A DIY Séance to Summon Harry Houdini
“I literally just googled ‘instructions for a séance’. I took the night off, escaped the kid’s bedtime, to try this here with you. Tonight.”
Take your seat at Katie Bender’s “DIY séance party”, as she attempts night after night to escape her own life by summoning the spirit of master escapologist Harry Houdini. This theatrical experiment, first workshopped at The Playwrights Center and The Alley All New Festival, transforms Bender’s mesmerizing personal journey into a collective experience that asks the audience: what are you trying to escape?
Don’t miss the opportunity to participate in this unpredictable theatrical event, where reality and illusion converge in a gripping exploration of the human experience.
Content Warning: Please be advised this séance contains strong language, a reference to sexual assault, and brief description of physical violence.
Special Community Nights
In Rehearsal
In Performance
Creatives
Katie Bender
Creator
Katie Bender is a playwright, performer and theater maker. Her plays include Judith, SHE WOLF, The Survivors/Los Sobrevivientes, Instructions for a Séance and Howling, Texas to name a few. Filled with games, physical exertion and a poetic delight in the mundane, her work often examines the surprising ways humans transform within impossible systems.
Katie’s work has been developed and produced all over the country including at Hyde Park Theater, ZACH, The Alley, Shrewds, EST, Kitchen Dog, The Playwrights’ Center, LAUNCH PAD, Fusebox Festival, THT Rep, New Harmony Project, ACT Theatre, All For One Theater and Urbanite. She is the co-creator of Underbelly, with whom she made ecstatic site-specific performances such as Slip River which received the Critics Table Award for Best New Comedy. Her play Judith received the B.Iden Payne award for Best New Script. Katie was a Jerome Fellow and is thrilled to be returning as a Core Writer at The Playwrights Center. She received her M.F.A from The University of Texas.
Creator
Katie Bender
Katie Bender is a playwright, performer and theater maker. Her plays include Judith, SHE WOLF, The Survivors/Los Sobrevivientes, Instructions for a Séance and Howling, Texas to name a few. Filled with games, physical exertion and a poetic delight in the mundane, her work often examines the surprising ways humans transform within impossible systems.
Katie’s work has been developed and produced all over the country including at Hyde Park Theater, ZACH, The Alley, Shrewds, EST, Kitchen Dog, The Playwrights’ Center, LAUNCH PAD, Fusebox Festival, THT Rep, New Harmony Project, ACT Theatre, All For One Theater and Urbanite. She is the co-creator of Underbelly, with whom she made ecstatic site-specific performances such as Slip River which received the Critics Table Award for Best New Comedy. Her play Judith received the B.Iden Payne award for Best New Script. Katie was a Jerome Fellow and is thrilled to be returning as a Core Writer at The Playwrights Center. She received her M.F.A from The University of Texas.
Lily Wolff
Director
Lily Wolff is a British-American director and new play dramaturg/super-fan. She had the pleasure of directing at Amphibian Stage for the first time in SparkFest 2022 (Oleanna, Part 2 by Chris Cragin Day) and was thrilled to be invited back for their 25th anniversary season! Formerly the literary manager at Alley Theatre in Houston, Lily passionately ran their new play initiative from 2018-2022 until relocating to Philadelphia where she now freelances, parents, and makes ice cream. Lily has directed at theatres across the country, especially in Texas, including Alley Theatre, Rec Room Arts, Hyde Park Theatre, the University of Houston, the University of Texas at Austin, Southwestern University, Capital T Theatre, and Theatre en Bloc, among others. Previous directing credits include: Mrs. President (world premiere, Offie Award nominated), Wolf Play (Houston Theatre Awards “Best Play/Production” Finalist and “Best Use of/Design of Puppets in a Play” award) and Hurricane Diane (Houston Theatre Awards “Best Play/Production,” “Best Ensemble,” and “Best Director” Finalist), The Oresteia, From White Plains (Houston Theatre Awards “Best Play/Production” and “Best Director” Finalist), The Madres (NNPN Rolling World Premiere), Cry It Out, A Bright Room Called Day, The Effect, Fahrenheit 451, Lungs (“Best Direction” Austin Critics Table Award), As You Like It, and Gidion’s Knot. As a dramaturg she has worked for Alley Theatre, visual artist and playwright John Ransom Phillips, the Contemporary American Theatre Festival, Cornerstone Theater Company, New York Stage and Film, New Georges, and has read for the Susan Smith Blackburn Prize for several years. In the UK, Lily has directed at C Aquila Temple Theatre (Edinburgh Fringe), Theatre503, Battersea Mess & Music Hall, a hillside on Kerrera Island, Scotland, and on several boats at Cadogan Pier on the river Thames. Lily is a graduate of The University of Texas at Austin, the Royal Central School of Speech and Drama, and pandemic parenthood… All my gratitude to Katie for creating this beautiful experience and for allowing me to live in it too.
