EDGE Interview: Claybourne Elder Wants to Be Bad

EDGE: What was it like living in "The Gilded Age?"

Claybourne Elder:: It was amazing to be on such a wonderful show. In real life, it was tough, dirty, and smelly. It was very laced up and tight and there were lots of rules. That said, I did a lot of research about the gay and queer communities at that time. In New York City, there was a vibrant gay nightlife that people from the upper classes participated in, but when they started adding the words, "no homosexuals" into some of the laws things suddenly became a little more conservative. For me, there was a lot of exploration and freedom and there weren't as many labels. People didn't have to define themselves. Back then you could have an open interpretation of who you were. By no means did it mean freedom, but some things were more open than we imagined them to be.

EDGE: Are we getting a third season of "The Gilded Age" and will you be returning as John Adams?

Claybourne Elder:: We are getting a third season. They announced it over Christmas, and we will start filming this summer. It was pushed back because of the recent strikes. I'm so excited to be back. I can't wait. During the second season, I was in "Company" on Broadway, so they cut out a lot of my storyline. With this new season, I'm hoping for more of a storyline.

EDGE: Tell us about your organization, "City of Strangers."

Claybourne Elder:: It's one of the stories I tell in my show because it's maybe the craziest thing that's ever happened to me. I started "City of Strangers" to help people who can't afford to go to a Broadway show. We partner with community organizations to bring people into the space who don't always feel welcome. It's a way to get people excited about the theater and give people the chance to do something in their city that they love. To date, we've given away over 3,000 tickets. The tickets are not free. We pay for them. They're all paid for by a stranger. We're not like a ticketing service that's trying to give away tickets to shows that people don't want to see. We are giving away tickets to all the bestselling shows on Broadway.

EDGE: In July, you will kick off Summer 2024's Broadway @ Town Hall in Provincetown. What do you most enjoy about performing there?

Claybourne Elder:: I'm excited about it this summer particularly because my husband just took over the Cape Playhouse. He's the new artistic director. I am very excited to spend all summer as a Cape resident. Last summer, I did my show in Pt
own at the Art House, and it was supposed to be with Seth Rudetsky. On the morning, we went out there, Seth canceled because he got Covid. I did my show by myself, and it sold out both performances and it was great, but I didn't have a chance to bring people in to see it. I am excited to get to do a now-finished version of the show this summer at Town Hall. I love P-Town so much. My favorite thing about the audiences in P-Town is that they are generally the people I'm writing for.