WHO WE ARE

Born and raised in Mexico City, Kathleen is the Founding Artistic Director of Amphibian Stage, where she has produced over 100 plays in Fort Worth and New York – most of them world, US, or regional premieres. She has taught Screenwriting and Stage Makeup at Texas Christian University and proudly serves on the board of the Women’s Policy Forum. Also a playwright, Kathleen is the author of La Llorona, which premiered off-Broadway at Theatre Row in a production by Stageplays Theatre Company in 2007 and which has received productions around the country. A Leopard Complains of Its Spots premiered at the Pantheon Theatre in New York in 2001 with an extended run. Her play Smart Pretty Funny premiered at Amphibian Stage in 2016 and has since been produced in Australia and at other venues in the US.

Jay Duffer directed The Bible: The Complete Word of God (abridged) for Amphibian both in 2014 and 2017, and Babbette’s Feast in 2019. He will direct Marie Antoinette in our 2022 season. Past Amphibian 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 spanning several decades and has performed in theatres from Off-Broadway, to regional theatres, to productions overseas. 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. His play, Asleep in the Arms of God, received its world premiere in November 2017 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 in the summer of 2021. Prior to joining Amphibian as Managing Director, Jay was Associate Professor of Theatre and Department Chair at Huntington University in Indiana. At HU, he directed a wide variety of approximately 50 plays and musicals while heading the theatre program. Jay currently teaches Directing for the Department of Theatre and Dance at the University of Texas Arlington. He is a member of Actors Equity Association and is an Associate Member of the Stage Directors and Choreographers Society.

Ayesha’s love for theater began in the bustling city of Mumbai, India, where she performed street theater for HIV/AIDS awareness and experienced the art form’s transformational power. Many evenings were spent lining up for student passes, leaning against back walls to watch established theater activists perform. The intersection of arts, social justice and community engagement excites her.

Ayesha’s expertise is in nurturing inclusive and empathetic community connections. Across several metropolitan cities like Mumbai, New York, Houston and more recently in Fort Worth, she has designed, led and supported programs at established organizations serving diverse populations. Some of these role have been with South Asian Youth Action, Girls Scouts of San Jacinto Council, Indo-American Chamber of Commerce of Greater Houston, Greater Houston Partnership, Center for the Healing of Racism, Leadership Fort Worth, Multicultural Alliance, Refugee Services of Texas, World Bank- Mumbai Youth Initiative, British Council- Beyond Borders program, Lily Foundation, DNAWORKS among others.

Jeff Stanfield is a graduate of Texas Christian University. After spending eight and a half seasons with Dallas Children’s Theater, he is pleased to have returned to Fort Worth with Amphibian Stage. You may have seen him on stage under the open Texas sky at the Hip Pocket Theatre in such productions as Love Letters to a Raven, Loop the Loop, In Watermelon Sugar, The Lake Worth Monster and Don Quixote.

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.

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 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.

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.

Mitchell Stephens is an actor, choreographer and movement artist based in DFW. Mitchell is happy to be back at Amphibian after working on She Wolf, Cyrano, Herschel and the Hanukkah Goblins. Mitchell’s work spans the country and all over the metroplex. Recent Credits include Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night, The Great Distance Home, Silent Sky, Lord of the Flies (WaterTower Theatre), Reykjavík (Kitchen Dog Theatre) La Maupin: The French Abomination, Everything will be Fine (Prism Movement Theatre). Mitchell is a proud facilitator for De-Cruit, using Shakespeare to treat Post Traumatic Stress and specializes in incarcerated veterans with Amphibian.

Actor/Writer/Director; AEA/SAG member; U.S. Army ’86-’93 – Medic and Infantry Officer. Stephan left a career in the military for a life in the theatre after seeing a production of Shakespeare’s Richard III. Stephan received his Master of Fine Arts degree from Trinity Rep Conservatory. Stephan created the military segments for Twyla Tharp and Billy Joel’s Tony Award-winning Movin’ Out.

Stephan is the founder of DE-CRUIT, a program he designed after examining Shakespeare from a military veteran’s perspective, working with fellow military veterans and scientists, and using Shakespeare’s text and classical actor training to heal trauma. For his work with DE-CRUIT he is the recipient of the Aaron Stein Award presented by The American Group Psychotherapy Association, the Max Gabriel Memorial Award presented by National Alliance for Mental Illness, Berkshire Theater Awards for his one-man play Cry Havoc! among many others.

Stephan is the Head of Outreach at Bedlam Theater NYC, and an advisory member of PACH, Project for the Advancement of our Common Humanity at NYU.

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 currently serves as a Labor and Employment Attorney at Pham Harrison. Spencer graduated in 2019 from Texas A&M University School of Law, is a member of SteerFW, and a member of the LGBT Law Section of the State Bar of Texas.

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.