DON QUIXOTE Opens Tonight at Amphibian Stage

Amphibian Stage Productions opens its third main stage production of the 2015 season, The QUIXOTIC DAYS AND ERRANT NIGHTS OF THE KNIGHT ERRANT DON QUIXOTE by Brenda Withers, next Thursday, kicking off a four-week run of the play. Jeremy Schwartz, Ivan Jasso, Christie Vela, Bob Hess, Steph Garrett, John Forkner and Nathan Smith star in the original comedy running Thursday, July 9 through Sunday, August 2 at the Berlene T. and Jarrell R. Milburn Theatre at Amphibian Stage Productions.

New York-based director Matthew Earnest leads this new production. This will be his first time directing for Amphibian Stage Productions. Additionally, ...DON QUIXOTE will feature set design by Sean Urbantke, lighting design by Kenneth Farnsworth, sound design by David Lanza, and costume design by Laura Anderson Barbata.

Alonso Quixano]s fascination with medieval romance novels devolves into delusion when the small-town man rechristens himself Don Quixote de la Mancha?a chivalrous knight bent on battling wicked and protecting all who are good. With his trusty sidekick Sancho Panza and their faithful steed Donkey Jorge, Don Quixote sets off on an epic adventure. This new adaptation of the classic novel is a celebration of imagination and proves that a little craziness isn't such a bad thing.

The Quixotic Days and Errant Nights of the Knight Errant Don Quixote opens tonight, July 9 and will play through Sunday, August 2 in Amphibian Stage Productions? Milburn Theatre. Thursday July 9 is a private opening night for Amphibian?s Devonian members and press and is available by invitation only. Limited seating for the final dress rehearsal will be available on Wednesday July 8. The final dress rehearsal is open to the public and seating will be first come, first served.

Tickets for The Quixotic Days and Errant Nights of the Knight Errant Don Quixote 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@amphibianstage.com, or visit amphibianstage.com. Contact us to find out about pre-show dinner in partnership with Cannon Chinese Kitchen The theater is located at 120 S. Main Street, Fort Worth, Texas 76104.

About the Cast & Creative Team:

Brenda Withers (Playwright) is a writer, actor, and founding member of the Harbor Stage Company, where her play Northside Hollow (co-written with Amphibian Artistic Associate Jonathan Fielding) will premiere this summer; with Amphibian she's appeared in readings of Not Medea and her play The Ding Dongs. She is a former playwriting fellow of the Camargo Foundation, the co-writer of Matt & Ben (PS 122), and a co-founder of Lucid Theater (My Heart Split in Two, The MacGuffin?). Her plays have been developed and produced at places like Square Product Theatre, Spartanburg Little Theatre, HERE, Dixon Place, WHAT, Chashama North, UNC's Professional Actor Training Program. Recent performance credits include work with Geva Theatre Center, Hartford Stage, Hoi Polloi, McCarter Theatre, and the Folger Shakespeare Theatre. Ms. Withers was selected as a 2014-15 New Georges Audrey resident and studied drama and religion at Dartmouth College.

