She Kills Monsters: Virtual Realms

A SAMUEL FRENCH, INC. TITLE

She Kills Monsters: Virtual Realms

Full-Length Play, Dramatic Comedy  /  8w, 4m

Designed specifically for online performances!

A comedic romp into the world of fantasy role-playing games, She Kills Monsters is a high-octane dramatic comedy laden with homicidal fairies, nasty ogres, and 90s pop culture – a heart-pounding homage to the geek and warrior within us all.

Image: 2011 Flea Theater Production (Joan Marcus)

She Kills Monsters: Virtual Realms

  • Cast Size
    Cast Size
    8w, 4m
  • Duration
    Duration
    105 Minutes
  • SubGenre
    Subgenre
    Adventure
  • Audience
    Target Audience
    Adult, Teen (Age 14-18)
Accolades
Accolades
  • Winner! 2013 AATE Distinguished Play Award

Details

Summary

Featured in The New York Times, July 2, 2020! Queer Kids, Nerds and Sword Fights: It’s the Hot School Play

She Kills Monsters tells the story of Agnes Evans as she leaves her childhood home in Ohio following the death of her teenage sister, Tilly. When Agnes finds Tilly’s Dungeons & Dragons notebook, however, she stumbles into a journey of discovery and action-packed adventure in the imaginary world that was Tilly’s refuge. In this high-octane dramatic comedy laden with homicidal fairies, nasty ogres, and 90s pop culture, acclaimed young playwright Qui Nguyen offers a heart-pounding homage to the geek and warrior within us all.

NOTE FROM THE PLAYWRIGHT:
This edition of She Kills Monsters is meant to be performed online using the video conferencing platform of your choice. As this is a new means in which to create theatre, I encourage you to experiment with the medium to best tell your story. In the script, I've recommended a few "tricks" (to spark your imagination) on how to use these online platforms, such as:

1. Utilizing a system of turning on and off live-feed cameras as way of staging entrances, exits, and scene transitions.
2. Creating a "sound design" by having your sound designer play music through a live-mic but with their camera off.
3. Using windows that aren't occupied with an actor's face to a highlight things like battles, puppetry, and other means of visual storytelling.

Overall, these are merely suggestions. I'm sure you'll find a million other creative ways to bring this all to life. Please have fun creating and making your version of She Kills Monsters. The goal in making my play available in this fashion is to give as many people the opportunity to play, inhabit, and breathe life into these characters that I love so much. Have fun, kick ass, and kill monsters.

History
She Kills Monsters premiered at the Flea Theater in New York City on November 4, 2011, under the direction of Robert Ross Parker.
NARRATOR
TILLY
AGNES
CHUCK
VERA
MILES
KALIOPE/KELLY
LILITH/LILLY
ORCUS/RONNIE
THE GREAT MAGE STEVE
FARRAH THE FAERIE
EVIL TINA
EVIL GABBI
  • Time Period Contemporary, Present Day
  • Setting Athens, Ohio. The Present.
  • Features Contemporary Costumes/Street Clothes, Fantasy Costumes
  • Duration 105 Minutes
  • Cautions
    • Mild Adult Themes

Media

“It will slash and shapeshift its way into your heart.” – The New York Times

“Packed with action, wit, and a sizable nerd-quotient, the production is a delight from start to finish.” – Theatremania, Read More

“Deceptively breezy and rather ingenious. The whole enterprise is kind of dopey and kind of invigorating and kind of remarkable. It will slash and shapeshift its way into your heart.” – The New York Times, Read More

“Nguyen is a refreshing, break-the-rules writer – he has a ready embrace of pop culture, high-school speak and 'High Fidelity' cool, and he also has a mission to redeem gaming geeks everywhere... She Kills Monsters delivers exactly what it promises, is generally a blast.” – Chicago Tribune, Read More

FEATURED IN THE NEW YORK TIMES, JULY 2, 2020

Queer Kids, Nerds and Sword Fights: It’s the Hot School Play

ON BREAKING CHARACTER

Top 15 Plays and Musicals About Siblings
Concord Theatricals
April 8, 2019

LGBT Theater: A Samuel French Showcase
by Jack Smart
May 30 2013

Behind the Scenes: She Kills Monsters from ASU Sch of Film, Dance & Theatre on Vimeo.

Photos

  • She Kills Monsters: Virtual Realms

    Image: 2011 Flea Theater Production (Joan Marcus)

  • She Kills Monsters: Virtual Realms

    Image: 2011 Flea Theater Production (Joan Marcus)

Licensing & Materials

  • Licensing fees and rental materials quoted upon application.
    Virtual performance rights (online only, with no performances in a theatre for a live audience) are available for this title. Please refer to this resource page to ensure that your licence request is appropriately filed.

Scripts

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Authors

Qui Nguyen

Qui Nguyen is a playwright, screenwriter, and co-founder of the Obie Award-winning Vampire Cowboys Theatre Company of NYC.

His plays include Vietgone (2016 Harold and Mimi Steinberg/ATCA New Play Award, 2016 LADCC Tim Schmitt Award, 2016 Edward M. Kennedy Prize finalist); War ...

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