Amphibian Stage

What Amphibian Stage does

Amphibian Stage is a private non-profit theatre company founded in 2000 by three Texas Christian University alumni and headquartered at 120 S Main Street in Fort Worth's Near Southside Cultural District. Now in its 27th season, the organization operates a single venue producing live performing arts programming for the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex. Its core programming is organized around four product lines: Main Stage Productions (full theatrical works including contemporary plays, classics, and queer and political content), Stand-Up Comic Residency (featuring nationally recognized comedians), National Theatre Live Screenings (partnership screenings of London National Theatre productions at The Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth), and SparkFest (an annual new works festival entering its sixth year, offering $18,000 in cash prizes and spotlighting Latine artists in 2026). Supporting community programs include free student matinees for DFW schools, the De-Cruit veteran arts therapy program (launched 2018), and paid internships and apprenticeships.

The company's revenue model blends earned and contributed income across four streams: tiered ticket sales (main stage $17–$62 with a 'Pay-It-Forward' / 'You Choose What You Pay' model), annual memberships (SparkPass at $75, Frog tiers at $200–$360, Devonian tiers from $1,250 up to $10,000), individual donations, and corporate/foundation sponsorships. Distribution is direct: online via amphibianstage.com, in-person at the box office, and by phone. The organization does not use proprietary technology platforms for ticketing beyond a standard website, has no disclosed AI/ML capabilities, and does not hold patents or technology certifications.

Amphibian Stage is led by Artistic Director Jay Duffer and Managing Director Elizabeth Kensek, supported by a board that includes representation from Ernst & Young, Frost Wealth Advisor, Pham Harrison LLP, and a former president of Argent Trust Company. Strategic partnerships span National Theatre Live, Second Thought Theatre (co-productions), The Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth, The Reel House Foundation, Near Southside Inc., and TCG (Theatre Communications Group). Sponsoring organizations include Texas Commission on the Arts, Arts Council of Fort Worth, King Foundation, Garvey Texas Foundation, William E. Scott Foundation, and Mary Potishman Lard Trust. The organization employs 11–50 staff and reports reaching thousands of patrons and hundreds of artists annually.

Name

Amphibian Stage

Legal name

Amphibian Stage

Website

https://amphibianstage.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2000

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Amphibian Stage is a Fort Worth, Texas non-profit theatre company producing main stage productions, stand-up comedy residencies, National Theatre Live screenings, and the SparkFest new works festival, serving Dallas-Fort Worth audiences through tiered ticketing, memberships, donations, and corporate sponsorships.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Live Performing Arts (Theatre & Comedy)

NAICS

Performing Arts Companies (7111), Promoters of Performing Arts, Sports, and Similar Events with Facilities (71131), Other Performing Arts Companies (711190)

SIC

Services-Miscellaneous Amusement & Recreation (7990)

akta.pro primary industry

Performing Arts Centers & Presenters (Programming/Booking) (MPAGABAM)

akta.pro secondary industry

Performing Arts Organizations (Theater, Dance, Opera, Music) (BPAGAHAB)

Keywords

• Live performing arts
• Theatrical productions
• Stand-up comedy residencies
• New works festival
• Community outreach programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Fort Worth

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Ticket Sales: Revenue from single tickets to main stage productions, stand-up comedy residencies, National Theatre Live screenings, and special events. Tiered pricing model allows patrons to choose their price point.
2. Memberships: Annual subscription memberships at multiple levels (Frog, Frog Plus, Devonian tiers, SparkPass) providing access to shows, opening night parties, and exclusive member perks.
3. Donations: Individual donations at various levels supporting operations, artist compensation, and community outreach programs.
4. Corporate Sponsorships: Support from corporate sponsors including Near Southside Inc., Performing Ads, and various foundations including King Foundation, Garvey Texas Foundation, William E. Scott Foundation, and Mary Potishman Lard Trust.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Amphibian Stage is a non-profit performing arts theatre company that produces live theatrical productions on its main stage, hosts stand-up comedy residencies, screens National Theatre Live productions at The Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth, and runs the annual SparkFest new works festival. Revenue comes from tiered ticket sales, annual memberships, individual donations, corporate sponsorships, and foundation grants, with supporting community programs including student matinees, the De-Cruit veteran outreach program, and paid internships.