Matthew Earnest?s (Director) many productions have been seen in NYC, across the US, Europe, and Africa. Originally from Texas, he is an associate artist at Germany?s English Theatre Berlin and at The REP/University of Delaware, was Founding Artistic Director of deep ellum ensemble, and Founding Artistic Director of The Lunar Stratagem. Matthew was profiled in American Theatre magazine for his 2010 production of Wanderlust: a History of Walking, which he adapted from the bestselling non-fiction book by Rebecca Solnit. His NYC productions include: The Public Theater/Joe?s Pub, Gramercy Arts Theater, Teatro Círculo, Museum of Jewish Heritage, Ice Factory, Ontological-Hysteric Theater, Washington Square Church, Present Company Theatorium, Midtown International Theatre Festival, The Bridge Dance-Theater Series at WAX, KGB?s Kraine Theater, NY International Fringe Festival, Chelsea Arts Theater, One Dream Theatre, and NADA, Inc. His regional work includes: Daniel Arts Center (MA), The REP (DE), Texas Shakespeare Festival, Hilberry Rep (Detroit), Cleveland Public Theatre, Adirondack Theatre Festival (NY), Beck Center for the Arts (Cleveland), DStv Festival (Ethiopia), Dublin Festival Fringe (Ireland), Warehouse Theatre (SC), Burning Coal Theatre Co (NC), Stoneleaf Festival (NC), Stillwater Theatre (NC), Porthouse Theatre (OH), Theatre Outlet (PA), Shakespeare Festival of Dallas, Center for Performing Arts at Rhinebeck (NY), Tennessee Williams/New Orleans Literary Festival, Kitchen Dog Theater (Dallas), FIT Festival (Dallas), Arlington Opera (TX), and Moonstruck Theatre (Dallas). A Drama League Directing Fellow, Matthew was selected for Richard Foreman?s Blueprint Series for Emerging Directors in 2002. He has created works with support from the NEA, ArtNY, and other foundations. Matthew is a member of SDC, the labor union of professional theater directors and choreographers in America. He lives in Manhattan's East Village and in the Hudson Valley with artist and stage designer William Bezek. www.matthewearnest.com

Christie Vela (Housekeeper/Dulcinea) is a native Texan and a member of Dallas Theater Center's Brierly Resident Acting company where she most recently appeared in Sense & Sensibility, Medea, and The Book Club Play. Her credits there also include God of Carnage, King Lear, Henry IV, Fat Pig , Reasons to Be Pretty and A Christmas Carol which she will be directing next season. Dallas' very own Kitchen Dog Theater Company is Christie's Artistic Home where she has most notably appeared in The Motherfucker with the Hat, 26 Miles, Titas Andronicus, Macbeth, and Bug among many others and where she has directed Se Llama Cristina, The Turn of The Screw, Boom, and co-directed The Pillowman. Other places you've seen her are The Undermain, Shakespeare Dallas, Dallas Childrens' Theater and Teatro Dallas. Christie is delighted to be making her Amphibian debut with this production and is represented by the Mary Collins Agency.

Steph Garrett (Niece/Lover) is thrilled to be performing with Amphibian! She studied theatre at Southern Illinois University and was most recently seen in Year of the Rooster (Upstart Productions), Enron (Theatre Three), and Charlotte?s Web, A Wrinkle in Time, and The Cat in the Hat (Dallas Children?s Theater). Highlighted puppetry credits include Peter Rabbit (Kathy Burks Theatre for Puppetry Arts), the National Tour of VeggieTales Live as Junior Asparagus, and Head Puppeteer on the North American Tour of Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer the Musical. For more information, visit: www.StephGarrett.com

Jeremy Schwartz?s (Alonso Quixano/Don Quixote) selected stage credits include SE LLAMA CRISTINA, DETROIT, THINNER THAN WATER (Kitchen Dog Theatre); SARAJEVO, ALL HE FEARS, THE SEAGULL, SHINER (Undermain); LOOT, HOW I LEARNED TO DRIVE, A CHRISTMAS CAROL (DTC); BULL, IN A FOREST DARK AND DEEP (Second Thought Theatre); KARLA (Culture Project NYC); AT WAR, SPEAKEASY (Fire Dept. NYC); MAX AND THE TRUFFLE PIG (NYMTF); THE VIY, SINGLE BULLET THEORY (Lightning Strikes NYC); BEACH, DOWNWINDERS (Clubbed Thumb NYC); STOMP AND SHOUT AN? WORK IT ALL OUT (Babel Theatre NYC). Film: STATEN ISLAND, THE EDUCATION OF CHARLIE BANKS, MONTCLAIR, PARTING WORDS, RADIANT; Television: THE SOPRANOS, LAW AND ORDER: SVU, RESCUE ME, STRANGERS WITH CANDY, FILMFAKERS, THE AGENCY; VO Narration- MOONSHINERS, KENTUCKY JUSTICE, AMERICAN WEED, HARD RIDERS, IRON MEN, AMERICAN EATS; Promo Voice Over- COMEDY CENTRAL, ESPN, MSNBC, HBO, A&E, ADULT SWIM, FOX SPORTS 1, DESTINATION AMERICA; Animation: DEATH PARADE; ONE PIECE: FILM Z; GHOST IN THE SHELL; SPACE DANDY; SEALAB: 2021; T.V. FUNHOUSE; Games: GTA 5; STAR WARS: THE OLD REPUBLIC; W.O.W: MISTS OF PANDARIA; AEROFIGHTERS ASSAULT; LOST PLANET 3; MANHUNT; WARHAMMER ONLINE; NOCTURNE; DOMINION; DAIKATANA; ANACHRONOX.

