WHO WE ARE

Jay Duffer is a producer, director, actor, playwright and educator whose career in theatre spans over three decades. Directing credits include Babette’s Feast, Spaceman, The Birds, Marie Antoinette, The Bible, The Complete Word of God abridged, The Handless King and The Visit (Amphibian Stage), Heroes of the Fourth Turning (Second Thought) Sherlock Holmes and the Adventure of the Elusive Ear, Sherlock Holmes and the Adventure of the Fallen Soufflé, Sherlock Holmes and the Adventure of the Ghost Machine (Stage West). Amphibian Stage acting credits include Wittenberg, The Nosemaker’s Apprentice, The Mystery of Irma Vep and the workshop production of David Davalos’ Daedalus (Retitled A Lost Leonardo). He has professional acting and directing credits ranging from Off-Broadway to regional theatres. Jay has been involved in new works and script development with Threads Theatre Company (serving as a Founding Member and the Executive Director of New Works), Pulse Ensemble Theatre, Manhattan Theatre Source, Kaleidoscope Theatre Company, Fort Wayne Civic Theatre and Brooklyn based The Artful Conspirators. As a playwright, his play, Asleep in the Arms of God, received its world premiere at the Box Theatre in Riverside, CA produced by New Threads Productions (CA). His play, Big Girl, Little World premiered at the New York International Fringe Festival. His latest play, naked, was included in Amphibian’s inaugural SparkFest. Prior to joining Amphibian, Jay was Associate Professor of Theatre and Department Chair at Huntington University in Indiana. At HU, he directed a wide variety of plays and musicals while heading the theatre program. He served as Indiana State Chair for the American Theatre College Festival and was awarded the Faculty Service Award by the organization in 2019. Jay has taught Directing for the Department of Theatre and Dance at the University of Texas Arlington and guest directed Treasure Island for the 2024-2025 mainstage season. He holds a Master of Fine Arts in Theatre Performance from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas and a Bachelor of Music Education from Baylor University. He is a long-time member of Actors Equity Association and is an Associate Member of the Stage Directors and Choreographers Society.

Jeffrey Stanfield is a graduate of Texas Christian University Theatre program, he has worked as a scenic carpenter,  scenic designer, and technical director across DFW, and is the Technical Director at Amphibian Stage. Most recent designs include Imposter! Hypocrite! Tartuffe! at Circle Theater, Seance and Spaceman at Amphibian Stage. He is also a movement theater artist and puppeteer trained in Czech black rod and object puppetry.

Evan is a Fort Worth-based actor, photographer, and designer. His work has been seen at the Dallas Theater Center, Second Thought Theatre, Undermain Theatre, Stage West Theatre, Trinity Shakespeare Festival, Amphibian Stage, and more. Evan holds a BFA in Acting from Texas Christian University. Evan is represented by the Kim Dawson Agency.

Bella is a production designer, art director, prop builder, and scenic artist. She received her B.A. in technical theatre from West Texas A&M University. Bella now works as a freelancer in advertising, film, and theater. She worked recently as the production designer for 2022 Lone Star Film Festival official selection Pool Service and 2022 Micheaux Film Festival and 2022 National Black Film Festival official selection Blue Porcelain. Her work with Amphibian Stage includes the props design and scenic painting for The Hollow and Miss Molly along with scenic painting for Spaceman and Baba.

Rune is a senior BFA Design & Technology student at UTA with a focus in scenic design. They have worked on many shows including most recently Sweeney Todd and Romeo & Juliet. They currently work in the scene shop at UTA as a student assistant.

Paulos Feerow is a Stand Up comedian who was raised in Dallas, Texas. Paulos started Stand Up in 2012, and is a regular performer around the DFW metroplex. He has opened for traveling headliners such as Phoebe Robinson (HBO), Sam Jay (HBO), Baron Vaughn (Netflix), James Adomian (ABC), Aparna Nancherla (Comedy Central), Emily Heller (HBO), Sasheer Zamata (SNL), Godfrey (HBO), and Paul Rodriguez. He has performed at the Dallas Comedy Festival, “The New Negroes” at UCB Franklin, and was a finalist in the Los Angeles Scripted Comedy Festival produced by iO West in Los Angeles.

Paulos currently produces the “The Playground” at Stomping Ground and co-produces the “PHiB Comedy Series” with Baron Vaughn (Grace and Frankie and MST3K on Netflix) at Amphibian Stage in Ft Worth.

