Fort Worth — The 2014 season for Amphibian Stage Productions has been announced, and it includes four mainstage productions and three staged readings. One of the mainstage shows will be announced later, but the three whose titles we know include a world premiere from John Kolvenbach, Bank Job (North Texans might know his work from the play On an Average Day, which Kitchen Dog Theater produced years ago); Brooke Berman's Hunting and Gathering, a co-production with Theatre TCU; and the regional premiere of Nick Jones and Rachel Shukert's The Nosemaker’s Apprentice: Chronicles of a Medieval Plastic Surgeon.
For the readings, there will be works from Rajiv Joseph, Israel Horovitz and Lucas Hnath, whose play Death Tax will soon open at Amphibian.
Below is the news release from Amphibian about the season, followed by descriptions and dates for each of the plays. For information on subscriptions, call 817-923-3012 or visit www.amphibianproductions.org.
October 4, 2013 (Fort Worth, TX) – Amphibian Stage Productions today announced the line-up of plays that will make up its 2014 season. The company will present four main stage productions, including one world premiere and one regional premiere, and three staged readings, as well as continue National Theatre Live screenings at the Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth.
Amphibian’s main stage season will include: Bank Job, a world premiere by John Kolvenbach, Hunting and Gathering by Brooke Berman, presented in association with Theatre TCU, The Nosemaker’s Apprentice: Chronicles of a Medieval Plastic Surgeon, a regional premiere by Nick Jones and Rachel Shukert, and a fourth main stage production to be announced later this year.
Amphibian will also continue its renowned reading series at its home on South Main Street with three plays: The North Pool by Rajiv Joseph, Lebensraum by Israel Horovitz, and A Public Reading of an Unproduced Screenplay About the Death of Walt Disney by Lucas Hnath.
The company will continue to present National Theatre Live screenings in association with the Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth and will announce the spring screenings later this year.
The 2014 season will see the return to Amphibian of several familiar names and faces, including Rajiv Joseph, who wrote the script for Amphibian’s 2011 main stage production of Animals Out of Paper and the 2010 staged reading of All This Intimacy, Lucas Hnath, who wrote the script for Amphibian’s upcoming main stage production of Death Tax, and David A. Miller, director of a number of Amphibian’s past productions, including Gutenberg! The Musical! and Wittenberg. Mr. Miller will direct next year’s The Nosemaker’s Apprentice: Chronicles of a Medieval Plastic Surgeon.
“I am so thrilled and excited to present this line-up of plays for our 15th season,” said Amphibian Artistic Director Kathleen Culebro. “I’m proud that Amphibian’s 2014 Season will represent a broad spectrum of work by a bold new crop of up-and-coming playwrights, each with a unique voice and a fresh perspective on the nature of theater and the relationship between artist and audience. In true Amphibian fashion, each and every one of them will challenge the way we look at the modern world.”
Tickets for the main stage season are $30 for adults, $25 for seniors, and $15 for students. Tickets for staged readings are $15 for adults, $10 for seniors, and $5 for students. Season subscriptions start at $120. Individual tickets and memberships for the 2014 season go on sale on October 7, 2013 and can be purchased at 817-923-3012 or www.amphibianproductions.org.
The North Pool
Written by Rajiv Joseph
January 19 & 20, 2014
Staged Reading
Khadim has no idea why he's been called into the office of Dr. Danielson, the Vice Principal at Sheffield High. At first, Danielson is cagey, using a minor violation to keep the boy at school for detention. But as tension mounts, Danielson alternately plays good cop and bad, and winds up catching Khadim in a series of lies about crimes he may (or may not) have committed.
Bank Job
Written by John Kolvenbach
WORLD PREMIERE
February 6 – March 2, 2014
Main Stage Production
Just one simple bank job. How hard can it be? For two brothers new to the armed robbery industry, it turns out it's a lot more difficult than it appears in the movies. When plans A and B (and C through F) fail, Tracey and Russell find themselves locked in the bank bathroom with no choice but to depend on a brave bank teller, an unsuspecting cop, and the man who put them up to the whole thing. Bank Job is a quirky comedy about the holes we dig ourselves into and the people we trust to help us out.
Hunting and Gathering
Written by Brooke Berman
Directed by Dr. Harry Parker
Presented in association with Theatre TCU
April 10 – May 4, 2014
Main Stage Production
For Bess, Ruth, Jesse, and Astor, finding the perfect real estate in New York City is a lot like finding the perfect relationship, and none of them have been able to settle on “the one.” Hunting and Gathering, a lightning-quick comedy by Brooke Berman, follows four 20- and 30-somethings as they move in and out of each other’s lives and apartments and search for the true meaning of home.
Lebensraum
Written by Israel Horovitz
Directed by Lisa Devine
June 8 & 9, 2014
Staged Reading
Using a cast of three to play 40 sharply-drawn characters, this bold work of penetrating intelligence is based on the fanciful, explosive idea that a German Chancellor might, as an act of redemption, invite six million Jews to Germany and promise them citizenship and jobs. A resulting scenario unfolds that explores the effects of the policy on Jews and Gentiles around the world and asks the question, “Could history repeat itself?”
The Nosemaker’s Apprentice: Chronicles of a Medieval Plastic Surgeon
Written by Nick Jones and Rachel Shukert
Directed by David A. Miller
REGIONAL PREMIERE
July 10 – August 10, 2014
Main Stage Production
A father weaves a magical tale for his daughter to justify his unlicensed plastic surgery practice, tracing the origins of cosmetic surgery to craftsmen in medieval Europe. The hero of this tale is Gavin, a young orphan rescued from the Ivanhoe Workhouse for Criminally Impoverished Boys when he is apprenticed with the local Nosemaker. Gavin becomes one of the finest surgeons in Vienna, using innovative skin grafting techniques and cutting-edge alchemy, but when he is unable to help a powerful and mutilated knight recently returned from the crusades, he finds his feet over the fire...literally.
Title to be announced
October 16 – November 9, 2014
Main Stage Production
A Public Reading of an Unproduced Screenplay About the Death of Walt Disney
Written by Lucas Hnath
December 7 & 8, 2014
Staged Reading
Walt Disney is going to read you a screenplay he wrote. A screenplay about a city he’s going to build that will change the world. A screenplay about his vision and those who stand in its way. A screenplay about his last days on earth. In Lucas Hnath’s searing portrayal of the filmmaking legend, the dark side of Disney emerges as we see the true price of achieving the American Dream. 
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