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Rooted
January 29-February 16, Main Stage

Rooted

by Deborah Zoe Laufer
January 29-February 16, Main Stage

Rooted

by Deborah Zoe Laufer

Rooted

By Deborah Zoe Laufer

Directed by Scott Evans


“Rooted validates that nature, theater, and human connection can be healing for the soul.” -Linda Chin, New England Theater Mirror

Who knew a love for plants could grow… a cult following?

Emery’s devotion to her plants takes an unexpected turn when a mass of unwanted fans gather outside her treehouse, convinced she’s their new savior. Now she’s dodging her sister Hazel’s big dreams of cashing in while her followers worship every leaf she drops. Don’t miss this quirky, laugh-out-loud comedy about fame, family, and the roots we grow.

New York-based guest artist Scott Evans directs this satisfyingly strange and offbeat comedy. Rooted runs January 31 through February 16.



Runtime: 100 minutes with intermission

Our Thursday night and Monday night (Industry Night) performances are Pay-What-You-Want with tickets starting at $7. Tickets increase by increments of $5 online–for more options, purchase at the Box Office. The suggested ticket price is $25.

For our Friday, Saturday, and Sunday performances, tickets are priced at four different levels, and you can choose which level is right for you. Tickets range from $17-62.

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Cast & Creatives

Cast
Creatives
Laurel Collins

Hazel

Laurel Collins is thrilled to be back at Amphibian, where she was last seen in Sparkfest and Miss Molly. Laurel loves performing in Fort Worth with Amphibian Stage, Stage West (POTUS, Poor Clare, and Into the Breeches), Casa Manana (Mary Poppins Jr., High School Musical, Charlotte’s Web), though she has also ventured as far as WaterTower Theater, Irving MainStage, and Onstage Bedford. She also does commercials, VO, and independent film whenever she can. She cohosts and produces a weekly podcast with her sister called Sumo Kaboom. In her twenties, Laurel was a Broadway dancer in The Will Roger Follies and The Best Little Whorehouse Goes Public. She also worked in many regional theatres across the US before attending graduate school in New Zealand. She holds a BFA in Musical Theatre and a MTA in Directing. When she’s not performing, you can find her writing, teaching, playing ukulele, or hiking with her blue heeler mix Tia.

Hazel

Laurel Collins

Laurel Collins is thrilled to be back at Amphibian, where she was last seen in Sparkfest and Miss Molly. Laurel loves performing in Fort Worth with Amphibian Stage, Stage West (POTUS, Poor Clare, and Into the Breeches), Casa Manana (Mary Poppins Jr., High School Musical, Charlotte’s Web), though she has also ventured as far as WaterTower Theater, Irving MainStage, and Onstage Bedford. She also does commercials, VO, and independent film whenever she can. She cohosts and produces a weekly podcast with her sister called Sumo Kaboom. In her twenties, Laurel was a Broadway dancer in The Will Roger Follies and The Best Little Whorehouse Goes Public. She also worked in many regional theatres across the US before attending graduate school in New Zealand. She holds a BFA in Musical Theatre and a MTA in Directing. When she’s not performing, you can find her writing, teaching, playing ukulele, or hiking with her blue heeler mix Tia.

Laurel Whitsett

Emery

Laurel Whitsett (she/her) is excited to be working with Amphibian again, having taken some time off to earn a second master’s in Linguistics from UT Arlington. Now a PhD student there, her research focuses on issues at the intersection of theatre arts and accessibility, American Sign Language, and humor interpretation. Laurel teaches at UTA in Theatre Arts, Disability Studies, and Modern Languages, preferring to experience the world using naturalist John Muir’s philosophy, “all things are connected”. With a background in improvisation from King’s College London, the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art, and Fort Worth’s own Four Day Weekend (woot!), Laurel guides UTA’s Improvisation track. She’s a state-certified ASL-English interpreter and has worked with the Dallas Theater Center and TheaterWorks Hartford as the American Sign Language and British Sign Language coach on their productions of ‘Clybourne Park’ and ‘Constellations’. Are you a horror film fan? Check out Laurel’s untimely demise in ‘Splinter’, or for a tamer experience you can see her as the acerbic librarian in ‘Super’ alongside Rainn Wilson, or even as the snarky carpool leader in ‘Premonition’ with Sandra Bullock. Laurel has diverse experience in dialogue coaching, dialect coaching, editing, and directing, including working with Chuck Norris on the final season of ‘Walker, Texas Ranger’ and with Alice Braga for ‘Queen of the South’. Fun facts: she was an NFL cheerleader, is a die-hard Pittsburgh Steelers fan, has an identical twin sister, and adores her 3-legged cat, Tuppence.

