Greetings adventurers!
On behalf of our incredible design and creative team, our talented cast and crew, and the department of theatre, I welcome you to Shenandoah Conservatory's production of She Kills Monsters by Qui Nguyen.
This play came to us by way of suggestion from our students, many of whom were acquainted with the play before they came to Shenandoah. After losing their last year of high school to a pandemic, awakening to a shifting cultural climate that has made their world feel less secure, coming to us masked and inoculated, standing six feet apart at all times, and getting through a couple extremely bumpy undergraduate years, they wanted a comedy. Who can blame them?
Mr. Nguyen does not disappoint. He has created a gem of a play that pulls out all the stops of outrageous fun. But what was a complete surprise to me as I began to study it, was the way he achieves this. While tackling some important topics, such as biases regarding sexuality, marginalizing human beings and healing after personal tragedy, he manages to lift our hearts and souls in the process.
This play is about fighting monsters—Dungeons and Dragons monsters in the literal sense. But these monsters are analogous to other monsters that we face. This play is also a tale about the “monsters of life” that paralyze us with fear and doubt, whether they are the monsters under our beds as children, or unforeseen tragedy that befalls us, or the thoughts in our minds that keep us stuck. It’s a tale about courage. It’s a tale about love, loss and triumph. And it’s a tale about magic, adventure and belonging. Thank you, Mr. Nguyen.
At this juncture, I would be remiss if I didn’t mention the Herculean efforts and courage behind the scenes by our designers: faculty members Jessica Hightower, scenic; Karsen Green, costumes and puppetry; Dave Greenberg, sound; and seniors, Liam Heyl, lights; Rachael Severts, weapons and props; juniors, Alexus Campbell, hair and make-up; Broan Richard, costumes and puppetry; senior Vicky Kobelka, our TD, have created a living, breathing, immersive experience. I am beyond grateful for such vision and perseverance. The show has been a “monster” (pun intended). But everyone seemed to be of the mind—go big or go home!!! And please know, for all the names mentioned here, there are dozens more who have supported the process in every area of production—an epic ensemble! Thank you one and all!
Thank you to the actors and stage management team. We’ve been inseparable since February 5th. Quite simply, you have given this play its heartbeat and its soul.
I want to especially thank my colleague, Kit Wilder, for creating and directing our fight choreography, and senior, Alexa Guadagnoli, for choreographing the dance and movement.
You have most certainly embellished this project with joy, awe and wonder!
And lastly, patrons, we thank you for your courageous spirit, daring to be in the room, and for going on this adventure with us. We are so grateful for your tenacious support of our young theatre artists and for sharing in our belief that the world is a better place with art in it.
I give you, She Kills Monsters!
– Kirsten Trump