Director
Lily Wolff
Lily Wolff is a British-American director and new play dramaturg/super-fan. She had the pleasure of directing at Amphibian Stage for the first time in SparkFest 2022 (Oleanna, Part 2 by Chris Cragin Day) and was thrilled to be invited back for their 25th anniversary season! Formerly the literary manager at Alley Theatre in Houston, Lily passionately ran their new play initiative from 2018-2022 until relocating to Philadelphia where she now freelances, parents, and makes ice cream. Lily has directed at theatres across the country, especially in Texas, including Alley Theatre, Rec Room Arts, Hyde Park Theatre, the University of Houston, the University of Texas at Austin, Southwestern University, Capital T Theatre, and Theatre en Bloc, among others. Previous directing credits include: Mrs. President (world premiere, Offie Award nominated), Wolf Play (Houston Theatre Awards “Best Play/Production” Finalist and “Best Use of/Design of Puppets in a Play” award) and Hurricane Diane (Houston Theatre Awards “Best Play/Production,” “Best Ensemble,” and “Best Director” Finalist), The Oresteia, From White Plains (Houston Theatre Awards “Best Play/Production” and “Best Director” Finalist), The Madres (NNPN Rolling World Premiere), Cry It Out, A Bright Room Called Day, The Effect, Fahrenheit 451, Lungs (“Best Direction” Austin Critics Table Award), As You Like It, and Gidion’s Knot. As a dramaturg she has worked for Alley Theatre, visual artist and playwright John Ransom Phillips, the Contemporary American Theatre Festival, Cornerstone Theater Company, New York Stage and Film, New Georges, and has read for the Susan Smith Blackburn Prize for several years. In the UK, Lily has directed at C Aquila Temple Theatre (Edinburgh Fringe), Theatre503, Battersea Mess & Music Hall, a hillside on Kerrera Island, Scotland, and on several boats at Cadogan Pier on the river Thames. Lily is a graduate of The University of Texas at Austin, the Royal Central School of Speech and Drama, and pandemic parenthood… All my gratitude to Katie for creating this beautiful experience and for allowing me to live in it too.
Sydney Dormire
Stage Manager
Sydney Dormire is stage managing her first show with Amphibian Stage. Recent credits include stage manager for Poor Clare, Grand Horizons (Stage West Theatre), The Merry Wives of Windsor (MSU Texas Theatre), assistant stage manager for I Wanna F*cking Tear You Apart (Stage West), and production assistant for Into the Breeches! (Stage West). She holds a BFA in Design and Technology from Midwestern State University of Texas. Website: sydneydormire1200.wixsite.com/website, Instagram: @sydney_dormire
Stage Manager
Sydney Dormire
Sydney Dormire is stage managing her first show with Amphibian Stage. Recent credits include stage manager for Poor Clare, Grand Horizons (Stage West Theatre), The Merry Wives of Windsor (MSU Texas Theatre), assistant stage manager for I Wanna F*cking Tear You Apart (Stage West), and production assistant for Into the Breeches! (Stage West). She holds a BFA in Design and Technology from Midwestern State University of Texas. Website: sydneydormire1200.wixsite.com/website, Instagram: @sydney_dormire
Brett Schneider
Magic Consultant
Brett Schneider is a magician and illusion designer based in Los Angeles. His work has been seen at the Alley Theatre (previous production of Instructions for a Seance), The Roundabout Theatre, 2nd Stage Theater, The Goodman Theatre, Actors Theatre of Louisville, and Portland Center Stage, among many others. Television credits include USA, HBO, NBC, FOX, and Showtime. As a magician, Brett is a regular performer at The Magic Castle in Los Angeles, and performs virtual magic shows all over the world. More at brettschneidermagic.com.