Emery

Laurel Whitsett

Laurel Whitsett (she/her) is excited to be working with Amphibian again, having taken some time off to earn a second master’s in Linguistics from UT Arlington. Now a PhD student there, her research focuses on issues at the intersection of theatre arts and accessibility, American Sign Language, and humor interpretation. Laurel teaches at UTA in Theatre Arts, Disability Studies, and Modern Languages, preferring to experience the world using naturalist John Muir’s philosophy, “all things are connected”. With a background in improvisation from King’s College London, the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art, and Fort Worth’s own Four Day Weekend (woot!), Laurel guides UTA’s Improvisation track. She’s a state-certified ASL-English interpreter and has worked with the Dallas Theater Center and TheaterWorks Hartford as the American Sign Language and British Sign Language coach on their productions of ‘Clybourne Park’ and ‘Constellations’. Are you a horror film fan? Check out Laurel’s untimely demise in ‘Splinter’, or for a tamer experience you can see her as the acerbic librarian in ‘Super’ alongside Rainn Wilson, or even as the snarky carpool leader in ‘Premonition’ with Sandra Bullock. Laurel has diverse experience in dialogue coaching, dialect coaching, editing, and directing, including working with Chuck Norris on the final season of ‘Walker, Texas Ranger’ and with Alice Braga for ‘Queen of the South’. Fun facts: she was an NFL cheerleader, is a die-hard Pittsburgh Steelers fan, has an identical twin sister, and adores her 3-legged cat, Tuppence.

Aren Hugo

Luanne

Aren Hugo is so very excited to be making their Amphibian Stage debut! Aren has been seen most recently in Open (Staged Reading) with Echo Reads and The Wars of the Roses (Staged Reading) with Shakespeare Dallas; where other credits include Julius Caesar and Two Gentlemen of Verona. She has also been in, Mary Poppins at WaterTower Theatre, Something Wicked at Altar’d Playhouse, and Pandora’s Box of Donuts with A Light in Dark Places. Aren would like to thank their family and friends for their support as they work to make the arts their full time career.

Luanne

Aren Hugo

Aren Hugo is so very excited to be making their Amphibian Stage debut! Aren has been seen most recently in Open (Staged Reading) with Echo Reads and The Wars of the Roses (Staged Reading) with Shakespeare Dallas; where other credits include Julius Caesar and Two Gentlemen of Verona. She has also been in, Mary Poppins at WaterTower Theatre, Something Wicked at Altar’d Playhouse, and Pandora’s Box of Donuts with A Light in Dark Places. Aren would like to thank their family and friends for their support as they work to make the arts their full time career.

Scott Evans

Director

Scott Evans directed The Museum of Broken Relationships at the Eugene O’Neill Theater Center and Aspen Theatre Festival. Other directing credits include Pittsburgh CLO’s annual production of A Musical Christmas Carol (starring Richard Thomas, Michael Cerveris, and Charles Shaughnessy, 2020 PBS Broadcast), as well as regional and university productions of Hand to God, The Ruby Sunrise, The Foreigner, Picture Perfect, Puffs, The Fantasticks, and Biloxi Blues. He was Associate Director for the New York premiere of Jeffrey Hatcher’s Ten Chimneys, the Off-Broadway revival of The Silver Cord, and multiple shows for Kenny Leon’s True Colors Theatre. Scott is Artistic Director of Somerled Arts and has developed new works with the O’Neill, the American Music Theatre Project, Olney Theatre Center, SpeakEasy Stage, Theatre Aspen, NYU, and the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland.

Director

Scott Evans

Scott Evans directed The Museum of Broken Relationships at the Eugene O’Neill Theater Center and Aspen Theatre Festival. Other directing credits include Pittsburgh CLO’s annual production of A Musical Christmas Carol (starring Richard Thomas, Michael Cerveris, and Charles Shaughnessy, 2020 PBS Broadcast), as well as regional and university productions of Hand to God, The Ruby Sunrise, The Foreigner, Picture Perfect, Puffs, The Fantasticks, and Biloxi Blues. He was Associate Director for the New York premiere of Jeffrey Hatcher’s Ten Chimneys, the Off-Broadway revival of The Silver Cord, and multiple shows for Kenny Leon’s True Colors Theatre. Scott is Artistic Director of Somerled Arts and has developed new works with the O’Neill, the American Music Theatre Project, Olney Theatre Center, SpeakEasy Stage, Theatre Aspen, NYU, and the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland.