John Forkner (Barber/Lover's Friend/Shepherd) is so excited to be returning to the Amphibian! He was seen in previous 'Phib productions playing eight different roles in The Nosemaker's Apprentice and Todd in Death Tax. Recent local credits include Bedroom Farce at Stage West and Guys on Ice at the Greater Lewisville Community Theatre. Other Dallas credits include productions with Shakespeare Dallas, DCT, Theatre Three, and Undermain. New York credits include the acclaimed Reid Farrington's A Christmas Carol at Henry Street Settlement, Henry V, Hamlet, and Much Ado at the American Globe Theatre, The Rape of the Lock with the Judith Shakespeare Company, and Sex! Drugs! And Ukuleles! The Musical!! at Theatre for a New City. Soli Deo gloria.

Bob Hess (Priest/Master) was last seen on Amphibian?s stage in the role of Lent in The True History Of The Tragic Life And Triumphant Death Of Julia Pastrana. He was most recently scene in the role of Efram in The Nance and Vanya in Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike (for which the entire cast received a DFW Critics? Forum Award) at Uptown Players, Henry in Sexy Laundry at WaterTower Theatre, Mr. Sawyer in Miracle on 34th Street at Dallas Children?s Theater, Boolie in Driving Miss Daisy (with Sandy Duncan) at North Carolina Theatre, and in the recurring role of Michael Taylor in the ABC-TV drama American Crime. Bob has acted on nearly every stage in the Metroplex, also including Dallas Theater Center, Casa Manana, Theatre Three, Kitchen Dog Theater, Echo Theatre, Second Thought Theatre, and Lyric Stage. A recipient of numerous Leon Rabin and Dallas Critics? Forum Awards, Bob currently serves as an adjunct professor of theatre at University of North Texas and is represented by The Mary Collins Agency.

Ivan Jasso (Sancho Panza) is making his Amphibian Stage Productions debut and he couldn't be more thrilled to be working here. Mr. Jasso is an Artistic Ensemble Member of Dallas based Cara Mía Theatre Co. and has appeared in several Cara Mia shows. He was last seen as Alvaro in Cara Mia Theatre's production of Lydia by Octavio Solis. Some of his favorite roles have been Jose Angel in Crystal City 1969 and Mercutio in Romeo y Julieta, both with Cara Mia Theatre Company, and Nini in Long Way Go Down with Kitchen Dog Theatre. In 2011, Ivan acted in El Viaje de Tina, a collaborative project involving ensemble members from Cara Mia Theatre Company and Mexico City based Labaratorio de la Mascara. He has also worked with several other theater companies in the DFW area; including Shakespeare Dallas, Undermain Theatre, Contemporary Theatre of Dallas, Garland Summer Musicals, Lifestage Prod., and The Dallas Children's Theatre where Ivan recently played Don Diego in the world premiere of SkippyJon Jones. Also a camera actor, Mr. Jasso is signed with the Mary Collins Agency and has done work for companies like Chilis, Chuck E Cheese, 7-11, Wing Street, JC Penney, and Baylor Health Systems.

Nathan Smith (Nurse/Lover/Windmill/Slave) is a professional actor from Mansfield, TX and has just received his BFA in Acting from Coastal Carolina University in Conway, SC. He is very excited to be a part of the Amphibian Family in his first professional production since graduation from University. He is ecstatic to have the opportunity to promote new work. He would like to thank his family for being so supportive and letting him stay at home before moving to NYC in September. www.nathantsmith.net

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 sixteenth 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.

Photo by Taylor Willis?

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