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THE OLDER LATEST NEWS Alex
Bond and David Carson were honored at the 2010 Fruits of Distinction Awards Ceremony for their reading of selections
from Ms. Bond's novel "LATE NIGHTS WITH THE BOYS: confessions of a leather bar chanteuse" at the 2009 Fresh Fruit
Festival. They each received a "Fruit of Distinction Award" for Best Special Event. The evening was a "hoot and a half"! David and Alex were joined by Leon
Stieb, Susan Baum, David Stallings and Antonio Minino.
David Carson and Alex Bond appeared as husband and wife in David Stallings' new play "Barrier
Island" at Center Stage April 30 - May 22, 2010. They portrayed Nate and Susie Capadona who run the bar
where all the charaters hang out. Gaveston, TX accents... How fun! THE CAST WAS A SUPERB ENSEMBLE, THE PLAY IS A GEM, DIRECTED BEAUTIFULLY, AND
OUR STAGE MANAGEMENT TEAM AND DESIGNING TEAM WERE THE BEST! SOME REVIEWS
ARE IN: Show Business Weekly by Eileen Reynolds "David L. Carson is instantly likeable as Nate, the friendly, hardworking bartender, and Alex
Bond is appropriately audacious as the well-meaning but pigheaded Susie, Nate’s wife and foil. Equally fun to watch
are Stu Richel as Bob, a politically incorrect, wisecracking Cappadona’s regular, and Carol Hickey as Cheryl, the stouthearted
single mother armed with an arsenal of smart retorts to Bob’s verbal barbs." and... BARRIER ISLAND
by David Stallings, at Center Stage, 48 W. 21st St. thru May 22nd, based on the true happenings
on Galveston Island, Texas, with the hurricane in 2008, is a homey, folky play that takes play in and outside of a bar just
before Hurricane Ike destroyed the island. It’s a complex, interesting story, and the real approaching
storm is a metaphor for the complications in the lives of these people, both romantic and financial. All
the actors and the characters as written are totally believable, totally convincing-- these ARE the people— from the
very old man (Stu Richel) to the twelve year old boy (Frankie Seratch). Jennifer Laine Williams and Anthony
Crep give a depth of feeling to their interactions that goes right to the heart. A powerful Alex Bond as a feisty woman and young Anne Clare Gibbons-Brown as the epitome of teenage rebel are outstanding,
and so is Mark Emerson as a troubled man, but the entire cast, including David L. Carson and Carol Hickey, is Broadway-level.
It’s one of the best directed shows (by Cristina Alicea), in terms of staging and emotional guidance and taste,
that I’ve seen. The fine set by Craig Napoliello, costumes by David Withrow and lighting by Dan Gallagher
enhance and make this adventure into the world of these people, who must decide whether to flee or withstand the hurricane,
real. I look forward to Part 2 of the trilogy about these folk, and their lives after the storm.
Through May 22nd. Richmond
Shepard-- Performing Arts INSIDER and lively-arts.com. Welcome to 99 AND UNDER THE RADAR: A LOOK AT INDIE THEATER'S MOVERS AND SHAKERS, BroadwayWorld's new
weekly series that showcases standout productions and production companies from the independent theater scene in New York
City. Each week, independent producer Michael Roderick will be discussing the latest goings on in the theatrical wings, highlighting
those with potentially bright futures. Next up is Maeutic Theater Works production of Barrier Island by David Stallings. The show takes place on Galveston Island in 2008, but the hurricane that was the subject of
that year pales in comparison to the complex web of relationships Stallings weaves with this piece. Stallings is a master
of dramatic irony, revealing elements about certain characters with the precision of a surgeon. After dispensing this information,
the audience watches as the piece unfolds and the most stunning thing to watch is what these people will say when they are
missing certain information. The only thing more surprising is the reaction of some of them once that information is revealed.
Much like August Osage County, one has to experience this show in order to not be robbed of the surprises it harbors. For
a show so complex, the performers make it look effortless. The show opens with Laura played with charm and wit by Jennifer
Laine Williams returning to town with her son Daniel, the talented Frankie Seratch and things start rolling from there. Most
of the action centers around the town bar which was expertly constructed by set designer Craig Napoliello. The comedic stylings of David L. Carson and Stu Richel keep the action light and very funny
until we start getting into the darker territory. Even then, there are still patches of very comedic moments effectively executed.
The entire cast is to be commended, for taking the issues this show addresses and tearing into them with fearlessness. Anthony Crep's Trey Dobbs is particularly effective as a war veteran and has amazing chemistry with Williams.
