In case you missed it, Y’all Weekly caught up with “Sex, Lies, and A Sycamore Tree” writer and director Elaine Alexander — as well as actress Elyse Williams — to talk about the play’s new life as a summer fundraiser for the Fort Mill Community Playhouse, running September 10th through 20th.
In addition to originating the role of Tracy in that production, Williams is also nominated for the “Theatre Person of the Year” award at the Metrolina Theater Awards.
You can watch the interview as a video, listen to it on the Y’all Weekly Podcast, or read the transcript below.
Elaine Alexander and Elyse Williams on “Sex, Lies, and A Sycamore Tree”
Below is a transcript of our conversation with Elaine and Elyse, lightly edited for style and readability.
Y’all Weekly: Hey everybody, this is Sam Spencer with Y’all Weekly, and I am happy to be joined by Elyse Williams and Elaine Alexander to talk about the play Sex, Lies, and a Sycamore Tree. How are y’all doing today?
Elaine Alexander: Doing great.
Elyse Williams: Wonderfully.
Y’all: First off, Elyse, I wanted to ask you: the Metrolina Theatre Awards nominations came out this week, and you were nominated for Theatre Person of the Year. Congratulations, number one. And number two, what does that honor mean for you and the work you’ve been doing?
Elyse: Well, I’m glad I’m wearing waterproof makeup because I would start crying talking about this, because as soon as the nominations came out, I was overwhelmed. This was such an honor. I have been active in the theater community here in Charlotte since I moved here in 1986. I’ve been on stage with most of the original theatre companies and am so grateful to be cast in so many different plays over the years.
I was also instrumental in starting Actors Theatre of Charlotte. There were just four of us that decided to change Golden Circle Theatre into Actors Theatre of Charlotte, so I served on the board there for 16 years. I got to see how things were produced and was just so amazed at the quality of not only the board, but also the behind-the-scenes folks who made Actors Theatre so successful for so many years.
As a new playwright, I am overwhelmed with the wonderful response that my original plays have gotten over the past year. We started with Love, Compassion and Comedy at Charlotte’s Off-Broadway earlier this year in February, and then I opened The Worst Motel in the State at the Arts Factory in June, getting an overwhelming response. So I’m really encouraged about continuing to work, not only on stage, but behind the scenes, because it really takes both onstage performers and so much work done by artistic directors and backstage volunteers. We have such a rich talent pool in Charlotte.
I just so appreciate the Metrolina Theatre Association nominating me for Theatre Person of the Year. I just feel overwhelmed and so appreciative. As a producer, I produced the Metrolina Theatre Association Gala for three years in a row. This year I had to step back because I was so involved with producing my plays, but I will absolutely be attending. I don’t know if you saw the other names of people who have been nominated, but I am just so honored because of all the work that everyone does.
Y’all: Awesome. Elaine, you wrote this play, you’re directing it, and Elyse is starring in it. Tell us more about how Sex, Lies, and a Sycamore Tree came together.
Elaine: Well, it was my MFA creative thesis. I got an MFA in Creative Writing from Spalding University, and the creative thesis is the capstone. I wanted to write a play that had to do with the environment. I always believe in writing what I see, and what I see is a lot of residential overdevelopment and trees being taken down. Here in the Carolinas, it’s kind of hard to ignore—it’s everywhere. So yeah, I like to write about the world around me, and this is definitely around me as a Charlottean and in the Metrolina area in general. It’s certainly happening down in Fort Mill, for sure.
Y’all: Obviously the title is reminiscent of a [late ‘80s] film with James Spader and Andie MacDowell. Is there any connection there other than the title?
Elaine: Zero! There is no actual sex, okay? But there is marital shenanigans, marital misbehavior, fooling around going on. And there’s definitely a lot of deception, a lot of lies, and there’s a sycamore tree. So it worked! But there is absolutely no connection to that film. It just works with what the play is about, because there’s a lot of lying—and Elyse knows about that, because her character is not exactly the most straight-up person. There’s a lot of hanky-panky, but it’s not an explicit play. And we don’t know the fate of the sycamore tree until the end of the play.
Y’all: Going into that, Elyse, tell us about your character, who you’re playing, and how that works out.
Elyse: Okay, so Elaine cast me in the role of Tracy last year. She had seen my work before, so she felt like I brought the right level of everyday woman, the girl next door—in this case, the neighbor next door—but also some sensuality, and would be believable.
I like this role because it’s very complex, and I like complex characters. She has been married for a long time, has two grown daughters, and loves where she lives, especially because of the tree that’s still standing in her yard. So when we’re invited over to our next-door neighbor’s house for cocktails and hors d’oeuvres, I don’t want to go. There’s a reason that I’m not going to spoil for our audience’s sake, but the couple who comes over meets the couple that have been next-door neighbors for a year, but never met. The conversation turns very dark early on in the play because the woman who lives in the McMansion is obsessed with the tree in my yard. So there’s a lot of animosity and tension, and then as the play continues, reasons are revealed as to why there’s so much tension. I really love this character, I love the way Elaine has written it, and I enjoy playing it so much.
