By Qui Nguyen
Russell Miller Theatre – Sept. 23-27, 2022
Friday, Saturday, Monday & Tuesday at 7:30 PM – Sunday at 2:00 PM
Have you ever wanted to fight a dragon? A swarm of wraiths? A gelatinous cube? This fall, the WKU Theatre & Dance Department kicks off its season with the high-octane fantasy adventure She Kills Monsters. This acclaimed play by Qui Nguyen tells the story of Agnes, an extremely average young woman who has always been embarrassed by her geeky younger sister Tilly. But when Tilly dies in a car crash, Agnes discovers a Dungeons and Dragons module she left behind and decides to play it with the help of Tilly’s old Dungeon Master Chuck. In the process of fighting monsters, she learns more about her sister and herself than she could ever have imagined.
Set in 1990’s Ohio, the show celebrates the strength of misfit teenagers as they fight for recognition, love and survival in both real and imaginary worlds. Carol Jordan, the director, chose the show because “It’s about young people who don’t fit into the dominant cultural narratives due to their sexual orientation, gender, disability status or off-beat interests finding ways to tell their own stories. It shifts effortlessly from humor to heartbreak, while also joyously riffing on the pop culture of the 90’s. Whether you lived through this era or have only encountered it through film, TV and music, you’ll find its love of everything 1995 infectious.”
One of the most compelling aspects of the play is its extensive fantasy fight scenes. Last spring, the WKU Theatre & Dance Department was able to offer a stage combat class for the first time in several years, and this production will allow cast members many opportunities to demonstrate their skills. WKU acting professor Alan White is looking forward to staging the fight choreography for the show. He describes She Kills Monsters as “full of fantasy swashbuckling. The epic heroes will fight more than 10 battles against over 15 monsters taken right from the pages of Dungeons and Dragons. The cast will wield sword, axe, tooth, claw and magic to create combat that is exciting, thrilling and sometimes hilarious!”
Given both the period setting and the extensive fantasy sequences, design and technical elements will be critical to the show’s impact. The design team consists of both faculty members and students working together to make the magic happen. Mary Kay Samouce, WKU’s Professional in Residency: Set Design Instructor, is thrilled to collaborate for the first time with director Carol Jordan. In describing her work, she states, “Carol and I have created an exciting, super-edgy 1990s retro hip nightclub set in a repurposed industrial factory warehouse, all rendered in a colorful graphic novel style. Multiple levels and ramps will visually support an action-packed Dungeons and Dragons world of monsters and heroes. I am working closely with David Bramer, the student Assistant Set Designer, who will be involved in every aspect of the design from drafting to model construction and the execution of the set including prop work. I am also excited to work with Sebastian Tingle, the student Puppet Artisan, to conceptualize and create the monsters and dragons, which also requires working closely with Avery Barrett, the student Costume Designer. Everyone involved will play a very important role in creating this unique world.” Large-scale puppet monsters will be used throughout the performance, and a multi-headed dragon might even make a climactic appearance.
Performances of She Kills Monsters will take place in Russell Miller Theatre in the Fine Arts Center (FAC) on Western Kentucky University’s Bowling Green campus. The show runs from September 23-27, Friday, Saturday, Monday and Tuesday at 7:30pm and Sunday at 2pm. Tickets can be purchased in advance at wku.showare.com or at the door. This show is recommended for audiences aged 12 and up, as it contains profanity, bullying, homophobic slurs and extensive fantasy violence.
Ticket Information:
September 23-27, 2022, Russell H. Miller Theatre, FAC
Friday, Saturday, Monday & Tuesday at 7:30pm CDT
Sunday at 2pm CDTAdults $16
Students/Seniors (62+) $12
wku.showare.com
-submitted by WKU Theatre & Dance Department
