
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)
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Cast Size
8w, 4m -
Duration
105 Minutes -
Subgenre
Adventure -
Target Audience
Adult, Teen (Age 14-18)
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
Cast Attributes
Keywords
Performing Groups
- 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
Image: 2011 Flea Theater Production (Joan Marcus)
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.