'Night Of A Thousand Judys' Celebrates The Garland Legacy With Broadway, Jazz And Pop Performances

In what has become a hotly-anticipated LGBT Pride Month tradition, New York- and Los Angeles-based writer-actor Justin Sayre will host an evening of stellar performances dedicated to the legacy of Judy Garland for a great cause.

Artists from Broadway, television and downtown cabaret are slated to hit New York's Merkin Concert Hall at the Kaufman Center June 1 for "Night of a Thousand Judys," which is a special presentation of Sayre's variety show, "The Meeting." Melissa Errico, Michael Feinstein, Molly Pope and The Skivvies are among the many performers on the 2015 lineup.

Now in its fifth year, “Night of a Thousand Judys” will benefit the Ali Forney Center, an advocacy group dedicated to homeless lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) teens and young adults.

These two exclusive clips from the 2014 show highlight the scope of fine performances audiences can expect on June 1. At top, Sayre opens the show with “That’s Entertainment!” from the 1953 MGM classic "The Band Wagon," and even shows off some fancy footwork, courtesy of choreographer Jason Wise.

Below, jazz vocalist Gabrielle Stravelli performs Irving Berlin’s "Mr. Monotony," which Garland sang in a number that was eventually cut from 1948's “Easter Parade.” It's a perfect fit for Stravelli, who also hosts her own podcast, "Big Modern Music."

Sayre also interviewed Ali Forney Center founder Carl Siciliano for his latest "Sparkle & Circulate with Justin Sayre" podcast. You can check that out here.

Meanwhile, you can also view some previous performances from "The Meeting" on Sayre's official YouTube page. For more Sayre, head to Facebook and Twitter, too.

“Night of a Thousand Judys” plays New York's Merkin Concert Hall at the Kaufman Center on June 1. Head here for more details.