Mikaela Velazquez

Members of construction crew begin work on the large set pieces for “She Kills Monsters.”

“She Kills Monsters” premieres Nov. 15, 16, and 17; tickets will be $5 for students and $8 for adults.
The production centers around Agnes, a high school senior, who comes to learn more about her sister Tilly through her Dungeons and Dragons campaign after Tilly was killed in a fatal car accident.
Though the play is a story about acceptance of both oneself and others, there is a heavy focus on fantasy elements.
“My big focus is all the stage combat. I’ll be choreographing the fight scenes- there are 17 fights in the show. Some of them are sword fights, some of them are fistfights, but the show has a ton of staged violence, which is different from any other show we’ve done,” Alexandra Smith, tech director, said.
The play was chosen after a group of students and staff attended Theaterfest and saw the adult version of the production according to Cathryn Robinson, fall play director. After learning that there was a toned-down version of the play applicable to a high school audience, the students were eager to perform it at school.
“We thought that it was a good show to bring here because of the students’ enthusiasm,” Patricia Stoner, assistant director, said.
The students’ eagerness to perform the production carries over backstage. Although students and staff have set roles, each cast member helps out with any other task that may need assistance, creating a tight bond between the members.
“The experiences I’ve had with cast and crew have been great. There’s no judgment and everyone is really friendly,” Mitchell Countryman, junior, said. “The environment within the theater department is one of the most loving and supporting environments we have,” Sydney McFarland, senior, said. “Joining theater has been one of the best decisions I’ve ever made.”
Both the crew and cast are passionate about their chances to work on the play, and the uniqueness of the show itself plays a major role in their excitement.
“While the premise is Dungeons and Dragons, there’s a very heartfelt message,” Robinson said.
“High schoolers especially worry so much about fitting in and being a part of something. [The play] is about learning to love who you are and accept who you are- it’s truly a show about acceptance,” Smith said.