She Kills Monsters

by Qui Nguyen

performed at the Mosesian Center for the Arts, February 7th-9th, 2020

scenic design by Eli Singer

lighting design by Joseph Gurkan

costume design by Arika Nabutovsky

sound design by Ted Kearnan

props design by Rachel Maddox

photos by Erica Dorenkamp

Inspired by the bright colors and striking shapes of 1990’s Lisa Frank and Dungeons & Dragons fantasy illustrations we worked to create a colorful, malleable world that could switch from realistic Athens, Ohio in 1995 to Tilly Evans’ D&D world of New Landia, highlighting the playful spirit of both.

Director’s Note 

Welcome to New Landia! I am beyond thrilled to share this play with you all! For those of you who are fans of the Dungeons and Dragons universe, I hope that this play delights you and reminds you of the feelings you had when you first played. For these characters, D&D is not just about the opportunity to act out a fantasy adventure, but about the opportunity to explore who they and all the people around them really are. That is what I think is so successful about this play as a whole. When I first read it I knew next to nothing about D&D, but it still moved me to tears. At its heart, it is a story about the relationship between two sisters, how we deal with grief, and what it means to find yourself, all while battling both the real and imaginary monsters of high school. Theatre, much like Dungeons and Dragons, is an opportunity for us to explore the world around us from the safety of our chairs. Both ask us to challenge our assumptions, question our truths, and step into the life of someone else. In this play, the fantastical and the theatrical are inseparable. I hope that as you watch you can feel moved by the struggle, joy, and wonder that each of these characters experiences even if they are not like yourself. And just maybe you'll be inspired to join the legions of nerds across the ages for whom this game and this world has meant so much. 

Love from New Landia (and Athens, Ohio), 

Cassie Chapados