The University of Utah’s Department of Theatre will present Qui Nguyen’s “She Kills Monsters” at Kingsbury Hall, by special arrangement with Samuel French, Inc. Directed by Jamie Rocha Allan, this tale of friendship, loss and acceptance follows a young woman, Agnes Evans, as she grieves the death of her sister, Tilly. While exploring her sister’s life, Agnes discovers that Tilly was a well-known Dungeons & Dragons player and dives into a fantastical world chock-full of supermodel elves, dominatrix warrior women and nasty ogres.
“She Kills Monsters” runs Jan. 16-19 at 7:30 p.m. with 2 p.m. performances on Jan. 18 and 19. The 2 p.m. performance on Jan. 18 will be ASL interpreted. A talkback with the cast and creative team will follow the 7:30 p.m. performance on Jan. 18.
As director Jamie Rocha Allan describes, the production is the result of many creative collaborations.
“What most excites me about bringing ‘She Kills Monsters’ to the stage is the chance to show off all the incredible collaborators I have worked with from faculty to students to freelance artists. This really is an ensemble show on and off the stage.”
The cast includes members of both the Actor Training Program and Musical Theatre Program of the U’s Department of Theatre including Allison Billmeyer as Tilly and Piper Salazar as Agnes. Puppet designer Matt Sorensen collaborated with students to create several original puppets that enhance the imaginary world of monsters and dragons. The production features scenic design by Thomas George, costume design by Peter Terry, lighting design by Rachael Harned, sound design and composition by Gerard Black, dramaturgy by Mason Duncan, choreography by Aria Klein and fight choreography by Harris Smith.
Read more about the creation of the production’s stunning puppetry here.
[bs_well size=”lg”]
“She Kills Monsters” at a glance
Kingsbury Hall
1395 E. Presidents Circle
Jan. 16-19, 2020 Ι 7:30 p.m.
Jan. 18*-19, 2020 Ι 2 p.m.
*ASL interpretation available
Tickets
General Admission: $18
U faculty and staff: $15
U students with ArtsPass (UCard): Free
Non-U students with valid student ID: $8.50.
Tickets can be obtained by calling 801-581-7100, online at tickets.utah.edu or at the Performing Arts Box Office, located at Kingsbury Hall.
The performance on Jan. 16 at 7:30 p.m. will be free for any student (middle school, high school, college) with a valid student ID. Please redeem your ticket by 7:10 p.m. from the Performing Arts Box Office, located at Kingsbury Hall.
Free parking is available for all Kingsbury Hall events at either Rice-Eccles Stadium or Merrill Engineering. Meters are available along Presidents Circle. Most meters are free after 6 p.m. on nights with public performances at Kingsbury Hall, but they fill up fast.
Content warning: Children under four years of age, including babes in arms, will not be admitted. It contains simulated violence, sexual content, adult language and references to death by suicide.[/bs_well]