The Spirit of Judy Materializes at Oil Can Harry’s

The spirit of Judy Garland, as channeled by Peter Mac, is coming to Studio City for the first time.

After a successful stint in West Hollywood at the French Market Place in West Hollywood—and being unceremoniously booted out of the venue—the show is coming to the San Fernando Valley for the first time to Oil Can Harry's. The show is moving to Studio City."

“We love Studio City, and we love the Valley,” said the show’s producer D.J. Schaefer, who also performs in the show. “We aren’t changing anything for the new location, we want all our audiences to have fun.”

It’s not a drag show, insisted Schaefer. It’s a show that attracts people of all ages—heterosexual and gay couples, senior citizens, bridal showers, leather clubs and more.

“Oil Can’s greatly appreciates us and the show, and Judy Garland herself was very inclusive in her life,” Schaefer said.

Peter Mac’s Supper Club reached more than 5,000 guests in over 125 shows. A new owner of the French Market Place thought one of their posters was inappropriate.

 “On more than one occasion, the owners of the property requested that we censor the work that we do,” Schaefer said. “The owners took issue with a fully clothed picture of Peter where his legs were slightly splayed, deeming it ‘too provocative.’"
 

Oil Can Harry’s is the longest running gay bar west of the Mississippi, and Schaefer said he is proud to be a part of a venue with such history and reputation.

 This fall, Peter Mac’s Supper Club will feature two main shows: Judy & Company and The Golden Girls. Judy & Company is a live performance in which Peter Mac gives each diva, telling stories from her life, singing the classics and captivating the audience with her humor and talent. In The Golden Girls, you can see these ladies live on stage in a loving, yet hilarious, parody tribute. Peter Mac brings this geriatric mother/daughter duo to the stage in an original script as if the ladies have broken down in front of Oli Can’s and find their way into the upstairs lounge.

“It takes maybe $70 for a wig and wardrobe to get into the character of Estelle Getty in ‘Golden Girls,’ and you can compare that to the hundreds or thousands of dollars spent on recreating Judy,” said Schafer, who plays the part of Bea Arthur.

The costume changes alone are incredible to watch, Schaefer said. Some are done within seconds.

Characters impersonated also include Bette Davis, Carol Channing, Liza Minnelli and many others.

For more about the show, visit www.friendofjudy.com. 

(See photos of the show, and two video clips above.)

The tickets go on sale starting Wednesday at 10 a.m. at the Brown Paper Tickets http://www.brownpapertickets.com/.