Brownstone

A Time Machine in a New York Home: Open Fist Presents ‘Brownstone’

LOS ANGELES, CA — Open Fist Theatre Company presents the Los Angeles premiere of Brownstone, a “bittersweet comedic drama” by Catherine Butterfield. Directed by Ron West, the production transforms the stage into a chronological time machine, unfolding within the walls of a single New York brownstone across three distinct eras.

The play explores the echoes of the past, illustrating how the cadences of life change while human desires remain timeless. The stories of three different couples occupy the same space simultaneously, creating a “supernatural” atmosphere where the walls reverberate with the ghosts of previous tenants.

Three Eras, One Address

The narrative hopscotches through time, introducing audiences to residents from different centuries:

• 1937: Stephen and Davia (Matthew Goodrich and Chelsea Spirito), a pampered, wealthy couple of the Great Depression era who dream of escaping to Paris.

• 1978: Deena and Maureen (Rosie Byrne and Amber Tiara), starry-eyed aspiring actresses struggling to find their big break in the gritty New York of the late ’70s.

• 1999: Jason and Jessica (Isaac W. Jay and Jade Santana), a self-absorbed “power couple” navigating the cutthroat ambitions of the new millennium.

The Creative Vision

Playwright Catherine Butterfield was inspired by the unique architecture and “almost supernatural” feel of classic brownstones. Director Ron West (known for deLEARious and This Week, This Week) highlights the synchronicity between the eras, noting that while social conventions shift, the underlying human experience rarely does.