Amphibian Stage Productions Set to Open New Home Next Week, 10/20

Amphibian Stage Productions today announced that it is set to open its new permanent home in Fort Worth's Near Southside neighborhood next week with a series of events, including a private ribbon-cutting ceremony, a public open house, and a new production of The True History of the Tragic Life and Triumphant Death of Julia Pastrana, the Ugliest Woman in the World by Shaun Prendergast. The property, located at 120 South Main Street, will house the Berlene T. and Jarrell R. Milburn Theatre, the Ann L. and Carol Greene Rhodes Charitable Trust Lobby, and the Judith Elena Barbata Box Office.

The opening festivities will begin with a private ribbon-cutting ceremony on Friday, October 19, honoring the generous donors who have made the project possible. The Honorable Kelly AlLen Gray, the Fort Worth City Councilmember from District 8, where the theater is located, will make remarks and assist in cutting the ribbon, along with Paul Paine, President of Fort Worth South, Inc., members of Amphibian's Board of Directors, and the company's Artistic and Managing Directors.

The public opening of the building will take place on Saturday, October 20 from 1:00 to 4:00 p.m. with an open house. Neighbors, patrons, and friends can tour the newly renovated space, learn more about the company, and enjoy food from food trucks outside. The event is free and open to the public.

Amphibian will inaugurate the Berlene T. and Jarrell R. Milburn Theatre on Thursday, October 25 with the opening of a new production of The True History of the Tragic Life and Triumphant Death of Julia Pastrana, the Ugliest Woman in the World by Shaun Prendergast. Directed by Amphibian Artistic Associate Jonathan Fielding, the play runs through Sunday, November 18.

About 120 South Main Street: Already slated to be the next vibrant area in Fort Worth – much like Magnolia and West Seventh Street – the South Main Corridor is ideal for housing Amphibian's permanent home, and the company is thrilled to be an important participant in the area's revitalization.

The company purchased the property at 120 South Main Street in May of this year and has renovated the space, which formerly housed Club Mystique. Local architect Gregory S. Ibañez, FAIA, of Ibañez Architecture is designing the new space and has donated his services to the project. Fort Construction, Summit Consultants, and 2clighting have also generously donated their services to the project. Amphibian is also thrilled to be collaborating with Schuler Shook Theatre Planners, an internationally renowned theatrical consulting firm.

The building at 120 South Main Street will include a flexible black box theatre, an open lobby, dressing rooms, a green room, offices, a scene shop, storage space, and free parking for patrons of the theatre.

The new space will allow Amphibian to expand its programming to include additional main stage productions and staged readings, as well as workshops and outreach programs. Amphibian's new home will be a cultural destination for artists, audiences, and members of the community to share in the creation of new and timeless works.

To date, Amphibian has raised over 80% of the funds for its Capital Campaign. Stage and screen actor Kevin Kline, a longtime supporter of the company, has stepped in as Capital Campaign Chair to assist in raising an additional $335,000 to complete the project. Donors interested in supporting the Capital Campaign can call 817-923-3012 or visit www.amphibianproductions.org to contribute.

Performed entirely in the dark, Julia Pastrana is the powerful tale of a woman made famous as "The Ugliest Woman in the World." Audiences are transported through sound, smell, and touch into Julia's world of travelling circuses and sideshow phenomena. Dragged across oceans by her husband, the circus ringleader, Julia searches wherever she goes for the love and beauty she believes life has in store for her. Julia Pastrana, based on a true story, shows us the real face of beauty, without ever letting us see a thing.

The True History of the Tragic Life and Triumphant Death of Julia Pastrana, the Ugliest Woman in the World will run October 25 through November 18 in the Berlene T. and Jarrell R. Milburn Theatre at Amphibian Stage Productions. Performances begin at 8 PM on Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays and at 2 PM on Sundays. The theatre is located at 120 South Main Street, Fort Worth, Texas 76104.

Tickets for Julia Pastrana are $25 for adults, $20 for seniors, and $15 for students. For tickets and more information, theatergoers may call 817-923-3012, email boxoffice@amphibianproductions.org, or visit www.amphibianproductions.org.

Amphibian Stage Productions is a non-profit theatre company founded in 2000 by three alumni of TCU's Department of Theatre who strive to produce innovative and engaging works of theatre that challenge the way we see the world around us. Now in its thirteenth season, Amphibian has produced numerous groundbreaking and challenging plays (some regional premieres, others US or world premieres) that foster a deeper understanding of ourselves as members of the global community. The company is widely recognized for its stylistically and thematically varied scripts.

Committed to nurturing young and diverse audiences, Amphibian has developed a strong internship program, a summer acting workshop for teens, and a dynamic outreach project, Tad-Poles, that is steadily increasing the company's visibility and following. The group travels to schools and community centers, performing and spreading a message of multicultural collaboration and tolerance.

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