We recently connected with Alicia Foxworth and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Alicia, thanks for joining us today. Naming anything – including a business – is so hard. Right? What’s the story behind how you came up with the name of your brand?

So, the Brownstone Steps is where I would sit with my father after dinner and read, mostly he the newspaper and myself, comics, etc. It’s where we talked and shared about our day, where I asked questions and he told me stories. Of course, there was the occasional lesson in a story but always a joke or two. My father had a wicked sense of humor and I have something of a wicked pen. I didn’t know then that I’d be writing today. Whether a character I write resembles him in some way or I remember a funny moment, I think back to the time he and I had together watching the sun go down from the Brownstone Steps. It’s the heart of my stories.

Alicia, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

I became an artist through unemployment. Go figure! I remember being home with no projects and a bit bored and one day, I woke up early on a Saturday morning with a clear idea of a story to write. I can’t remember thinking that I wanted to write fiction but it seemed so clear and the home was so quiet, I just turned on my laptop and began pecking away at the keys. It actually felt better than a project though. Whether I knew it then or not, I think the arts is therapeutic. Of course, we know it can inspire, even help some to heal but in that moment, I just needed to write.
After a conversation with a friend about being out of work, he gave me some links to find background work, etc. Slowly, I began to get work and on occasion, I would see job listings for principal work. But one day, I saw a community theater listing and it reminded me of my childhood at a local community center performing for summer programs. So I threw my hat in the ring and got bit by the acting bug. But as Providence would have it, I’ve grown to appreciate the contributions of both writers, actors and producers which is where I rotate most of my efforts.
I self produce local indie theater, off-off Broadway, a short play festival, live theatrical Readings and of course, the occasional festival submission of my work. One of my favorite projects is the Summer Garden Readings I produce at local community gardens in New York City. It’s an opportunity to bring free programs and live theater to under-served neighborhoods at places where people gather for the beauty of nature and safe spaces. Some communities were hard hit by the pandemic so starting this program was a great way to bring people back together, using both the arts and nature to help the emotional and social healing we suffered from such intense isolation. It also brings seasoned local artists to entertain audiences that sometimes, just cannot add a night at the theater to the budget.

We’d love to hear a story of resilience from your journey.

Producing during the pandemic was the greatest challenge I’ve ever had. Obviously, many people transitioned to presenting online and that was quite the learning curve. But what choice did we have since theaters were shut down. So since I couldn’t bring patrons into theaters, I brought the programs to people, in spaces where they could spread out, enjoy nature and live entertainment. This was the beginning of my Summer Garden Reading Series and it has continued since pandemic guidelines were relaxed, even expanding to additional communities.

What’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative in your experience?

Knowing that your work is enjoyed is rewarding. Knowing that it is appreciated is even better. Art like beauty, is in the ‘eye of the beholder.’ It may strike people differently, but we can all leave the theater feeling not just entertained, but a bit more inspired, with food for thought on matters we never considered before. That’s the power of words and how it moves us to dialogue, resolution and sometimes, change.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.brownstonesteps.com
• Instagram: Instagram.com/brownstonestepsentertainment
• Facebook: fb.me/BrownstoneTalks
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@brownstonesteps

Image Credits
The Kings Ally Cast – Photo by Jaclyn Powell Target BK Garden Reading; GDN_LRA -Photos by Linwood Booker Paradise_Garden_Reading -Photo by Alicia Foxworth All other photos by Steven K. Foxworth