theater works. Commissioned artists have included Ethan Lipton, Toshi Reagon, Bridget Everett, Allen Toussaint and more. In 2011, the Pub received a top-to-bottom renovation, leading to improved sightlines, expanded seating capacity and a new menu from acclaimed Chef Andrew Carmellini. With its intimate atmosphere and superior acoustics, Joe's Pub presents talent from all over the world as part of The Public's programming downtown at its Astor Place home, hosting approximately 800 shows and serving over 100,000 audience members annually.