Sean Urbantke

Scenic Designer

Sean Urbantke is the Theatre Program Coordinator for Anne Arundel Community College just outside Annapolis, MD. He is an Assistant Professor teaching courses in Theatrical Design and Technology for AACC’s Performing Arts Department, and the faculty advisor for the “Moonlight Troupers” student engagement club. He holds a M.F.A. in Scenic Design from the University of Maryland College Park and his B.F.A in Theatre from Texas Christian University. In his capacity as lead or assistant scenic designer, he has worked on over 90 productions in eight different states from Texas to Indiana to New York. His designs have been featured at Woolly Mammoth Theatre Company, the Capital Fringe Festival, the Trinity Shakespeare Festival, 1st Stage, No Rules Theatre Company, the August Wilson Center for African American Studies, African Continuum Theatre Company, and Kids Who Care of Ft. Worth, TX, to name a few. Schools he’s designed for include the University of Maryland College Park, Loyola University of Maryland, Huntington University in Indiana, the University of Northern Iowa, Texas Christian University as an alumnus professional, and Bloomsburg University in Pennsylvania. Urbantke is always hunting for new and innovative approaches that combat accessibility challenges in the entertainment design industry, such as tape measures and scale rulers with digital readouts or ways to use generative A.I. to supplement designers’ abilities to bring the imagery in their heads out on paper in order to bring their ideas to reality.

Scenic Designer

Sean Urbantke

Sean Urbantke is the Theatre Program Coordinator for Anne Arundel Community College just outside Annapolis, MD. He is an Assistant Professor teaching courses in Theatrical Design and Technology for AACC’s Performing Arts Department, and the faculty advisor for the “Moonlight Troupers” student engagement club. He holds a M.F.A. in Scenic Design from the University of Maryland College Park and his B.F.A in Theatre from Texas Christian University. In his capacity as lead or assistant scenic designer, he has worked on over 90 productions in eight different states from Texas to Indiana to New York. His designs have been featured at Woolly Mammoth Theatre Company, the Capital Fringe Festival, the Trinity Shakespeare Festival, 1st Stage, No Rules Theatre Company, the August Wilson Center for African American Studies, African Continuum Theatre Company, and Kids Who Care of Ft. Worth, TX, to name a few. Schools he’s designed for include the University of Maryland College Park, Loyola University of Maryland, Huntington University in Indiana, the University of Northern Iowa, Texas Christian University as an alumnus professional, and Bloomsburg University in Pennsylvania. Urbantke is always hunting for new and innovative approaches that combat accessibility challenges in the entertainment design industry, such as tape measures and scale rulers with digital readouts or ways to use generative A.I. to supplement designers’ abilities to bring the imagery in their heads out on paper in order to bring their ideas to reality.

Kathleen Culebro

Costume Designer

Kathleen Culebro is thrilled to be back at Amphibian in a creative role and is grateful for the opportunity to design costumes again. At Amphibian she has designed costumes for SPACEMAN, NO CHILD, SHE WOLF, BANK JOB, A ROOM OF ONE’S OWN, and THREE DAYS OF RAIN and sets for THE FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL, DARK PLAY OR STORIES FOR BOYS, MISS WITHERSPOON, BELOW THE BELT, FOUR EDGES, LEONCE & LENA, THREE DAYS OF RAIN, and BURN THIS. Also a playwright, she is the author of THE AMAZING, FABULOUS AND SPECTACULAR UNTRUTHS OF JUAN GARCIA, SMART PRETTY FUNNY, LA LLORONA, and A LEOPARD COMPLAINS OF ITS SPOTS. For 25 years she was the Founding Artistic Director of Amphibian Stage.

Costume Designer

Kathleen Culebro

Kathleen Culebro is thrilled to be back at Amphibian in a creative role and is grateful for the opportunity to design costumes again. At Amphibian she has designed costumes for SPACEMAN, NO CHILD, SHE WOLF, BANK JOB, A ROOM OF ONE’S OWN, and THREE DAYS OF RAIN and sets for THE FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL, DARK PLAY OR STORIES FOR BOYS, MISS WITHERSPOON, BELOW THE BELT, FOUR EDGES, LEONCE & LENA, THREE DAYS OF RAIN, and BURN THIS. Also a playwright, she is the author of THE AMAZING, FABULOUS AND SPECTACULAR UNTRUTHS OF JUAN GARCIA, SMART PRETTY FUNNY, LA LLORONA, and A LEOPARD COMPLAINS OF ITS SPOTS. For 25 years she was the Founding Artistic Director of Amphibian Stage.