Magic Consultant
Brett Schneider
Brett Schneider is a magician and illusion designer based in Los Angeles. His work has been seen at the Alley Theatre (previous production of Instructions for a Seance), The Roundabout Theatre, 2nd Stage Theater, The Goodman Theatre, Actors Theatre of Louisville, and Portland Center Stage, among many others. Television credits include USA, HBO, NBC, FOX, and Showtime. As a magician, Brett is a regular performer at The Magic Castle in Los Angeles, and performs virtual magic shows all over the world. More at brettschneidermagic.com.
Paige Seber
Lighting Designer
Paige Seber is a New York City-based lighting designer for Theatre, Dance, Opera, Music, and Immersive Events. Her work can be seen on the Off-Broadway musical Titanique which won the 2023 Lortel Award for Outstanding Musical. Other recent credits include Heroes of the Fourth Turning and Wolf Play (Rec Room Arts), Is Anyone Alive Out There? (Minetta Lane), A Midsummer Night’s Dream (Manhattan School of Music), Ready. Set. Play! (Virgin Voyages), The Consul (San Francisco Conservatory of Music), Powerline Road (Theatre NOW), Cityscrape (Good Apples Collective), Good Friday (The Flea), and Swann: A Digital Opera Short (Catapult Opera). Paige is a proud member of United Scenic Artists 829. For more about her work, visit seberlighting.com.
Lighting Designer
Paige Seber
Paige Seber is a New York City-based lighting designer for Theatre, Dance, Opera, Music, and Immersive Events. Her work can be seen on the Off-Broadway musical Titanique which won the 2023 Lortel Award for Outstanding Musical. Other recent credits include Heroes of the Fourth Turning and Wolf Play (Rec Room Arts), Is Anyone Alive Out There? (Minetta Lane), A Midsummer Night’s Dream (Manhattan School of Music), Ready. Set. Play! (Virgin Voyages), The Consul (San Francisco Conservatory of Music), Powerline Road (Theatre NOW), Cityscrape (Good Apples Collective), Good Friday (The Flea), and Swann: A Digital Opera Short (Catapult Opera). Paige is a proud member of United Scenic Artists 829. For more about her work, visit seberlighting.com.
David Lanza
Sound Designer
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 go to www.DavidLanzaAudio.com to learn more. Or look up my LiveJournal I had in high school. Love to Nikki, Maggie, Peter, and the Oxford comma.
Sound Designer
David Lanza
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 go to www.DavidLanzaAudio.com to learn more. Or look up my LiveJournal I had in high school. Love to Nikki, Maggie, Peter, and the Oxford comma.
Kaitlin Hatton
Props Designer
Kaitlin Hatton is excited to be working with Amphibian Stage again! Recent stage management includes What The Constitution Means to Me, Sherlock Holmes, Marjorie Prime, Handle With Care, Between Riverside and Crazy, Witch, On The Exhale (Stage West), Handless King, Baba, Spaceman, The Hollow, Egress, Hans & Sophie, She-Wolf, Gutenberg! The Musical!, Babette’s Feast, Lonely Planet, and Artist Descending A Staircase (Amphibian Stage Productions), I’m Proud of You, The Other Josh Cohen, Tiny Beautiful Things (Circle Theatre). Recent props designs include Little Women, La Boheme, La Medium (FW Opera), The Persians (Undermain Theatre), Ann (WaterTower Theatre), Instructions for a Seance, Baba, Spaceman, Marie Antoinette (Amphibian Stage Productions), Kodachrome, Fences, Young Frankenstein, An Empty Plate in the Cafe du Grand Boeuf, The Glass Menagerie, The Last Wide Open, and One Man, Two Guvnors (Circle Theatre). Kaitlin holds a BFA in Theatre – Design and Technology from Texas Wesleyan University and teaches Stage Management there. She is a member of Actors’ Equity Association and received the 2019 Live Theatre League Bill Garber Young Artist Award.
