White Lilies at Upstairs @ El Centro

On the eve of his play’s premiere, Shawn witnesses something impossible in his room — a chair levitating, defying explanation. When his brother Mike visits to be with him on the first anniversary of their mother’s death, what begins as an uneasy reunion quickly unravels into a clash over family, control, and trust.

As they argue about Mike’s teenage daughter and the boundaries of parental love, old wounds resurface. Mike, a sociologist who understands all that can go wrong, is driven to protect the people he loves. Shawn, a playwright who sees the world through stories, questions how far protection — even in the name of love — can go before it turns into control.

The argument escalates and the unresolved past collides with an inexplicable present as reality itself begins to fracture. In the space between what happened and what can be believed, two brothers must confront how grief has shaped them and what love asks of us — to hold on or let go.

About the company: Aina Theatre Company was founded with a singular mission: to center stories by and about people of color — and to tell them in a way that speaks to audiences of all backgrounds. White Lilies is the company's inaugural production.

Content Warnings: Some references to death and suicide.