Amphibian Stage Announces Cast for 'THE NOSEMAKER'S APPRENTICE', Running 7/10-8/10

Amphibian Stage Productions today announced casting for its third main stage production of the 2014 season, The Nosemaker's Apprentice: Chronicles of a Medieval Plastic Surgeon. Jay Duffer, John Forkner, Alexandra Lawrence, Brandon Murphy and Scott Zenreich will star in this comedy, running Thursday, July 10 through Sunday, August 10 at Amphibian's Berlene T. & Jarrell R. Milburn Theatre at 120 S. Main Street. David A. Miller will direct the production.

Actors Jay Duffer, Brandon Murphy and Scott Zenreich return to the Amphibian stage after last summer's hilarious, The Bible: The Complete Word of God (ABRIDGED). Alexandra Lawrence makes another appearance to the 'Phib stage after her work this season in both Bank Job and the staged reading, Lebensraum. John Forkner was last seen in Amphibian's production of Death Tax.

About the Play: A father weaves a magical tale for his daughter to justify his unlicensed plastic surgery practice, tracing the origins of cosmetic surgery to craftsmen in medieval Europe. The hero of this tale is Gavin, a young orphan rescued from the Ivanhoe Workhouse for Criminally Impoverished Boys when he is apprenticed with the local Nosemaker. Gavin becomes one of the finest surgeons in Vienna, using innovative skin grafting techniques and cutting-edge alchemy, but when he is unable to help a powerful and mutilated knight recently returned from the crusades, he finds his feet over the fire... literally.

The Nosemaker's Apprentice: Chronicles of a Medieval Plastic Surgeon will run from Thursday, July 10 through Sunday, August 10 in Amphibian Stage Productions' Milburn Theatre. Thursday, July 10 is a private opening night for Amphibian's Devonian members and press and is available by invitation only. A "pay-what-you-can" final dress rehearsal will be available on Wednesday, July 9 that is open to the public.

Tickets for The Nosemaker's Apprentice: Chronicles of a Medieval Plastic Surgeon are $33 for adults, $28 for seniors, and $18 for students. Group discounts are also available for parties of six or more. For tickets and more information, patrons may call 817-923-3012, email boxoffice@amphibianproductions.org, or visit amphibianproductions.org. The theater is located at 120 S. Main Street, Fort Worth, Texas 76104.

About the Cast and Crew

David A. Miller (Director) has directed several productions for Amphibian including Wittenberg (Outstanding Direction, Dallas Fort Worth Critics Forum), Gutenberg! The Musical! (Best Production of the Year, FW Weekly's Readers' Choice), and Below the Belt (Top 10 Production of the Year, Fort Worth Star Telegram). Readings include Mystery of Irma Vep, All This Intimacy, Triptych and On the Ceiling. Other professional directing includes Prospect Theatre Company, Piper Theatre Productions (The Book of Liz), Annex Theatre, Hangar Theatre (Drama League Directing Fellow) and Samuel French OOBR. Assistant Director: Syracuse Stage, A Contemporary Theatre. As a playwright, plays include Mystic in the Savage State (Workshop, Strange Sun Theater), A Lesson in Art (The Artful Conspirators) and The Flames (Published, Collective:10 Anthology). David teaches performance at Bloomsburg University where he will direct the Scottish Play this fall. MFA in Directing from Mason Gross School of the Arts at Rutgers University. www.mrdavidamiller.com.

