ABOUT
OUr MISSION
CITY OF STRANGERS encourages artists, supporters, and leaders to build community through acts of kindness by making tickets to performances accessible to all theater lovers regardless of ability to pay.
The mission to “pay-it-forward” was inspired by a random act of kindness—the life-changing gift of a ticket to a Broadway show for City of Strangers co-founder, Broadway’s Claybourne Elder. That moment of unexpected connection instilled the belief that acts of kindness can have lasting effects.
We work directly with the supporters and community members to remove financial barriers for theater-lovers by providing tickets to individuals and community organizations who may not otherwise be able afford them. We also collaborate with artists to deepen the theater-going experience with talkbacks, meet & greets, and other enrichment programming.
City of Strangers is a 501(c)(3) registered in the state of New York.
Our values
Kindness
Inclusivity
Dignity
Gratitude
Transformation
OUR PARTNERS
Arthur Miller Foundation
Covenant House
Professional Performing Arts School
Waterwell
Wendy Wasserstein Project
Arthur Miller Foundation Covenant House Professional Performing Arts School Waterwell Wendy Wasserstein Project
Jessica Chastain
Claybourne Elder
Seth Fradkoff
Aryan Moayed
Marc Shaiman
Jessica Chastain Claybourne Elder Seth Fradkoff Aryan Moayed Marc Shaiman
Suffs
Some Like It Hot
A Strange Loop
Ain't No Mo
Ain't Too Proud
Company
A Doll's House
Suffs Some Like It Hot A Strange Loop Ain't No Mo Ain't Too Proud Company A Doll's House
OUR TEAM
CLAYBOURNE ELDER, Founder & Board Member
Claybourne Elder is an actor, singer, writer, and co-founder of City of Strangers. Elder is a SAG Award, Grammy, Drama Desk, and Lucille Lortel nominee known for his performances in Company, Sunday in the Park with George, Torch Song, and Bonnie & Clyde; Sondheim’s Road Show at the Public Theater; and from screen credits including The Gilded Age and The Carrie Diaries. Claybourne’s life was profoundly shaped by a stranger’s unexpected act of generosity—a gifted ticket to a Broadway show while visiting New York City. That story, which inspired his lifelong commitment to paying it forward, was featured on This American Life, The Kelly Clarkson Show, and CBS This Morning and laid the foundation for City of Strangers. He lives in New York City with his husband, Eric Rosen, and their young son Bo.
ERIC ROSEN, Co-Founder & Board Member
Eric Rosen is an award winning, director, writer, and producer, and his work has been seen on and off-Broadway and on stages around the country in more than 100 productions. At BCP, he directed Tick Tick .. boom! and American Jade. He is Artistic Director of the Cape Playhouse, and held that post at Kansas City Repertory Theatre Chicago’s About Face Theatre, which he was also co-founded. Eric has been honored with multiple theater awards in Chicago (the Jefferson), Philadelphia (the Barrymore), and Washington DC (the Hayes). His pioneering work LGBTQ youth has been recognized by numerous civic awards, including Chicago’s LGBTQ Hall of Fame. His original musical Venice, written with Matt Sax (Best Musical of the Year, Time) and appeared at the Public Theater, featuring Leslie Odom Jr. and Uzo Aduba and its popular cast recording was released by Ghostlight. His acclaimed short film Netuser, starring Denis O’Hare, was recently released on Tiny Scripted. He’s currently at work on a new musical about the historic rivalry between Bram Stoker and Oscar Wilde, as well as a scripted series to be released on Audible. Rosen is a graduate of UNC-Chapel Hill and holds a Ph.D in performance studies from Northwestern University. He lives in New York City with his husband, actor Claybourne Elder, and their young son Bo.