Penn Yan will present 'She Kills Monsters'

Penn Yan will present 'She Kills Monsters'

PENN YAN--The Penn Yan Academy Drama Club will stage its fall production of "She Kills Monsters: Young Adventurers Edition" by Qui Nguyen from Nov. 5-7.
It is 1995, and Agnes Evans (sophomore Addyson Webber) is a high school senior who is, as described by the play's narrator (junior Vanessa Martinez), "engrossed with transcending her seemingly permanent state of averageness." In her pursuit of boys, cheerleading, and popular television, she slowly grew apart from her younger sister Tilly (senior Massan Jensen), who was more interested in fantasy, magic, and Dungeons & Dragons. After Tilly is killed in an accident, however, Agnes is stricken by guilt and decides that she wants to get to know who her sister really was in her final years. With the help of Tilly's friend and Dungeon Master Chuck (junior Johnathan Shaw), she decides to play through one of Tilly's final D&D campaigns in the hopes of finding out more about her.
As Agnes enters the world of "New Landia," she meets Tilly's friends and party members: The Demon Queen Lillith (senior Meredith Hanley), Dark Elf Kaliope (freshman Leah Prather), and Orcus, Overlord of the Underworld (junior Sophia Smith). Together with this band of adventurers, Agnes sets off on a quest to reclaim the Lost Soul of Athens from the dreaded dragon Tiamat, meeting friends and foes along the way including Farrah the Faerie (senior Samantha Trank), the evil succubi Tina and Gabbi (senior Jayden Hollister and sophomore Gale Paddock), and the Great Mage Steve (senior Dayton Gulick). Agnes struggles to figure out how this game works, to come to terms with this version of Tilly, and to balance aspects of her "normal" life - like spending time with her best friend Vera (junior Emmaleigh Stempien) and boyfriend Miles (junior Garrett Hilton). Agnes' quest for closure serves as a journey through grief, guilt, and self-realization through dice, dragons, and awesome sword fights.
"She Kills Monsters," directed by PYA Choir and Theatre teacher Jessica Kinsey and stage managed by freshman Danielle Miller, will run Friday, Nov. 5 through Sunday, Nov. 7 in the Penn Yan Academy Auditorium, and online through a paid live stream. Friday and Saturday shows will begin at 7 p.m., with a Sunday matinee at 2 p.m. Tickets for the live performances and the live stream are available online at www.showtix4u.com/events/skm at $9 for students/seniors, $10 for adults, or $15 for the live stream option. Tickets can also be purchased at the door for $10 for students/seniors and $11 for adults.
Contact pyadrama@gmail.com for more information.