One of the funniest monologues of the entire show belongs to the versatile Alex Bond who tries to convince her local PTA to switch to 1-800-flowers. Interestingly enough, she goes
from a comedic bar tender to an emotional powerhouse later in the play. The show moves well thanks to Christina Alicea's careful
eye. Alicea does a wonderful job of balancing comedic moments with serious ones and never pushes her actors too far in either
direction. With the intensity of some of the scenarios presented, a lesser director might be tempted to push harder for the
emotional moments, but Alicea's even-handed direction makes the show all the more compelling. As with the others, there are
not too many performance left and the space is small. And
some "WOW" websites: THANK YOU TO ALL WHO LOVED US! WE LOVED DOING THIS PLAY!!!!!
* * * THE OLD LATEST NEWS From February 24 - March 7th David Carson and I had five one-hour
readings of "LATE NIGHTS WITH THE BOYS: confessions of a leather bar chanteuse" at the 2010 Frigid New York
Fringe Festival in New York City... We had a blast and got rave reviews. Woo-hoo!!!!!
Many thanks go to our director Steven Yuhasz (sjyuhasz@aol.com) who tightened up the reading and was a set of professional eyes and ears for us. He is amazing! Also many thanks
to our PR/Marketing person Antonio Minino (Antonio@Kampfirefilmspr.com) who got the reviewers there and took such good care of David and myself. He too is amazing! AND Ms. Susan Baum
was invaluable with her hostessing and box office help and general great support! If you need voice lessons give Susan a
call/email (suzeco@aol.com). She's fabulous! TO
READ THE REVIEWS AND INTERVIEWS AND OTHER COOL INFO check out AND check out * * * MORE NEWS. . . . . . . . . . .
I was most pleased to be part of a reading of David Stallings play "Barrier Island" on November 9th and
16th of 2009.
Maieutic Theatre
Works and producing director
Julie Griffith presented a reading of BARRIER ISLAND by award-winning playwright David
Stallings, directed by Cristina Alicea.
Featuring Alex Bond* (Flamingo
Court), Anthony Crep, Mark Emerson*, Anne Clare Gibbons-Brown, Carol Hickey*
(Golden Boy of the Blue Ridge), Amanda Jones* (Marie Antoinette: The Color of Flesh), Trip
Plymale* (The Robber Bridegroom), Javier Spivey and Stewart Steinberg*.
The first of three plays in The Galveston Cycle, BARRIER ISLAND is a drama about a fearless and stubborn
community that rests their lives against the historic wall that protects Galveston Island from natural disasters, while a
younger generation challenges the emotional disasters no wall can protect. Here's to the future of the play. And
I have been asked to do the showcase in April/May 2010. I said "yes"! More on that later. * * * MORE OTHER
ITEMS.................... *
#1
...... Tuesday, July 21st, 2009.....A reading of selections from my book
LATE
NIGHTS WITH THE BOYS:confessions of a leather bar chanteuse and it was a smash hit. Carol Polcovar and the Fresh Fruit Festival folks were so helpful and welcoming;
David and I were thrilled to be working together again; and our audience was so responsive and loving. And.....
now we will see what happens next!
The book reading (that David and I have done at other fringe festivals) was included
in the 2009 Fresh Fruit Festival in NYC. Our time slot was Tuesday, July 21st at 6pm for an hour reading at the Hudson
Guild Theatre @ 441 West 26th Street between 9th and 10th Avenues. Elsewhere on this site are
reviews from previous readings in Dallas, P'town & San Francisco. * * * * * * #2 ...... The play
version of my book (I'm still trying to figure out a good title) was a semi-finalist in the "Reverie
Productions Next Generation Playwriting Contest" for 2009. The piece didn't make it any further, but
I am still thrilled that it made it "almost to almost". * * * And #3 ...... "Flamingo Court"
at New World Stages closed on July 19th. I am so happy and grateful to report that this time around I had a role -- that of CLARA. I
also understudied FOUR other parts. (last time in 2008, I was solely the female understudy). This time as understudy
I got to play Chi Chi for four weeks. It has been a great run!!!!!! Some photos are below. ***********
| As CHI CHI LA BOO BOO in "Flamingo Court" | 
| 2009 
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| As CLARA in "Flamingo Court" | 
| 2009
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WHAT ELSE HAS BEEN HAPPENING? The
San Francisco Fringe Festival. David Carson and Susan Baum were at the 2008 Fringe from September
3 - 8, 2008 reading from my book. They had a grand time and did a magnificent job reading. We
received a BEST LITERARY STAGING award
from the 2008 San Francisco Fringe! ! ! ! ! ! ! My deepest gratitude to all who made
that possible: Susan, David, Christina, Amanda, Teresa, Richard, Gary and the myriad volunteers at the festival. I couldn't be there. I had to stay in New York.
Why? Well,
up until September 28, 2008 I was understudying four roles on an Equity contract for "Flamingo Court" at
the New World Stages here in NYC. (I covered two roles for Anita Gillette and two roles for Lucy Martin) And on August
25, 2008, I got to go on. I did three of the roles (Anita was out) and had a blast ! ! ! ! Truly a grand and glorious
time with compliments to my fellow players, stage management, and the crew who made the put-in and the performance so
easy for me. I am truly blessed. I want to thank Mark Simon and Steven Yuhasz for this amazing opportunity.