Elaine: And she’s absolutely incredible to watch. I could not have found a better person—she gets all those layers. She’s so perfect because Tracy is a very complex character. She’s an environmentalist and a tree hugger, but she’s not perfect. None of the characters are. I just love watching her on stage and feel very honored to have her in the cast.
Y’all: Last year, you put this on at Charlotte’s Off-Broadway. Clearly, there’s a demand to see it again because Sunday is already sold out this weekend. How did it make its way to Fort Mill, and why is it important that this is billed as a fundraiser for Fort Mill?
Elaine: They had a call for directors, and after winning an MTA Award for Best Director in 2024, I applied to be a director. They said, “No, Elaine, we don’t want you as a director, but we do want your play Sex, Lies, and a Sycamore Tree—would you direct that?” So I was honored and thrilled. I love that little theater company; it puts on great work in a small space, has great talent, and a very dedicated crew behind the scenes. I’m so happy that ticket sales will help Fort Mill Community Playhouse reach its goal of finding a larger space, because the small stage limits the kind of productions they can do.
Y’all: Elyse, I know you worked with Actors Theatre of Charlotte for a long time. Y’all Weekly started as a project after one of our co-founders lost his job when ATC closed down. This past month, Queen City Nerve, one of the big cultural institutions of Charlotte, named this play one of their “Best in the Nest” plays. To you, who have been doing this in Charlotte since the ‘80s, how important is it to get out and support productions like this?
Elyse: Well, Sam, here’s our challenge in Charlotte: we claim to be a world-class city and say we believe in the arts, but so few of our residents are aware of the rich offerings by the many theater companies in and around Charlotte. Many people attend the Blumenthal and see the Broadway shows, but aren’t aware of the fabulous local productions going on.
The Metrolina Theatre Association promotes and encourages over 50 different theater companies in the region. It’s also invaluable that publications like Y’all Weekly, Queen City Nerve, The Ledger, and even The Charlotte Observer cover and review these plays. Local theater companies cannot survive without the support of local residents buying tickets, donating, and becoming sponsors. Live theater is essential for our city to grow and thrive.
Y’all: Elaine, in writing and directing this play, is there anything you learned about your personal views or yourself?
Elaine: That is a great question. It’s an environmental play, but it’s really about relationships—hence the first word in the title, Sex. It’s about the complexity of relationships and how much you’re willing to risk or give up your pride for someone you love.
As a director, I get better every time I direct. My note to myself is to lean into letting the actors explore the role and make discoveries. If you cast really talented people, 95% of your work as a director is done. As a writer, it’s been very fulfilling to write a play close to my heart about the conflict that comes when people of different cultures, backgrounds, and income levels meld together amid rapid growth. You can find comedy in chaos!
Y’all: Elyse, for you, what is it like inhabiting Tracy?
Elyse: With every character I’ve played on stage, I always find a little bit of myself. There is a part of me that is very similar to Tracy: I am passionate, outspoken, and sensual. It’s a really lovely part to play, and I’m just so grateful to be cast in it.
Y’all: We know Sex, Lies, and a Sycamore Tree is running in Fort Mill from September 10th to 20th, Thursday through Sunday. Is there anything else you want people to know about the play?
Elaine: You can relate to this play. It is happening right here, right now—this is not the mythical South of the past, this is right here in 2026. And there are a lot of twists and turns, so hang on to your seatbelts!
Elyse: Come out and support local theater in Fort Mill to help them raise funds to get a bigger space all their own! I’ve had the honor of being on their stages over the years, and I love working with the Fort Mill Community Playhouse.
Y’all: Elaine, Elyse, thank you for everything you’re doing to put on this play, support local theater, and support the Fort Mill Community Playhouse. Break a leg tonight as the play opens, and thank you for making the time today!
Elaine: Thank you so much, Sam!
As a director, I get better every time I direct. My note to myself is to lean into letting the actors explore the role and make discoveries. If you cast really talented people, 95% of your work as a director is done. As a writer, it’s been very fulfilling to write a play close to my heart about the conflict that comes when people of different cultures, backgrounds, and income levels meld together amid rapid growth. You can find comedy in chaos! - Elaine Alexander
Lúmina is only one week away!
On Saturday, September 19, 2026, the Bechtler Museum of Modern Art presents Lúmina, a party celebrating Latin American Modernism. The evening takes inspiration from the Bechtler’s fall exhibition, Making an Impression: Pioneering Latin American Printmakers. As the museum’s fall fundraiser, Lúmina supports the Bechtler’s world-class exhibitions, educational programs, and community partnerships.
Guests will move through immersive installations, live performances, and DJ-driven sets, alongside Latin American-inspired street food, wines, and spirits, and a relaxed terrace lounge featuring curated tastings and conversation.
The evening sets the tone for a vibrant celebration of art, music, and contemporary Latin American creative expression.
Editor’s Note: Y’all Weekly publisher Sam Spencer serves on the board of directors for the Bechtler Museum of Modern Art.
