USN’s Student Theatre Guild put on a two-night fully student-run production from on April 7-8 of “She Kills Monsters,” a play written in 2011 by playwright Qui Nguyen.
The performance featured sets, costumes, props, posters, and animations made by dedicated crew members, and a cast of talented and hard-working actors across grades. The STG worked furiously to deliver a heartfelt and wildly entertaining production in only three weeks, rehearsing and managing all aspects of the show after school.
“She Kills Monsters” follows Agnes Evans (Zazou Gray ‘28), a high school senior who discovers her late younger sister Tilly’s (Laney Martin ‘29) secret world and true self through a Dungeons & Dragons manual, blending reality and fantasy for a heartwrenching and bittersweet show. As Agnes dives deeper into the game, she learns to confront her own grief, regrets, and assumptions.
Stand-out emotional performances were delivered by leading actresses Gray and Martin, while Basil Broemel ‘28, Caden Carrabba ‘27, and Marina Cintado-Scokin ‘26 provided excellent comedic moments and contagious energy. Olivia Westfall ‘27 and Kenzie Miller ‘27 proved a captivating and dynamic duo of villainesses, and Bailey Carlson ‘27 and Breckyn Forcey ‘26 stepped into their roles as powerful warriors excellently. The chemistry among cast members made both comedic and emotional moments feel authentic and engaging.
Maddie Womack ‘26, the current president of the STG, was the play’s director. She hopes that audiences were able to take away a few key lessons on the importance of love and acceptance.
“Everyone has their own monsters that they have to fight, but some battles can’t be fought alone,” Womack summarized. “It’s okay to ask for help, even if it feels hard. Sometimes, the people you think you could never understand are the people who understand you the most, and I hope this show was proof of that. Who knows what could happen if you take the time to truly hear someone else’s story?”
Combat and dance scenes alike were well choreographed and thrilling. Womack talked about figuring out how to stage the show’s fight scenes, and said that they were often the biggest challenge in the way of getting the show ready for opening night.
(Coco Shepard)
“The characters use lots of cool weapons and fight to the death with intense lights and sound. Unfortunately, USN did not have many weapons for us to use. Rehearsals consisted of lightsabers and plastic bats, but we made it work. On opening night, Gray ended up fighting with a rainbow foam sword. It wasn’t exactly what was planned, but it was funny, and the actors made it work. It was definitely a challenge, but the show must go on!” Womack declared.
More challenges came with taking on the leadership role of director, Womack recounted.
“I was surprised by the number of things I would have to keep track of at all times. I had to do more than just telling the actors where to go and what to say. I had to manage rehearsal times, come up with the ideas for set design, make sure costumes were finished on time, decide on all the music, and keep everyone in a good mood all at the same time.” Womack said.
Womack said she learned a lot about herself from the production.
“I don’t like to just sit in a director’s chair and tell people where to go. I often got on the stage with the actors and walked through the scenes with them to better portray what I was thinking in my head.” Womack said. “I also came up with a lot of the blocking as we went, which allowed for even more collaboration and creativity with the scenes.”
The production did an amazing job of balancing nerdy Dungeons & Dragons inspired comedy with more serious themes of grief, love, and identity. On this matter of creating an equilibrium between drama and comedy, Womack said, “I wanted to represent these struggles with honesty and rawness, allowing the audience to truly understand the story… It’s ultimately all about finding who you are, so I made sure to keep a light and comedic energy in order to keep the positive message alive.”
Womack also mentioned how relying on her peers helped bring the play to life.
“I let the actors make big choices and add their own personal ideas to their characters, and it turned into a beautiful and collaborative piece… I am so incredibly proud of the actors, tech, and everyone else who helped bring this show to life.” Said Womack. “I’m extremely grateful to have been given this opportunity and for everyone who believed in me every step of the way.”
For the next generation of USN students to take the stage, Womack shared a few pieces of advice; “Dream big. I was set on doing this show for the past four years of high school, with no idea how I would do it. But I listened to my heart, and I made it happen. And you can too.” Her experience serves as an encouraging example for students considering taking on leadership roles in the arts.
For future directors, Womack gave more specific guidance. “Know what you want costumes to look like, know your set, and general ideas for the characters.” Womack continued. “Talk to those who you know will be working behind the scenes before the rehearsals even start, so everyone can be on the same page about what has to be done by when. That way, it will feel way less rushed, and you can take time to focus on directing instead of running around managing everything at the last minute. But ultimately, remember that the entire point is to have fun. If you’re loving what you’re creating, then that is all that matters.”
“She Kills Monsters” was an impressive theatrical endeavor, challenging the cast and crew with a multitude of intense themes. Overall, the STG rolled a natural 20 on performance and put on a show to remember.
