Made in Fort Worth: Amphibian Stage

Founded by three TCU alumni with a love of innovative theater, Amphibian Stage has established itself as the Fort Worth theater that champions new voices.

Whether giving new playwrights a stage during SparkFest or letting comedians work on new material in their popular standup comic residencies, Amphibian Stage helps us view the world through fresh eyes. Madeworthy talked with Jay Duffer, Amphibian’s Artistic Director. [Editor’s note: This article was edited for space in the magazine, but Jay’s answers are so good that we wanted to run the whole thing on our website.]

Photo courtesy of Amphibian Stage

Madeworthy: Congratulations on the 25th season! Tell us a little about how Amphibian Stage came to be.

Jay Duffer: Amphibian Stage was founded in 2000 by three TCU graduates. Kathleen Culebro, the Founding Artistic Director, and her producing partners, Carman Lacivita and Jonathan Fielding, envisioned a theatre company providing bold and innovative work to the DFW metroplex and adding another option to the theatre landscape in Fort Worth for theatergoers. The fledgling company used spaces donated by TCU in the early years before moving to the Fort Worth Arts Center. In 2012, the company was among the first businesses to plant its roots in the now vibrant South Main Street in Fort Worth’s near Southside. Since its founding, the theatre company has garnered high praise and recognition locally and beyond.

MW: What was the first production at Amphibian Stage?

JD: I believe it was Landford Wilson’s Burn This.

Jay Duffer and Elizabeth Kensek
Photo courtesy of Amphibian Stage

MW: Last year, founding director Kathleen Culebro stepped down, leaving you as the sole artistic director, and Elizabeth Kensek joined as managing director. Will these changes affect what playgoers have come to know and love about Amphibian?

JD: In short, no. I believe the mission and vision of the organization are solid, and its unique trajectory has been set since its inception. Creativity, innovation, and engagement are at the core of what we do. We still have a deep committment to new works as well as presenting plays that are lesser known/have not had productions in the DFW area. When asked what separates us from all the other theatres, I usually respond, “The work we do, you will not find anywhere else in North Texas.”   This is not always the case, but we will continue to intentionally seek out those excellent stories and storytellers needing a home for a supportive, creative process. Our programming will continue to inspire and challenge and hopefully impact how we view the world around us.

“The Amazing, Fabulous, and Spectacular Untruths of Juan Garcia”
Photo courtesy of Amphibian Stage

MW: Amphibian Stage has always championed new playwrights without relying on a stable of “safe” productions. To be blunt, how is that possible?

JD: Great question! And I have a lot to say in response. Several things attribute, I think. There is a spirit of adventure in our theatergoers. If you attend an Amphibian Stage production, you are coming knowing that the work “gets into trouble”. Good trouble. That is to say, the work not only entertains but also takes smart risks. It’s not predictable. The work surprises, delights, and challenges. I also feel like those who donate, be it individual donors, foundations, or grants, invest in our mission of supporting such unique work. We know there is a natural draw to those stories that have huge commercial success, for example, Steel Magnolias or A Christmas Carol, but that’s not our vibe. There’s nothing wrong with such commercial successes. These works are done everywhere and should be. We simply present the alternative. Amazingly, we have the support and resources to take such risks. We offer, if you will, other culinary delights to the meat and potatoes diet. By the way, this has perplexed me throughout my whole career from the consumer/patron’s point of view. People flock to see the newest concert and will pay big time to sit on that front row, or they will be first in line to catch that new movie, but when it comes to theatre, the tried and true and familiar seems to take precedence in purchasing habits. So getting people to come see new work – and be excited about it – is a necessary challenge for us. We wear the badge proudly, and we take on the challenge basically one patron at a time. If we can get them here, they always love it and come back for more.

SparkFest: “Barren”
Photo courtesy of Amphibian Stage

MW: What is SparkFest? Could you give us a sneak peek at SparkFest 2025?

JD: SparkFest is an annual festival centered around the simple idea that a spark of creativity can lead to immeasurable results. It is a 10-12 day festival developing new works from emerging and established playwrights from across the country, there is a high-stakes acting competition with awards in the thousands (ala The Cliburn), moving story-telling, lively and entertaining music events, comedy shows, exhibits, parties, etc. Every year, the festival uplifts and celebrates a specific community within the wide swath of the American people. Last year, we celebrated the AAPI Community, and this year, we are thrilled to celebrate the Native and Indigenous Peoples of Turtle Island (North America) and the Hawaiian Islands. The festival brings in more than 65 artists from around the country every year and is packed with highly entertaining events that our patrons and community have come to expect. This year’s dates are June 13-22. It feels like a 10-day party. Oh, and we offer our popular wine slushies only during this festival. Come get out of the summer heat and enjoy the Spark!

MW: A lot of us only know standup comedians via their specials on various streaming services. Your standup residencies offer both upcoming and established comedians an audience as they work out new jokes and routines. Can you tell me a little more about these evenings?