Paulos has co-wrote and performed sketch revues with groups “Fraud City” and “FCC Presents.” With the members of Fraud City, he helped write “Law and Order: The SVUsical,” and co-wrote and produced several FCC Presents sketch revues. (The Wrong Party, Party Already in Progress, The Party is Just Getting Started)

Jonathan was born and raised in Fort Worth, TX. He went to TCU for his undergraduate degree. He has worked as a performer on many Amphibian shows including: Vigil, La Llorona, Below the Belt, and Leonce and Lena as well as the 2003 national premiere of The True History of…Julia Pastrana… Jonathan’s directing credits for Amphibian include Northside Hollow, Artist Descending a Staircase, and The True History of…Julia Pastrana, remounted in 2012. Broadway credits include The Play that Goes Wrong (also National Tour), Noises Off, Pygmalion with Roundabout Theatre Company, and The Seagull at the Walter Kerr. Jonathan has worked regionally at The Old Globe, Ford’s Theater, Penguin Rep, and the Harbor Stage Company: a company he helped found in 2012. On television he has appeared on “Law and Order: SVU” (NBC), “Castle Rock” (Hulu) and “Gotham” (FOX). He holds his his Masters Degree from Mason Gross School of the Arts at Rutgers University.

David Lanza has been sound designing in DFW for some time now, is excited to still be sound designing, and looks forward to sound designing more in the future. He also loves the Phibs always and forever. Pro-tip: eat half of your cookie now, and save the other half for a late night snack after the show. Follow David Lanza Audio on Facebook or if you want to know what he was up to 10 years ago, go to www.DavidLanzaAudio.com. He thinks he has an Instagram, but isn’t entirely sure how to use it. Or look up the LiveJournal he had in high school. Love to Maggie, Peter, and the Oxford comma.

Logan is a New York-based actor and digital marketing consultant. Logan holds a BFA in Musical Theatre and a minor in Arts Administration from Texas Christian University, and an MS in Digital Audience Strategy from Arizona State University. Logan became a Phib fan during her undergrad while studying at TCU and working in the DFW theatre community.

Previously, she has worked in development and marketing at WaterTower Theatre, marketing research at the Rodgers & Hammerstein Organization, and content strategy at Web Tech Fusion. Logan is excited to bring her digital marketing experience to Amphibian Stage and the DFW audience.

Victoria received her Masters in Music in Vocal Performance in 2019 from the University of Denver Lamont School of Music where she received two awards for distinction in her degree and exceptional female recitals. She took a short break from Theatre to welcome her son Peter into the world, and has since Stage Managed Hello, Dolly! and Anne of Green Gables at the Granbury Theatre Company.

Victoria is also a founding member of the organization Opera Nova- a company focused on providing equal main stage performance opportunities to Opera Singers with disabilities.

Victoria would like to thank Amphibian Stage for welcoming her so warmly into their community and would also love to thank her Husband John for always loving and supporting her.

Jay Duffer is a producer, director, actor, playwright and educator whose career in theatre spans over three decades. Directing credits include Babette’s Feast, Spaceman, The Birds, Marie Antoinette, The Bible, The Complete Word of God abridged, The Handless King and The Visit (Amphibian Stage), Heroes of the Fourth Turning (Second Thought) Sherlock Holmes and the Adventure of the Elusive Ear, Sherlock Holmes and the Adventure of the Fallen Soufflé, Sherlock Holmes and the Adventure of the Ghost Machine (Stage West). Amphibian Stage acting credits include Wittenberg, The Nosemaker’s Apprentice, The Mystery of Irma Vep and the workshop production of David Davalos’ Daedalus (Retitled A Lost Leonardo). He has professional acting and directing credits ranging from Off-Broadway to regional theatres. Jay has been involved in new works and script development with Threads Theatre Company (serving as a Founding Member and the Executive Director of New Works), Pulse Ensemble Theatre, Manhattan Theatre Source, Kaleidoscope Theatre Company, Fort Wayne Civic Theatre and Brooklyn based The Artful Conspirators. As a playwright, his play, Asleep in the Arms of God, received its world premiere at the Box Theatre in Riverside, CA produced by New Threads Productions (CA). His play, Big Girl, Little World premiered at the New York International Fringe Festival. His latest play, naked, was included in Amphibian’s inaugural SparkFest. Prior to joining Amphibian, Jay was Associate Professor of Theatre and Department Chair at Huntington University in Indiana. At HU, he directed a wide variety of plays and musicals while heading the theatre program. He served as Indiana State Chair for the American Theatre College Festival and was awarded the Faculty Service Award by the organization in 2019. Jay has taught Directing for the Department of Theatre and Dance at the University of Texas Arlington and guest directed Treasure Island for the 2024-2025 mainstage season. He holds a Master of Fine Arts in Theatre Performance from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas and a Bachelor of Music Education from Baylor University. He is a long-time member of Actors Equity Association and is an Associate Member of the Stage Directors and Choreographers Society.

