FORT WORTH, TEXAS: Amphibian Stage has announced the appointment of Elizabeth Kensek as managing director, effective Jan. 1, 2025. Elizabeth will begin transitioning into her role during the run of The Amazing, Fabulous, and Spectacular Untruths of Juan Garcia this October, where patrons may see her assisting in box office and house management.
“I am honored to be joining Amphibian Stage in their historic 25th year,” said Kensek in a statement. “As a supporter of professional theatre, I rarely missed an Amphibian production since returning to Dallas-Fort Worth five years ago. I was always struck by the high caliber of talent, ingenuity, and creativity in their programming, but also by my own excitement every time I walked into their lobby, knowing that I was about to be welcomed in and would have the opportunity to experience something new and unexpected.”
Kensek’s appointment comes as the organization bids farewell to its founding artistic director, Kathleen Culebro, who will step down at the end of this year after 25 years of leadership. Kensek will collaborate closely with the newly appointed artistic director, Jay Duffer, and the board of directors to oversee the theatre’s business operations, administration, and daily activities. Together they will aim to secure Amphibian Stage’s continued financial health, artistic quality, and commitment to its mission.
“I’m ecstatic to work alongside Elizabeth,” said Duffer in a statement. “She brings with her a wealth of knowledge and experience in producing nonprofit professional theatre. She is a highly valued asset to our north Texas artistic community and is beloved by artists and patrons alike. Everything she will bring to our organization and community will be beneficial to our longevity.”
Kensek brings over 20 years of experience in the theatrical arts as a performer, stage manager, educator, and producer. She grew up in Chicago, graduated magna cum laude from Illinois Wesleyan University, and called New York City her home for over a decade. In 2019, she served as the associate producer of WaterTower Theatre in Addison, Texas. A professional actor since the age of 13, she has worked in theatres across the U.S. in genres including musicals, plays, classical, devised, experimental, and children’s theatre in over 100 productions. She is a proud member of Actors’ Equity Association and has expanded her professional theatre experience to include stage management and producing roles in the last decade. Elizabeth is a founding member of the Dallas-Fort Worth Theatre Alliance, which united north Texas professional theatres during the pandemic, and she has served on grant committees for the Arts Community Alliance (TACA) and National Alliance for Musical Theatre (NAMT).
Founded in 2000, Amphibian Stage strives to produce innovative and engaging theatre that inspires new ideas, opens new doors and increases understanding of the vast world around us. As of 2022, the theatre had a budget of approximately $1 million.
