Originally posted on Fort Worth CultureMap
Amphibian Stage’s 2022 season lineup features two world premiere productions; the reimagining and staging of an award-winning, one-person show; a new production from Amphibian’s most beloved director, and the return of the critically acclaimed comedy development series.
It starts with the world premiere of The Pleasure Trials by Texas playwright Sarah Saltwick and directed by Kara Lynn Vaeni. This hilarious and deeply human play follows two women conducting clinical trials on a new female libido enhancement drug. Longtime Amphibian followers might recognize the piece, as the theater first did a developmental reading in 2016 with the playwright. It runs February 11-27, 2022.
No Child… is an intimate story that explores the New York City public school system, written by former public school teacher and award-winning playwright Nilaja Sun. It was previously staged at Amphibian in 2010, and will be brought to life this time by New York City-based director Craig Anthony Bannister in a solo performance. It runs April 1-17, 2022.
Amphibian Stage managing director Jay Duffer will join forces with renowned visual artist and production costume designer Laura Anderson Barbata to reimagine Marie Antoinette in a 21st-century haute couture world. Allison Pistorius will embody the young and naive queen in a modern staging of the story of one of history’s most infamous and glamorous women (this was originally scheduled for the 2020 season). It runs June 3-26, 2022.
The final mainstage production is the world premiere of The Hollow, from writer/actor John Rapson and directed by Jeremy Landon Hays. This dynamic and hauntingly strange one-man production is based on Washington Irving’s classic The Legend of Sleepy Hollow and was developed as part of the 2021 Spark Fest. It runs October 14-November 6, 2022.
Speaking of, the second annual Spark Fest will take over Near Southside in summer 2022. This two-week celebration of creativity allows audiences to experience work in its developmental stage, giving them a deeper love and respect for this ever-changing and evolving art form. The festival will include writing workshops, public staged readings, comedy and music performances, and more, and will take place July 15-31, 2022.
The Stand-Up Comic Residencies also return, beginning with Mo Welch and Alana Johnston January 13-15, 2022. Known for her 10-part animated series Blair on TBS and comics published in The New Yorker, Vice, and more, Mo Welch will be joined by artist and sketch performer Alana Johnston as they “bring art, music, and comedy together into a night of fun nonsense.”
The second installment of the comedic showcase welcomes back River Butcher, who returns April 13-15, 2022, after a five-night sold-out residency at Amphibian in 2019. This comes on the heels of his popular American tour “Pull Yourself Up By Your Bootleg.”