Jay Duffer (Father/Narrator) is thrilled to be returning to the PHIB stage once again. Duffer, a Texas Native, spent many years as a professional actor, director and playwright living and working in New York City. He now resides in Indiana where he is Associate Professor of Theatre and Chair of the Theatre Department at Huntington University. Past Amphibian credits include roles in Wittenberg and The Mystery of Irma Vep. He directed last year's comic hit, The Bible: The Complete Word of God (abridged). Some New York credits include roles in: Sophie, Totie & Belle (Off-Broadway), A Lesson in Art (Dixon Place in the Bowery), Wild Thing and the original company of Monica Flory's highly-praised adaptation of The Jungle Book (New Acting Company). Some regional credits include roles in: The Odd Couple, South Pacific, A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum (The Fireside Theatre), Jesus Christ Superstar and Phantom (Beef and Boards), The Tempest (CCP, TN) and God of Carnage (FPT, Fort Wayne). This past spring, Jay had the distinct honor of performing the role of Mark Rothko in a guest artist production of Red, hosted at his own university. Jay has been involved as an actor in new works/script development with Threads Theatre Company, Pulse Ensemble Theatre, Manhattan Theatre Source, Kaleidoscope Theatre Company and The Artful Conspirators. He holds a Master of Fine Arts in Theatre from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas and a Bachelor's of Music Education from Baylor University in Waco, Texas.

John Forkner (Kent/Harold Fleetfoot/Hans/Arnold-Gunther/Rhonda/Pascal) is delighted to be joining the funny, froggy folks at Amphibian for another show! He was previously seen last fall as the hapless Todd in Death Tax, directed by René Moreno. In DFW he has performed with Shakespeare Dallas, Undermain, DCT, and Theatre Three. New York City credits include Hamlet, Henry V, Richard II, Midsummer, Brecht's Baal, The Rape of the Lock, the Great Divorce, and Sex! Drugs! and Ukuleles! The Musical!! His last three years in NYC were spent co-developing and performing as Charles Dickens in Reid Farrington's A Christmas Carol at the Henry Street Settlement. He received a BFA from Baylor University where he studied acting under Deborah Mogford. For R&M. Soli Deo gloria!

Alexandra Lawrence (Amelia/Little Girl) is thrilled to be returning to Amphibian Stage Productions for the third time. She was previously seen in John Kolvenbach's world premiere of Bank Job and the staged reading of Lebensraum. She has also originated roles in Rachel Caris Love's Timeshare and Emily Young's Melena - both new plays developed during the 2012 and 2013 Brown/Trinity Playwrights Rep Festivals, respectively. Other professional credits include Steel Magnolias at Trinity Rep and The Tenant at the Theatre for the New City in New York City. She holds her B.A. from Trinity College (International Relations and Hispanic Studies) and her M.F.A. from the Brown University/Trinity Rep M.F.A. Acting Program. Te amo, Danny. Como siempre.

Brandon Murphy (Wulfric/Ulrich/Jean-Michael/Queen) is very happy to be back with Amphibian once again. His previous work with The Phibs includes: The Bible: The Complete Word of God Abridged (Austin), The True History of the Tragic Life and Triumphant Death of Julia Pastrana, the Ugliest Woman in the World (Showman/Otto), and Wittenberg (Dr. John Faustus). He's been a part of Amphibians Reading Series in The Ding Dongs or What Is The Penalty In Portugal?, Treats, and Eyes Forward. Brandon also served as editor for Amphibian's webisode series For the Love. Other credits include: Present Laughter (Theatre Three), Townville and The Play About My Dad (Collaboration Town), The Book of Liz (Piper Theater), As You Like It (Wingspan Arts), Much Ado About Nothing (Shakespeare Dallas),Cyrano De Bergerac (South Coast Rep), Middletown (SMU). Training: SMU - MFA Candidate, Boston University & LAMDA - BFA. Big hugs to Holland, Konrad, and Mr Bubs Barksdale.

Scott Zenreich (Gavin) is happy to return to Amphibian where he appeared last summer in THE BIBLE: THE COMPLETE WORD OF GOD (ABRIDGED). He was also assistant director for BANK JOB earlier this season. His local work includes plays with CASA MANANA, WATERTOWER THEATER, DALLAS CHILDREN'S THEATER, WISHING STAR PRODUCTIONS, and TEXAS SHAKESPEARE FESTIVAL. National regional credits include the GROWING STAGE, NEW CENTURY THEATRE, MILL MOUNTAIN THEATRE, the MAJESTIC THEATRE, and OLNEY THEATRE CENTER. Scott earned a BFA in musical theatre from Emerson College. For MCF.

About Amphibian Stage Productions: 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 fifteenth 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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