Props Designer
Kaitlin Hatton
Kaitlin Hatton is excited to be working with Amphibian Stage again! Recent stage management includes What The Constitution Means to Me, Sherlock Holmes, Marjorie Prime, Handle With Care, Between Riverside and Crazy, Witch, On The Exhale (Stage West), Handless King, Baba, Spaceman, The Hollow, Egress, Hans & Sophie, She-Wolf, Gutenberg! The Musical!, Babette’s Feast, Lonely Planet, and Artist Descending A Staircase (Amphibian Stage Productions), I’m Proud of You, The Other Josh Cohen, Tiny Beautiful Things (Circle Theatre). Recent props designs include Little Women, La Boheme, La Medium (FW Opera), The Persians (Undermain Theatre), Ann (WaterTower Theatre), Instructions for a Seance, Baba, Spaceman, Marie Antoinette (Amphibian Stage Productions), Kodachrome, Fences, Young Frankenstein, An Empty Plate in the Cafe du Grand Boeuf, The Glass Menagerie, The Last Wide Open, and One Man, Two Guvnors (Circle Theatre). Kaitlin holds a BFA in Theatre – Design and Technology from Texas Wesleyan University and teaches Stage Management there. She is a member of Actors’ Equity Association and received the 2019 Live Theatre League Bill Garber Young Artist Award.
Levi Richey
Production Assistant
Levi Richey is a graduate of UT Arlington with a bachelors in musical theatre. He is proud to have been a part of many productions at Amphibian including IMSTRUCTIOMS FOR A SEANCE and MARIE AND ROSETTA. Levi is also a makeup artist and currently studying wig building. @goodmoringitslevi on all platforms.
Production Assistant
Levi Richey
Levi Richey is a graduate of UT Arlington with a bachelors in musical theatre. He is proud to have been a part of many productions at Amphibian including IMSTRUCTIOMS FOR A SEANCE and MARIE AND ROSETTA. Levi is also a makeup artist and currently studying wig building. @goodmoringitslevi on all platforms.
Lauren Riley
Crew Member
Lauren Riley is a dynamic theatre and film artist from Fort Worth, Texas. Her credits include “Sleepy Hollow” at Hip Pocket (Katrina), “Texas Book of Beast at Arts FW” (Hero), Mountain View College Dance Shows (crew), and “The Secret Lives of Henry and Alice” at Onstage in Bedford (costume design). Lauren is proud to be part of the Amphibian Stage company for “Instructions for a Seance”, and thankful for the incredibly talented individuals who brought this show to life.
Crew Member
Lauren Riley
Lauren Riley is a dynamic theatre and film artist from Fort Worth, Texas. Her credits include “Sleepy Hollow” at Hip Pocket (Katrina), “Texas Book of Beast at Arts FW” (Hero), Mountain View College Dance Shows (crew), and “The Secret Lives of Henry and Alice” at Onstage in Bedford (costume design). Lauren is proud to be part of the Amphibian Stage company for “Instructions for a Seance”, and thankful for the incredibly talented individuals who brought this show to life.
FAQ’s
How long is this performance?
The approximate run time of Instructions for a Séance is 70 minutes with no intermission.
Is this a comedy or a drama?
We consider this a comedy! You will laugh, but you will also have profound moments of introspection.
Is there free parking?
Yes. If you have a ticket to the performance, you can park for free in the parking lot behind our building on South Main Street.
Is there assigned seating?
All seating is General Admission except for members who have reserved seating included in their membership package. We recommend arriving 15 minutes prior to the show to find your seats.
Is there a dress code?
Come as you are! (Shoes and shirts required). We’re glad to have you.
Are there age restrictions?
This production is appropriate for all ages. Keep in mind the run time of the show is approximately 70 minutes with no intermission.
Can I bring food or drink into the theater?
We do not permit outside food and drink inside the theater. We sell snacks, water, soda, and alcoholic beverages at the bar in the lobby.
Are accessible seating options available?
Our venue is ADA Accessible and there is accessible seating available in the theatre. Please let our box office know ahead of time so we may accommodate your needs.
From the Creator…
FROM PAGE TO STAGE
- Developed with support from ScriptWorks Revision Resource funding. Find more information about ScriptWorks at www.scriptworks.org
- This play was developed with the support of Playwrights’ Center.
- INSTRUCTIONS FOR A SÉANCE received a workshop in the Alley Theatre’s 2023
Alley All New Festival Rob Melrose, Artistic Director Dean R. Gladden, Managing Director