Product overview

Amphibian Stage is a non-profit performing arts theater company in Fort Worth, Texas, producing a portfolio of theatrical products and community programs. The company operates as a single unified offering centered on live performing arts, with four main product lines: Main Stage Productions (full theatrical plays), Stand-Up Comic Residencies (comedy performances), National Theatre Live Screenings (screened productions from London's National Theatre), and SparkFest (annual new works festival). Supporting programs include student matinees, membership tiers, paid internships, and the De-Cruit veteran outreach program using Shakespeare for therapeutic purposes. The company is currently in its 27th season and has been operating since 2000.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• SparkFest: Annual new works festival celebrating diverse artistic voices, including Latine artists in 2026 (6th annual). Features music, art, staged readings, workshops, and national acting competition offering $18,000 in cash prizes.

Products and services

• Main Stage Productions Full theatrical productions on Amphibian Stage's main stage featuring contemporary works, classics, world premieres, and regional premieres spanning comedies, dramas, political thrillers, and queer romantic comedies. Four productions are staged per season (e.g., The Shark Is Broken and AJAX in 2026) for adult theatergoers in the Fort Worth / DFW metroplex.
• Stand-Up Comic Residency

Quantifiable outcome

• Reaching thousands of patrons and employing hundreds of artists annually

Named customers3 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Second Thought TheatrecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 20 November 2025Co-production partnership for 'Bull in a China Shop' by Bryna Turner. Built on shared values of championing queer stories, ambitious design, and work unafraid of hard questions. Production opens at Amphibian Stage before moving to Second Thought in Dallas.
• National Theatre LivecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOngoing partnership bringing world-class British theatrical productions to Fort Worth through screenings at The Modern Art Museum. Includes productions like 'Mrs. Warren's Profession,' 'Les Liaisons Dangereuses,' 'Hamlet,' and more.
• The Modern Art Museum of Fort WorthcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerVenue partnership for National Theatre Live screenings and special film presentations including 'White Rabbit' and 'Portrait of a Lady on Fire.'
• The Reel House FoundationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for film screenings including the Jaws Marathon (June 2026) in advance of 'The Shark Is Broken' production, and 'White Rabbit' screening before 'Did You Eat?'
• Near Southside Inc.minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration with businesses in South Main Village. Amphibian is an active participant in the Near Southside Cultural District community.
• Theatre Communications Group (TCG)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAmphibian Stage Productions is a member of TCG, the national organization for American Theatre, providing access to resources and industry connections.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Jubilee Theatre: Fort Worth non-profit African-American theater producing works that celebrate Black culture and experience. Comparable mission-driven community programming and shared Fort Worth donor/audience pool.
• Second Thought Theatre: Dallas non-profit producing new and contemporary works with an emphasis on diverse voices. Already a co-production partner with Amphibian, validating the direct peer relationship in programming and audience.
• Trinity Shakespeare Festival: DFW-based summer Shakespeare festival producing classical works with ties to local universities. Comparable as a small-scale classical/contemporary non-profit regional theater in the same DFW arts ecosystem.
• Undermain Theatre: Dallas-based non-profit theater known for experimental and boundary-pushing productions, named after its underground performance space. Strong philosophical overlap with Amphibian's "groundbreaking" positioning in the same DFW market.
• WaterTower Theatre: Non-profit producing theater in Addison, TX (DFW) focused on contemporary and new works. Competes directly with Amphibian for regional theater patrons, donors, and emerging play development.
• Stage West Theatre: Fort Worth-based non-profit theater producing contemporary plays and intimate productions. Directly comparable as a Fort Worth peer competing for the same subscriber/donor base and emerging-play pipeline.
• Dallas Theater Center: Largest non-profit resident theater in DFW, producing Broadway-scale and new works. Operates the Dee and Charles Wyly Theatre with a much larger budget and staff, but competes with Amphibian for DFW audiences, donor dollars, and touring talent.
• Circle Theatre: Intimate Fort Worth non-profit theater producing contemporary and new works in a small house format. Comparable to Amphibian in scale and programming philosophy, competing for the same Fort Worth arts audience and donor pool.

Broad incumbents

• Casa Mañana: Larger Fort Worth performing arts organization producing musicals and Broadway-style productions out of its Casa Mañana Theatre. Overlaps as a Fort Worth arts venue but specializes in larger-scale musical productions rather than intimate dramatic work.

Others

• Bass Performance Hall: Premier Fort Worth performing arts venue presenting touring Broadway, concerts, and symphonies. Not a direct producing peer but competes for high-end arts patrons and corporate sponsorships in the same market.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/AmphibianStage
• Facebookfacebook.com/amphibianstage
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/amphibian-stage

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles26 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Amphibian Stage