She Kills Monsters is the story of twenty-something Agnes, who tries to learn about her younger sister, Tilly, after Tilly's death. The vehicle Agnes uses to get to know her sister is playing a Dungeons and Dragons module that Tilly created. In the process, Agnes meets a socially awkward game store proprietor; a death dealing, clothing challenged demon princess; an equally fashion abbreviated dark elf; a slacker demon; a foul-mouthed fairy; and a pair of demonic cheerleaders. Throw in an insecure boyfriend and a high school counselor filled with nothing, but bad advice and Agnes has her work cut out for her. She soon learns that there was more to Tilly than faux armor and dice. The revelation that Tilly was gay and bullied in school takes Agnes by surprise. This is a poignant and absurd comedy populated with demons both imagined and real, which takes everyone on a great quest to make a true discovery.
Qui Nguyen is a playwright and Co-Founder of the OBIE Award-winning Vampire Cowboys Theatre Company of NYC. He and his work, known for its innovative use of pop-culture, stage violence, puppetry, and multimedia, has been called "Culturally Savvy Comedy" by The New York Times, "Tour de Force Theatre" by Time Out New York, and “Infectious Fun” by Variety.
Scripts include Vietgone (South Coast Rep, Oregon Shakespeare Company, Manhattan Theatre Club), She Kills Monsters (The Flea, Buzz22 Chicago/Steppenwolf, Company One); War is F**king Awesome (developed in the Sundance Theatre Lab); Krunk Fu Battle Battle (East West Players); Bike Wreck (Ensemble Studio Theatre); Trial By Water (Ma-Yi Theater); Aliens Versus Cheerleaders (Keen Teens); Soul Samurai; The Inexplicable Redemption of Agent G (Ma-Yi Theater & Vampire Cowboys); and the critically acclaimed Vampire Cowboys productions of Alice in Slasherland; Fight Girl Battle World; Men of Steel; and Living Dead in Denmark.
Recent honors include the 2015 NY Community Trust Helen Merrill Playwriting Award, 2015 Frederick Loewe Award (War is F**king Awesome), 2014 Sundance Institute/Time Warner Fellowship; a 2014 McCarter/Sallie B. Goodman Fellow; 2013 Sundance Theatre Lab Fellow; 2013 AATE Distinguished Play Award (She Kills Monsters); 2012 TCG Young Leader of Color; and 2012 & 2009 GLAAD Media Award nominations for his plays She Kills Monsters and Soul Samurai.
He is a proud resident artist at New Dramatists, a core member of The Playwrights’ Center, an alumnus of Youngblood, and a member of Ensemble Studio Theatre and The Ma-Yi Writers Lab.
The Ixion production of She Kills Monsters is directed by Ixion Artistic Director, jeff croff. jeff is an award-winning director and associate member of the Stage Directors & Choreographers Society. He most recently directed Ixion's acclaimed Glengarry Glen Ross. He has directed over forty productions ranging from broad comedy, The Nerd by Larry Shue, to heart-wrenching dramas, The Late Henry Moss by Sam Shepard.
She Kills Monsters features actors new to Lansing area stages as well as faces familiar to Ixion audiences.
Narrator/Evil Gabbi- Morgan Pohl
Tilly Evans- Storm Boyer
Agnes Evans- Katy Kettles
Chuck Biggs- Tobin Bates
Miles- Nick Lemmer
Lillith- Monica Tanner
Kaliope- Danica O'Neill
Orcus- Daniel Bonner
Farrah/Evil Tina- Allison Simmons
Steve- Christian Thompson
Vera- Danielle R. Lynch
While we have our cast, there are still opportunities to be involved backstage or as some of the eponymous Monsters.
Contact:
jeff croff, Artistic Director
Phone: 517.775.4246
Email: [email protected]
Twitter: @adjeffcroff