The West Liberty University Theatre Program kicks off this semester with Qui Nguyen’s new smash hit (winner of the AATE Distinguished Play Award) SHE KILLS MONSTERS.  The production runs February 11-12 and 18-20 at 7:30pm and February 21 at 3:00pm and tickets can be purchased in advance online here.

SHE KILLS MONSTERS tells the story of Agnes Evans (Alexandra Glotfelty) as she leaves her childhood home in Ohio following the death of her teenage sister, Tilly (Destiny Walsh). When Agnes finds Tilly’s Dungeons & Dragons notebook, however, she stumbles into a journey of discovery and action-packed adventure in the imaginary world that was Tilly’s refuge. In this imaginary world, Agnes will encounter homicidal fairies, nasty ogres, and other various beings.

For the uninitiated, Dungeons & Dragons is a role-playing game in which a Dungeon Master leads players through mythical quests. Players assume characters – sometimes endowing them with skills and powers they already have, and sometimes with abilities they wish they had. As the Dungeon Master rolls an eight-sided die, players are taken on a virtual journey in which powers are bestowed or relinquished, battles are fought, won and lost, and players find the ways and means to achieve their quest. The parallels between Tilly’s fantasy game and the realities of her short life are made clear as the play moves forward.

SHE KILLS MONSTERS requires performers to be able to switch between their original character and the one they are in the fantasy world of Dungeons and Dragons. So each actor is required to develop two distinctly different characters, one based in reality and one based in fantasy. While the acting challenges alone would be sufficient justification for the season, the biggest impact may be the opportunities for the student-designers/production team. SHE KILLS MONSTERS has a student director (Meaghan Macey), a student scene designer (Rebecca McDowell), a student costume designer (Michael Blatzer), a student sound designer (Brady Dunn), a student choreographer (Geena Diomedi), and a student fight choreographer (Mattheus Nail).

Cast includes West Liberty students, Mattheus Nail, Aleandra Glotfelty, Destiny Walsh, Zac Morris, Ingrid Young, Alex Burdick, Jed Shook, Nick Morris, Chris Rees, Amanda Mandirola, Michelle Russell, Sarah Lemley, Maria Schmidt, Desirrae Wells, and Morgan Goddard.

Please note: the show features coarse language and adult situations, and is not recommended for young children. But for adults, and especially for fans of Dungeons & Dragons and role-playing games, SHE KILLS MONSTERS is imaginative, entertaining and thoughtful ode to family and friendship.