Did I say I had a blast ? ! ! ! ! ! ! ! * * * * * * * * * * * * *
* * So I got the book out there.... even without me. David and Susan did a spectacular
job of reading. The reviews acknowledge this. I hope this will get interest in the book... for an agent or publisher.
The audience reviews are below. Play: Late Nights with the Boys
Reviewer: Elsa
5 Stars
Phenomenal! I forgot completely where I was - I was totally in that Manhattan apartment with them, in Dallas too.
I could have listened for another hour at least... not to mention seen it
all in action. Well done
Play: Late Night with the Boys
Reviewer: rana
5 Stars
it started looking boring when i saw they were doing a reading and not a live action play.but what a reading! the performers are so talented. they became their characters right
there in their chairs. it was funny, touching, vivid and at the same time, a history lesson of an era in time so rare, that
i feel lucky to have experienced it through this show.
Play: Late
Night With The Boys
Reviewer: David D
4 Stars
Nice job by the two readers.
The story about a
female singer pulled into the night life scene of all gay men. I was enticed into script by their emotional heart felt performances
and interplay of the material.
Recommended
Play: Late
Night with the Boys
Reviewer: Pat
5 Stars
This show was nothing like what I expected, which was a
re-enactment of scenes in a leather bar. When I saw that it was 2 people reading scripts, I was prepared to be very disappointed.
I was not prepared to have tears running down my face for the second half of the show, and to be asking them where I could
buy the book from which the script came. This is a very poignant story of a straight woman's love for her gay friends, and
the magical (I wanted to say "fairy tale," no pun intended) life they lived before AIDS, when they were able to
stay out of mainstream Dallas's violent prejudice. The two actors were so good that it felt like a play, not a reading.
Play: LATE NIGHTS WITH THE BOYS
Reviewer: Mia PaschalI am so very happy that I saw this jewel of a performance.
Not even five minutes into it, I knew that this was a show I did not want to end - and five hours later, I still feel that
way. It reminded me of how apt and lovely a staged reading can be, how it can be an art in and of itself. The two actors are
superb, their chemistry is a true pleasure to behold, and the writing sparkles. I want to read the book now, to have more,
but this was the perfect introduction. There's only one more show (Monday 8/8) - I hope many more people will see it before
it returns to NYC.
Play: Late Night With the Boys
Reviewer: Anun
4 Stars
It's really a shame this show ends on the 8'th. Two extremely engaging performers and a
charming tale made for an unexpectedly wonderful Late Night.
Play:
LATE NIGHTS WITH THE BOYS: confessions of a leather bar chanteuse
Reviewer: Steve
4 Stars
I
was a bit apprehensive when I saw that this was a "reading". I'm very glad that I did not let that keep me from
the show. The material is excellent and the two readers do a great job with it. If you are familiar with "Word for Word",
this presentation is similar. Also,
there is a wonderful review by Sister Dana Van Iquity (S.P.I.) in the San Francisco Bay Times. |
| | | | THE SAN FRANCISCO BAY TIMES |
Late Nights With The Boys is Boisterous Reading at The
Fringe By Sister Dana
Van Iquity
Published: September 11, 2008 |
Alex Bond is in process of completing what would appear to be a hilarious new novel, Late Nights with the
Boys: Confessions of a Leather Bar Chanteuse, giving an up-close and personal peek back at the fast and furious leather scene
during the late ‘70s. Those of us at the SF Fringe Festival event at EXIT theatre were treated to a fascinating reading
of a chapter by two very skilled actors.Susan Baum
passionately played the part of Anna Zander, a Southern belle from way back, who is writing her memoirs. Anna is not afraid
to use the f-word as in “f__k,” but loathe in hearing the f-word as in “faggot.” Baum is an accomplished
professional in all aspects of the performing arts, including film, TV, and theater. David L. Carson played the part of a
self-employed journalist who has landed the lucrative job of interviewing Anna and at the same time acquiring a dear friend
in the process. Carson has been a native New Yorker for 34 years acting in and directing more than 25 productions
and workshops over the last 15 years. Both readers really dug in to their scripts, showing every emotion imaginable from tears
of laughter to tears of sorrow. It is by no means all laughs —especially when Anna/Alex vividly describes an extremely
brutal gay-bashing. Alex Bond is an actress, comedienne,
playwright, lyricist, dresser, and now a novelist. She claims she decided at age seven that she was going to live her life
so it would make a good book. I have no idea whether this book is semi-autobiographical or not, but as they say, a writer
writes what a writer knows.I’m guessing there’s
a lot of Alex in Anna. A quote from a chapter that was read gave a taste of what Anna is all about: “In 1977, when Anna
was singing in the gay leather bars of Dallas with her [gay] friend Mario, she entered a far away land where the sex was rough
and the décor was flawless; where self-esteem was low; and everyone on the dance floor was high. She has been to Never-Never Land, and she has shared laughs and tears and poppers with the Lost Boys there. She lived
there for almost two years, and they were the best years of her life.” Anyone who had the privilege of living the later
‘70s in gay bars will delight in this trip (pun intended) down memory lane. And if one has not had such an experience,
what a learning opportunity this will be! These were the pre-AIDS days, when condoms were only for straights who wanted to
avoid pregnancy. The writing is deft, quirky,
both neat and messy (on purpose), verbose yet succinct, and so very, very colorful. It fairly flows with wit and passion.
