Episode 27! J. Claude Deering (Twitter/Instagram) chats with actor Claybourne Elder (The Gilded Age / HBO). Clay is a Drama Desk and Lucille Lortel nominated actor who appeared most recently on Broadway, playing “Andy” in the Tony Award-winning revival of Company. In fact this interview was recorded over the summer during the closing weeks of that historic show, so this chat serves in some ways as an interesting time capsule. Clay’s also known for his performances on Broadway in Sunday in the Park with George, Torch Song, Bonnie and Clyde, and in Sondheim on Sondheim at the Hollywood Bowl. On Television he’s known for his role as "Pete O’Malley" on The Carrie Diaries, and up next he’ll be returning as “John Adams” on the 2nd season of HBO’s The Gilded Age. Clay has been an out actor since the beginning of his career, and both he and his husband are advocates for LGBTQ youth. He’s also an active participant in The Covenant House’s sleepouts in solidarity with young people who are trying to overcome homelessness. Recently, Clay launched an initiative called City of Strangers NYC, to provide free tickets to people who can’t afford Broadway shows, which has gained unexpected attention nationally and was featured on CBS This Morning.

Followed by a second interview with Lauren Buglioli (Florida Man / Netflix). Lauren has been working as an actor since she was literally in diapers. After moving to London, England for middle and high school, she worked in film, television, radio and theatre. In her own words, she is "a person just doing her best". She’s also an actor, voiceover artist, audition coach, educator, dog mom and enthusiast. Her training includes London's Central School of Speech and Drama, The London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art, NYU, Stella Adler Studios, the Lee Strasberg Institute, UCB, Lesly Kahn, and others. She recently landed a big recurring role on the upcoming Netflix series, Florida Man, and she’s appearing in the upcoming feature film “Tyler Perry’s A Jazzman’s Blues”. She also has a Degree in Early Childhood Education and Special Education from NYU. And she’s adopted two dogs, "Vixen", and "Beverly Hills Cop II", and she desperately wants to show you a photo of them. Stick around for Lauren's interview, I promise you, you’re not gonna want to miss it.

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