Josh Nguyen

Sound Designer

Josh Nguyen is ecstatic to debut at Amphibian Stage for Miss Molly. Previous Stage Management Credits: The Tender Land (Baylor Opera), GodspellThe Ballad of Little Jo (Assistant at WaterTower Theater). Josh is usually seen billed as a Sound Designer around the DFW metroplex. Selected works: Our Dear Dead Drug Lord (Second Thought Theatre), The Mountaintop (Circle Theatre), Clue (Associate Design at Dallas Theater Center), Side by Side by Sondheim (Associate Design at RepSTL). Josh holds a BFA in Theatre Design & Technology from Baylor University and is a member of the Theatrical Sound Designers and Composers Association. Josh hopes to be part of the next generation of theater educators, making the medium and field more accessible and equitable. joshuanguyen.net @jashngooyen

Sound Designer

Josh Nguyen

Josh Nguyen is ecstatic to debut at Amphibian Stage for Miss Molly. Previous Stage Management Credits: The Tender Land (Baylor Opera), GodspellThe Ballad of Little Jo (Assistant at WaterTower Theater). Josh is usually seen billed as a Sound Designer around the DFW metroplex. Selected works: Our Dear Dead Drug Lord (Second Thought Theatre), The Mountaintop (Circle Theatre), Clue (Associate Design at Dallas Theater Center), Side by Side by Sondheim (Associate Design at RepSTL). Josh holds a BFA in Theatre Design & Technology from Baylor University and is a member of the Theatrical Sound Designers and Composers Association. Josh hopes to be part of the next generation of theater educators, making the medium and field more accessible and equitable. joshuanguyen.net @jashngooyen

Adam Chamberlin

Lighting Designer

Adam Chamberlin (Lighting Designer) is thrilled to be returning to Amphibian Stage Productions. He is the managing director of theatre production and associate professor of lighting and sound design for the Department of Dance and Theatre at the University of North Texas. Previously, he has taught as an assistant professor for the dance department at Virginia Commonwealth University. He is currently serving on the Leadership of the Lighting Commission for the United States Institute for Theatre Technology as awards coordinator and poster session co-coordinator. Previously, he has held the positions of vice-commissioner of special projects and light lab designer. He has designed lighting for companies including The Latin Ballet of Virginia, Shakespeare Dallas, Oklahoma City Rep., One World Theatre, Stage West, K-Dance, Kitchen Dog, and WaterTower Theatre. He was a founding member of Dysfunctional Theatre Company in NYC and Amaranth Contemporary Dance in Richmond, VA. In addition, he is a founding member of the Beyond the Sock Puppetry. He holds an MFA in theatrical design from the University of Texas at Austin.

Lighting Designer

Adam Chamberlin

Adam Chamberlin (Lighting Designer) is thrilled to be returning to Amphibian Stage Productions. He is the managing director of theatre production and associate professor of lighting and sound design for the Department of Dance and Theatre at the University of North Texas. Previously, he has taught as an assistant professor for the dance department at Virginia Commonwealth University. He is currently serving on the Leadership of the Lighting Commission for the United States Institute for Theatre Technology as awards coordinator and poster session co-coordinator. Previously, he has held the positions of vice-commissioner of special projects and light lab designer. He has designed lighting for companies including The Latin Ballet of Virginia, Shakespeare Dallas, Oklahoma City Rep., One World Theatre, Stage West, K-Dance, Kitchen Dog, and WaterTower Theatre. He was a founding member of Dysfunctional Theatre Company in NYC and Amaranth Contemporary Dance in Richmond, VA. In addition, he is a founding member of the Beyond the Sock Puppetry. He holds an MFA in theatrical design from the University of Texas at Austin.

Kaitlin Hatton

Stage Manager & 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.

Stage Manager & 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.

Bella Barnett

Scenic Painter

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.

Scenic Painter

Bella Barnett

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.

FAQ’s

How long is this performance?

The approximate run time of Rooted is 100 minutes with one intermission.

Is this a comedy or a drama?

Rooted is a comedy.

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?

We recommend patrons be 16 years of age to see this production.

Can I bring food or drink into the theatre?

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.

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