Bob Hess, Mary Lang, Brandon J. Murphy and More Set for JULIA PASTRANA; Full Cast Announced!

Amphibian Stage Productions today announced casting for its next main stage production, The True History of the Tragic Life and Triumphant Death of Julia Pastrana, the Ugliest Woman in the World by Shaun Prendergast. Bob Hess, Mary Lang, Brandon J. Murphy, Chandler Smith, and Jessica Vera will star in a new production of this powerful play running October 25 through November 18 at the Berlene T. and Jarrell R. Milburn Theatre at 120 South Main Street. This production will be the first in Amphibian's new home in the Near Southside neighborhood of Fort Worth.

Directing this new production is Amphibian Stage Productions Artistic Associate Jonathan Fielding. Mr. Fielding was featured in The Cast of Amphibian's 2003 U.S. premiere of the play, and he returns now to lead the new cast. In addition to Julia Pastrana, Mr. Fielding has been seen in a number of Amphibian productions, including Vigil in 2011, La Llorona in 2010, and Below the Belt in 2006. This will be his first time directing for The company.

DFW-based actor Brandon J. Murphy starred in Amphibian's 2011 hit, Wittenberg, garnering an award from Fort Worth Weekly for his performance. Chandler Smith has appeared in two of Amphibian's staged readings at The Modern, most recently The King's Face earlier this year. Bob Hess, Mary Lang, and Jessica Vera are making their Amphibian debuts in this production.

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.

Shaun Prendergast (Playwright) is a British actor and writer, who has written extensively for the stage, television, radio, and film. His plays include Potter's Wheel, The Firefawn Trilogy, and A Fine and Private Place. His writing for television includes "The Lightning Kid," "Rocket Man," "Soldier, Soldier," "Eastenders," and "Equinox." Shaun trained at Bretton Hall College in Great Britain.

Jonathan Fielding (Director) last appeared at Amphibian in the 2011 production of Vigil, as well as in La Llorona in 2010, Below the Belt in 2006, The True History of the Tragic Life and Triumphant Death of Julia Pastrana, the Ugliest Woman in the World in 2003, and Leonce and Lena in 2002. His Broadway credits include Pygmalion starring Claire Danes, The Seagull with Kristin Scott Thomas, and Stage Door. Jonathan has also appeared on ABC's "All My Children" and CBS's "Guiding Light." Jonathan received his B.F.A. from Texas Christian University and his M.F.A. from Rutgers.

Bob Hess (Lent and ensemble) is a Dallas-based actor who has worked at a number of North Texas theaters. His recent credits include To Kill A Mockingbird and It's a Bird, It's a Plane, It's Superman at Dallas Theater Center, Dirty Rotten Scoundrels at Uptown Players, Six Dance Lessons in Six Weeks at Theatre Three, and The Goat or Who Is Sylvia? at Kitchen Dog Theatre. Bob received his B.A. from the University of Kentucky and his M.F.A. from Trinity University.

Mary Lang (The Countess and ensemble) is a North Texas-based actress who has performed at such area theaters as Undermain Theatre, Project X, and Shakespeare Dallas. Recent roles include Meg in The Birthday Party at Undermain Theatre, Courtesan in Comedy of Errors at Shakespeare Dallas, and Rose in The Last Romance at One Thirty Productions. Mary received her B.F.A. in acting from Texas Southern University.

Brandon J. Murphy (The Showman and ensemble) was last seen at Amphibian as Dr. John Faustus in Wittenberg and has appeared in two of The company's staged readings at The Modern, Treats and Eyes Forward. Brandon also served as editor for Amphibian's webisode series "For the Love." His other recent area credits include Present Laughter at Theatre Three and Much Ado About Nothing at Shakespeare Dallas. New York credits include Townville and The Play About My Dad with Collaboration Town, THE BOOK OF Liz at Piper Theater, and As You Like It at Wingspan Arts. Brandon has a B.F.A. from Boston University.

Chandler Smith (Frazer and ensemble) has appeared in two of Amphibian's staged readings, as Bouchard and Gauguin in Inventing Van Gogh in 2011 and as Johnathan Bradmore in The King's Face earlier this year. Chandler lived and worked for 17 years in the entertainment industry in Los Angeles, in front from the camera and in marketing and story development for HBO. He has served as the Director of Development and Assistant Dean of Advancement for the College of Fine Arts at TCU for eight years and teaches swing dancing in his spare time. Chandler is a member of SAG, AFTRA, and AGVA.

Jessica Vera (Julia Pastrana and ensemble) is a New York-based actress making her Amphibian Stage Productions debut. Her New York credits include Janet's Cookies at Primary Stages, Hiroshi – Me, Me, Me at Hudson Guild Theater, and How the Moon Fell in Love and All the King's Horses at Abingdon Theater. Jessica received her B.F.A. in Theatre Studies from the University of Texas at Austin.

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.

 

---

Join Team BroadwayWorld

Are you an avid theatergoer? We're looking for people like you to share your thoughts and insights with our readers. Team BroadwayWorld members get access to shows to review, conduct interviews with artists, and the opportunity to meet and network with fellow theatre lovers and arts workers.

Interested? Learn more here.

---