Doug Gault is currently an Oracle Technical Lead at DRW and has authored four books. He has worked on both sides of the IT wall as a consultant and a business owner and has done design, development, product management, marketing, as well as managed teams of both internal developers and consultants. He has a passion for modern art, travel, and cars.

A native of Missouri and a military “brat,” Meda Kessler has called Texas home for over 40 years and Fort Worth for most of that time. She has been a journalist for all her working life and helped launch 360 West magazine in 2009 as the editorial director. “It’s billed as a ‘lifestyle’ magazine, but my goal always has been to make it about community, especially the unique people and places.”

Joey Luong currently serves as the Visual Communication and Interaction Designer at Ernst & Young. As a professional graphic artist, he learned how to develop my eye for good art, and has become an avid art collector. Joey resides in the Fort Worth Cultural District.

Spencer Mainka is a partner at Pham Harrison, LLP located in Fort Worth, Texas. She is board certified in labor and employment law. She advises and represents employers in a broad range of employment disputes.

Jessica McCraw grew up in a suburb of Chicago and has spent most of her career teaching economics. She taught at TCU for 20 years and at UTA for 10, where her courses included money and banking and labor economics. She also taught at TCC. Nationally, she served on the College Board’s test development committee for the AP Economics exam and graded it as well.

Jessica is a Master Gardener. She volunteers at the Fort Worth Botanic Garden, in community gardens across the city, and at local events. At a Fort Worth elementary school, she has helped with the school garden, started a book club for fourth graders, and tutored first graders in math. She also quilts, and has made items for JPS, Meals on Wheels, and other community outreach efforts. She is active in volunteer work at her church.

When she isn’t in the garden, Jessica loves quilting, bridge, travel, reading, and theatre. She and her husband have three children and two grandchildren.

Amy is a traditional trust banker, having recently joined Southside Bank to expand their Wealth Management and Trust group to North Texas.  A Fort Worth native, Amy is active in her church and serves on the boards of the Fort Worth Symphony and the Lone Star Council of Charitable Gift Planners.   She is a longtime member of the Amphibian Stage Productions board.  Among her favorite past productions are Babette’s Feast, Don Quixote, and Dork Night.

Becky Tobin devoted nearly two decades to her career as an arts administrator. Her experience was primarily managing the operations, production, and artistic planning for regional and major symphony orchestras, including the National Symphony, South Dakota Symphony Orchestra, Tucson Symphony Orchestra and the Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra. She also served as Executive Director of the GRAMMY Award-Winning Houston Chamber Choir from 2010-2014. In the seven years Becky spent as Chief Operating Officer and Vice President of Artistic Operations at the Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra, she oversaw concert production and guest artist planning at Bass Hall and Concerts in the Garden, as well as managed and fostered relationships with both the musicians and stagehands labor unions. She led the orchestra through several commercial recording projects with then then-music director Miguel Harth-Bedoya and a tour to Washington, DC as part of the Kennedy Center’s SHIFT Festival for American Orchestras. In 2022, Becky embarked on a new career adventure combining project management, technology, and healthcare. She is now a Scrum Master for Optum, a subsidiary of UnitedHealth Group. She is proud to continue supporting the arts as a board member for Caminos Del Inka, Fort Worth Youth Orchestra, and Amphibian Stage Productions. Becky lives in Fort Worth with her husband, Stephen (a recovering percussionist turned attorney), and their spunky dog, Hero.

Julie K. Rhodes is an actor and author. She has performed at many regional theaters in DFW, including Casa Manana, Circle Theatre, WaterTower Theatre, Lyric Stage, Dallas Children’s Theater, and Amphibian Stage, as well as in TV, film, and commercials. (One of her favorite projects ever was the role of Philippa in Amphibian Stage’s “Babette’s Feast”!) Julie is also a PTA mama, teenager wrangler, and tennis rat. She and her husband Gordon have two fabulous kids and two fabulous pugs.

Natalie Chapa’s professional career began working with children in the non-profit sector of her home town of Fort Worth. Natalie graduated from the University of North Texas in 2009, and is proud to have worked with local organizations Amphibian Stage and The WARM Place. Natalie has been a volunteer at The WARM Place for many years and often gives of her time to other non-profit causes locally. Natalie is the Project Manager at Near Southside, Inc. – a private, member-funded, 501 (c)(4) nonprofit organization dedicated to revitalizing the Near Southside district of Fort Worth. Organizationally, NSI runs with a small staff of six which relies heavily on stakeholders and volunteers to realize the vision of the community. NSI began as a small coalition of Near Southside businesses and community leaders and has grown dramatically over the last two decades. Natalie is experienced in organizational administration and project management. She is adept with data-based software, planning and execution of outreach efforts and engagements, event planning and public relations management. She is a seasoned facilitator and skillful at client relations, social media, communications, community outreach, and event management.