This could so easily become a hit play - after it’s a hit novel. Who knows, maybe
even a hit musical?! One of the lines from
that night’s reading referred to the writer’s appetite being whetted over some salacious, highly personal information
that Anna defiantly did not want disclosed in her autobiography. When he said his appetite was whetted, she snapped back,
“Well, you’d best un-whet it, then!” My hope is that this review has whetted Bay Times readers’ appetites.
I know I am certainly salivating until I get to review the whole book! | |
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* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * The hunt for a literary agent still resides in my frontal lobe.
(This is tougher than getting an agent for acting.) I just realized I have spent most of my adult life looking
for someone to take 10% of me (although literary agents want at least 15% -- I'm moving up in the world). Well, I
continue to be patient with the process....... for the time being. And I am keeping busy and creatively
juicy formulating an essay on the picketing in NYC for the stagehands, and a project that might become a musical. So,
no idle brain cells here! Please send good vibes re: the agent thing.
Now, back to past readings: David Carson and I had a spectacular time in P'town! Just spectacular...
You know, it's a wonderful thing
when one finds one's voice and knows what one wants to say; then it is even nicer when one finds out people really like what
one says; hence this means that what one says has value and needs to be heard. Ah, the neverending
quest to justify existence! On
September 10, 2007 in Provincetown, MA David Carson and I read from my book "LATE NIGHTS WITH THE BOYS: confessions
of a leather bar chanteuse" at the Provincetown Theater. The reading began at 7:30pm. The
theatre building had such wonderful vibes - a rich, grand history of previous players. David and I were inspired to
be absolutely fabulous! The Artistic Director of The New Provincetown
Players is Guy Wolf - what a great guy! And we are indebted to him for giving us this opportunity.
Here's what Guy had to say: "Confessions...
is a funny, shocking,poignant slice of gay/straight history. (It) completely captures its time period with love, joy
and sorrow." He added, "It was perfect." ……….
Guy Wolf – Producing Artistic Director, The New Provincetown Players
Thank you, Guy Wolf!!!!!
For this reading
procedes benefitted the AIDS support group of Cape Cod. My dear Leon was there this time.
That made me so very happy. Also
regarding the book: David Carson and I returned from the DFW Fringe Festival in April 2007. We read from my book
"LATE NIGHTS WITH THE BOYS: confessions of a leather bar chanteuse" in the Spoken Word category. Tim Shane
(artistic director of the Dallas Hub Theatre where we performed) has awarded our offering a "PRODUCER'S PICK" award!
Yea us!!!!!! Here's what Tim had to say: “…I found myself
surprised, inspired and captivated with each turn. Also, in a world dominated by either gratuitously gay plays or neo-conservative
candy, this story is refreshingly delightful while at the same time taking itself just serious enough. I can’t
wait to see the finished product, which I hope is a play.”
Tim Shane, Dallas Hub Theatre Thank you, Tim Shane! Thanks to an observant friend, Bill Kozy, I found out I was a finalist in the Estrogenius
Festival 2007 in NYC. I submitted my short play and only got the 'rejection' email from them. It wasn't
until Bill kindly emailed me a 'congrats! on being a finalist' that I knew I was a finalist. Thank you, Bill
Kozy! So, I didn't get in this year; but "finalist"
is kinda cool. It's on their website: Go to "finalists" and there is my short play "Disparate Housewives"
listed. As I said --- kinda cool. Also, David and I are offering a reading of "LATE NIGHTS..." as a
fund raiser for theatres and/or AIDS support groups in the NYC area. Let us know if you are interested or know someone
who is! FOR MORE LOVELY
QUOTES FROM FABULOUS FOLKS, PLEASE GO TO THE "ABOUT THE BOOK" SECTION OF THIS WEBSITE. | ALEX in DALLAS IN 1978 | 
| photo by John Walker, 1978
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More to come! 
|  | | Please get in touch with any comments or reactions to my site. ALEX BOND -- writer-actress-leather bar chanteuse
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BOAS R US!
more on this later
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favorite things
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