Nathan Lee Graham Revives Judy Garland’s “Stormy Weather” for Pride Benefit
No frills, just facts: Nathan Lee Graham is gearing up to light up the New York stage in early Pride Month with a show-stopping tribute to Judy Garland. Fresh off the buzz from Hulu’s hit “Mid-Century Modern,” Graham will receive the second annual Judy Icon Award at the 13th annual Night of a Thousand Judys. The event takes place Monday, June 2, at Joe’s Pub inside The Public Theater, with proceeds benefiting the Ali Forney Center, which supports homeless LGBTQ+ youth.
Graham joins a constellation of Broadway, film and television names who each year reimagine Garland’s classics in one-night-only concerts. To build anticipation, the Night of a Thousand Judys creative team has released a chilling clip of Graham’s rendition of “Stormy Weather,” the torch song Garland immortalized at Carnegie Hall in 1961 and on her CBS variety series in 1963. Describing the piece as “powerful, daring and scary,” Graham told HuffPost that singing a torch song in public is a bold act of emotional release—and Pride Month is the perfect moment to embrace every shade of feeling.
Television and film producer Jeremy Katz will also be honored, accepting the Good Judy Award for his commitment to uplifting queer communities on-screen and off. “They say one is judged by the company they keep,” Graham quipped, noting that standing alongside past honoree Justin Vivian Bond feels like “doing something right.”
Since its 2012 debut, Night of a Thousand Judys has served as an inspiration show, breaking down barriers by spotlighting Garland’s timeless anthems—from 1954’s “The Man That Got Away” to the eternally hopeful “Over the Rainbow” of 1939. This year’s emcee, writer-performer Justin Elizabeth Sayre (2 Broke Girls), says Garland remains a “spiritual guide,” urging fans to “sing ’em all and stay all night.” Sayre, who is marrying their partner just days after the concert, reflects on current LGBTQ+ rights rollbacks and insists that Garland’s legacy reminds us to imagine a life in technicolor.
Even if you can’t snag a ticket at Joe’s Pub, you can still back the Ali Forney Center through online donations. Looking ahead, the 2025 lineup promises more marquee names, including RuPaul’s Drag Race alum Alexis Michelle and Tony nominee NaTasha Yvette Williams.
And there you have it—Judy’s torch still blazing, Graham’s voice rising, and Pride Month kicking off in spectacular fashion. Make of that what you will.
Sources: Celebrity Storm and HuffPost, The Public Theater, Ali Forney Center
Attribution: Creative Commons Licensed