JD: Yes, we are not a comedy club. Let’s make that distinction clear.   The comic residency aligns with our core mission of supporting and developing new work. There was no standard for developing new comedy other than the comedian going from club to club and working the material out on their own. We offer a place for that development to happen over the course of two to three nights. I know nothing like this offered anywhere else in the country. Our North Texas audiences love being a part of that process. They know they are hearing jokes for the first time, and some comedians even stop to get audience feedback. Every comedian is different, so each experience is unique. Our audiences are supportive and highly entertained. So far, we have had the pleasure of hosting 2 Saturday Night Live cast members, Sasheer Zamata and Melissa Villasenor, in addition to Phoebe Robinson (she has visited twice to sold-out performances), Baron Vaughan, River Butcher, Aparna Nancherla, Chris Laker and 2024 brought in Cat Cohen to rave reviews and packed houses.

SparkFest 2024 – This Is My Story
Photo courtesy of Amphibian Stage

MW: I know our readers (many of whom are parents of high school students) would love to know more about your summer intern program.

JD: We often offer internships to high schoolers. We have created concentrated experiences for high schoolers to get hands-on training in sound, lighting, set building, producing, community outreach, etc. Information about these opportunities can be found on our website on the community outreach page. Internships can also be in the fall or spring, not just the summer. This year’s internship involves working with the producing team on SparkFest 25. The submission process has closed on that opportunity. However, we do have another opportunity that will be posted for a possible Sound Intern/Apprentice coming up in the fall. I encourage parents to keep checking the website for updates. Because we are a small organization, each experience is different and can be tailored to the student’s needs. Encouraging the young artist in training is a privilege for us and is paramount as we pass the torch of craft and knowledge to the next generation. It is an investment in the student, and should they stay in Fort Worth, it is an investment in future designers/actors/theatre makers ready to share their talents with our community.

MW: National Theatre Live offers viewers access to the productions of Britain’s National Theatre. How did Amphibian become Fort Worth’s way to view NT Live productions?

JD: I’m so sorry. I don’t know it’s genesis. And I should! So, I’m guessing here. I know Kathleen wanted to bring even more options to our Phib audiences. The National Theatre in London is a gem among the global theatre community. We have an incredibly generous donor (who wishes to remain anonymous) who supports the program. The Modern is an amazing partner in this endeavor, and we are presenting the screenings. The many various productions are simply awe-inspiring. So, it was a natural fit in the theatre’s progression. It also gives us the opportunity for exposure to The Modern members and those who visit the museum. You don’t need to purchase a flight to hop across the pond. You can see high-quality productions for some of the lowest discounts we offer. Wins all around for us and for our patrons.

“Rooted”
Photo courtesy of Amphibian Stage

MW: “Rift, or White Lies” will be about to premiere when this issue goes to press. Can you tell us about the rest of the 25th season?

JD: It’s stellar! As Artistic Director, I want to say that I’m particularly proud of this year’s selection of shows. “Rift” is a gripping masterpiece of writing: taut, compelling, and complex. I’m certain the play has a long and successful future ahead of it. And I think our patrons will say, “We saw Rift at Amphibian Stage BEFORE it went to…greater and bigger places.”  We have cast two incredible actors (plus an amazing understudy) and are bringing in our A-team of designers and director for this one. The best thing to know about this show is that the actors will alternate roles every performance. So, you can see it twice and see an entirely different interpretation of the character. “The Heart Sellers” moved me tremendously when I first read it. It is funny and heartwarming, but what checks the box for Amphibian Stage is that it is uniquely focused on the budding relationship between these two strangers who find incredible solace as they experience great loneliness after immigrating to the U.S. “The Birds” is a most interesting moral fable, if you will. Yes, there are some good Halloween chills and thrills, and the tension in the script is palpable, but what McPherson has beautifully and sometimes poetically penned is more terrifying than Hitchcock’s film, in my opinion, because the true sense of horror in this story is not the inexplicable attack of the birds on humankind; but the capability of seemingly decent humans to choose evil over good.

MW: What does the future hold for Amphibian Stage?

JD: I hope to continue the dream that Kathleen began 25 years ago. This means we remain committed to bringing the highest quality, innovative, and engaging live theatre to Fort Worth. It also means that Amphibian Stage remains relevant and engaged, not just in our own community but also in the national theatre scene. Yes, some programming might adjust or evolve. I am excited about some community programs in the early stages of development (hopefully, we will have more to share about these opportunities later this year or early 2026). But, overall, I do not wish to reinvent the wheel here. If anything, I’m doubling down. I remain committed to bringing our audiences experiences that will inspire them over and over again. I love our little corner of the world at the intersection of S. Main and Vickery. From here, the truly amazing staff (I’m so honored to work with these dedicated and talented individuals) and I can impact our immediate community by providing them with art and experiences that are as necessary to their well-being as a deep invigorating break, that deeply satisfy their desire for creative interactions and that can cause profound tremors in the soul. We can entertain, yes, but we also can create a transformative experience for our patrons. That is a north star worthy for the journey ahead. And, if we are doing our jobs right and well, it has a ripple effect beyond just Fort Worth.