Ep. 225: Night of a Thousand Judys | Justin Elizabeth Sayer on Judy Garland, Queer History & Cabaret NYC

Justin Elizabeth Sayer has been called "Oscar Wilde meets Whoopi Goldberg" by legendary columnist Michael Musto — and after this conversation, you'll understand exactly why. A novelist, playwright, television writer, and cabaret performer, Justin brings a depth of queer cultural knowledge that is as entertaining as it is essential. In this episode, Zach and Justin cover: The 14th annual Night of a Thousand Judys at Joe's Pub (June 1st, 7pm) and why it's unlike any other tribute show — performers don't do "their Judy," they have a conversation with Judy Garland as an artist The Ali Forney Center and why Justin has partnered with them since the very beginning — and why investing in LGBTQ+ youth is so critical right now Justin's queer culture encyclopedia From Gay to Z — what made the cut, who didn't (Trixie Mattel was not thrilled), and whether an addendum is coming Writing for The Comeback with Lisa Kudrow — how Bridget Everett connected them, a makeup artist who hated him on sight, and what it was like to work with Lisa The Sony Television project that was derailed by the pandemic — a dark, funny vampire series that RuPaul was involved in producing His upcoming Edinburgh Fringe solo show: Just Notice the Sayers: A 40-Year-Old Woman — a comedy and a tribute to his late friend, podcaster Katie Lazarus Growing up in Forty Fort, Pennsylvania, discovering performance at age 13 during a blackout, and how queer sensibility was always there before he had the language for it The New York downtown cabaret scene — how Justin Vivian Bond, Joey Arias, Bridget Everett, Taylor Mac, Cole Escola, Erin Markey, and others built something irreplaceable Why LGBTQ+ queer spaces are disappearing as younger generations retreat to apps — and why that matters What it means to carry queer history as a shield in this political moment, including the Oscar Wilde cell number tattoo Justin got after the first Trump election Two dream collaborators: Dawn French and Melissa McCarthy Also coming up for Justin: a new production of his play Three Little Girls and a Well (early 2027) and a commissioned play for the New York Public Library about Ray Bergen, a drag performer who played Carnegie Hall in the 1950s. Links: 🎟️ Tickets for Night of a Thousand Judys: thousandjudys.com 🏠 Ali Forney Center: aliforneycenter.org 📖 From Gay to Z — available wherever books are sold Podcast song by SIXFOOT 5: https://www.sixfoot5prod.com Apple: https://music.apple.com/us/artist/sixfoot-5/1551774977 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/5rHMzoU0G0fLhaBsrQiOOY?si=laSZ5hiKTYubJJyhrzf2JQ Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.