‘She Kills Monsters’

Play features ‘Dungeon and Dragons’ themed plot

Members+of+the+cast+rehearse+a+scene+from+%E2%80%9CShe+Kills+Monsters.%E2%80%9D+The+show+being+put+on+by+Madison+College+Performing+Arts+opens+on+Friday%2C+Oct.+28%2C+and+runs+through+Sunday%2C+Nov.+6%2C+at+Mitby+Theater.

Jackson Crossen

Members of the cast rehearse a scene from “She Kills Monsters.” The show being put on by Madison College Performing Arts opens on Friday, Oct. 28, and runs through Sunday, Nov. 6, at Mitby Theater.

Special to The Clarion

Madison College Performing Arts presents Qui Nguyen’s “She Kills Monsters,” at the Mitby Theatre, Oct. 28-Nov. 6.
Playwright Qui Nguyen (kwee gwen) is most recently known as the writer behind Disney’s animated film “Raya.” His plays “Vietgone” and “Vampire Cowboy Trilogy” have won over audiences for their humor, heart and action.
“She Kills Monsters” is celebrating 10 years of performances. As of May 2022, there had been nearly 800 productions. These productions have spanned college, high school, professional and community theatre. Yet it has resonated most with college theatres everywhere.
The extensive fight and movement choreography, Dungeons and Dragons themed plot and relatable story provide a great learning opportunity for the cast of 14 theatre students. And audiences of all ages tend to fall in love with the play.
Agnes is a woman who has just lost her parents and teenage sister, Tilly, in a tragic accident. Agnes regrets her lack of connection with Tilly. Agnes discovers Tilly was active in a gaming community and left behind some unfinished business in her Dungeons and Dragons world.
Agnes, reluctantly at first, decides to join the game and finish what Tilly had begun.
“She Kills Monsters” is an homage to the geek, warrior and sibling in all of us. This production is directed by David Pausch. His award-winning directing credits include “August: Osage County,” “Laughter on the 23rd Floor” and “The Drawer Boy.” Fight choreography is by Whitney Derendinger, while the movement choreography is by Robin Fonfara.
Madison College students and alumni make up the majority of the cast and crew.
This production is a Madison College entry in the Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival. A regional representative of KCACTF will attend the play and select two student nominees for the Irene Ryan acting award.

Box Office Info

Showtimes:
• Fridays, Oct. 28, and Nov. 4 at 7:30 p.m.
• Saturdays, Oct. 29, and Nov. 5 at 7:30 p.m.
• Sunday, Oct. 30, and Nov. 6 at 2 p.m.

Tickets:
• Seniors and youth: $12
• Adults: $15
• Madison College students: FREE with OneCard
Reserve tickets at https://madisoncollegetheater.org.
Performances held in the Mitby Theatre, Madison College Truax Campus, 1701 Wright St., Madison.