The Gay Hunk of Broadway Claybourne Elder made his Segerstrom Center for the Arts cabaret debut this past weekend, sharing stories and singing Sondheim as only the “Gilded Age” star can.
Having starred in such productions as the musical “Benny & Joon,” the remounting of “Company” with Patti Lupone, “Bonnie & Clyde,” “Venice,” and “Sunday in the Park with George,” Elder has been all over Broadway (and beyond) for the past seventeen years. While Broadway is his love, he is also a DIY renovator, and his work appears in Architectural Digest. As a self-taught chef, he is also the brand spokesperson for Dash. Not to mention, he’s a husband of twelve years and a dad! Where does he find the time?
His one-man cabaret show “If the Stars Were Mine” has traveled nationwide and stopped at the Samueli Theater in Orange County. Sort of a stand-up show mixed with tunes from shows past, Elder is a dashing and exuberant storyteller with a bit of a naughty side.
See Also: Theater Review: “Harry Potter and the Cursed Child” Overwhelms With Plot, but its Theatrical Magic Leaves You Spellbound
His tales run the gamut, from growing up as a gay Mormon to his travails trying to conceive a child through a surrogate and his joyful journey to Broadway. One of his most touching stories is how a stranger saw his excitement as he watched a Broadway show from the standing room section and gave him $200 to see “Sweeney Todd.” Elder did just that, and that night cemented his decision to move to NYC and pursue a life on the stage. He has since been reunited with the man (Mark Howell) and has now paid it forward by giving away tickets to “Company” to those who might not be able to afford them. Sparked by his generosity, more and more people gave him money to continue giving away tickets, and the “City of Strangers” non-profit was born.
Effortlessly charming, Elder’s show is consistently engaging, offering us a true glimpse into his personality, mischief, and earnestness on full display. He sprinkled a number of songs between his stories, including a few of Sondheim’s songs, as well as two songs he sings to his son every night at bedtime. But he also threw in some other fun tunes like Eartha Kitt’s ” I Want to be Evil,” a slowed-down take on Whitney Houston’s “I Want to Dance with Somebody,” and Judy Garland’s classic “Trolley Song” from Meet Me on St. Louis.
Some of Elder’s juicer tales might have been a bit much for the older crowd at the more conservative Orange County theater. Some of Claybourne’s stories and jokes landed harder for the younger and gayer audience members. Not so much for those that might have been taken aback by his – we’ll call it “bluntness.” (A song about wanting to shower with Han Solo was hilarious for some and awkward for others.) It was undeniably welcome for those who appreciate a little bawdiness.
Elder is a clearly gifted performer (and, yes, undeniably sexy), and his adorable way of telling a story is heart-warming, no matter the subject. Gays and Broadway fans should make it a point to see him when he stops in your town.
Claybourne Elder: If the Stars Were Mine played the Samueli Theater at the Segerstrom Center for the Arts Feb 20-22.
For information about upcoming cabaret shows, visit www.scfta.org/.
To donate to Claybourne’s non-profit, visit www.cityofstrangers.org.
