Fantasy Role-Playing Comes to Life in WT Theatre’s ‘She Kills Monsters’

Copy by Chip Chandler, 806-651-2124, [email protected]

CANYON, Texas - A young woman's quest to understand her sister-and to fight monsters alongside her-is at the heart of the latest drama from West Texas A&M University Theatre.

"She Kills Monsters" by Qui Nguyen will be staged at 7:30 p.m. Oct. 26 to 28 and Nov. 2 to 4, and 2:30 p.m. Oct. 29 and Nov. 5 in the Happy State Bank Studio Theatre in WT's Sybil B. Harrington Fine Arts Complex.

Agnes (Leighson Selman, a senior musical theatre major from Amarillo) is a 20-something high school English teacher whose younger sister, Tilly (Signe Elder, a senior musical theatre major from Lubbock), dies tragically.

"That compels Agnes to investigate Tilly's life and get to know her in a way she didn't get to while Tilly was alive," said director Stephen Crandall, professor of theatre in WT's Sybil B. Harrington College of Fine Arts and Humanities. "She stumbles across a Dungeons & Dragons module that Tilly created and convinces a dungeon master friend of Tilly's to let her play it."

Along the way, Agnes gets a crash course in Tilly's life and secrets.

"Tilly was a 16-year-old girl who was a big nerd, a big geek, and quite a bit misunderstood by her family," Elder said. "She was bullied for being a lesbian, so Dungeons & Dragons was her way to escape and become a powerful warrior who can fight off her bullies."

The audience sees those battles come to life through elaborate costumes and fight choreography as Agnes and Tilly's in-game avatar fight through the campaign.

"We're embracing the creativity of this world," Crandall said. "People love fantasy films and TV shows like 'Lord of the Rings,' 'The Witcher,' 'Game of Thrones,' so anyone who enjoys a fantastical story approach should enjoy this."

The lead actors-neither of whom have played D&D before-appreciate the imagination required by their roles.

"D&D really makes sense for theater kids to do," Elder said. "It's all about improv and acting and characterizations and fantasy."

"This is my first show with a lot of fight choreography," Selman said, "and it's very difficult. It's hard to act like you're hurt when you're not hurt."

Though a sister's grief is at the heart of the show, it's not mournful, Crandall said.

"The play is hysterical," the director said. "It doesn't take itself too seriously. And I don't think you have to know anything about Dungeons and Dragons to enjoy. It's much more about the sisters' relationship than this game."

Cast members also include Angelica Pantoja, a junior acting major from Lubbock, as Lilith/Lillie; Carter Black, a junior acting major from Lubbock, as Orcus/Ronnie; Ethan Wilkerson, a junior theater performance major from Dalhart, as Miles; Hannah Lannou, a freshman theater education major from Canyon, as a monster; Hunter Russell, a freshman acting major from Sundown, as a monster; Jaxon Stubblefield, a junior acting major from Malakoff, as Chuck; Kaitlyn Frausto, a junior acting major from Hereford, as a monster; Kenzie Cohan, a freshman acting major from Ropesville, as a monster; Kyndal Knapp, a junior theater performance major from Sweetwater, as Farrah; Leigh Womack, a senior theater performance major from Hereford, as a monster; Liv Martin, a junior acting major from Houston, as Evil Tina; Makayla Puryear, a sophomore acting major from Lubbock, as Vera; Noa Sorrell, a junior musical theatre major from Dallas, as Evil Gabbi; Rylee Bass, a junior acting major from Brownsboro, as the narrator; Savannah Bohl, a junior musical theatre major from Muenster, as Kaliope/Kelly; Tucker McCann, a sophomore theatre performance major from San Angelo, as Steve; and Ty Thompson, a junior acting major from Fort Worth, as a monster.

Tickets are $12 adults, $8 seniors and students, and free for WT students, faculty and staff with Buff Gold Card.

For tickets, visit the Box Office in the Fine Arts Complex, email [email protected] or call 806-651-2810.

Fostering an appreciation of the arts is a key component of the University's long-range plan, WT 125: From the Panhandle to the World.

That plan is fueled by the historic One West comprehensive fundraising campaign, which reached its initial $125 million goal 18 months after publicly launching in September 2021. The campaign's new goal is to reach $175 million by 2025; currently, it has raised more than $150 million.

About West Texas A&M University

WT is located in Canyon, Texas, on a 342-acre residential campus. Established in 1910, the University has been part of The Texas A&M University System since 1990. WT, a Hispanic Serving Institution since 2016, boasts an enrollment of about 10,000 and offers 59 undergraduate degree programs and more than 40 graduate degrees, including two doctoral degrees. The University is also home to the Panhandle-Plains Historical Museum, the largest history museum in the state and the home of one of the Southwest's finest art collections. The Buffaloes are a member of the NCAA Division II Lone Star Conference and offers 14 men's and women's athletics programs.

Photo: Sisters Tilly (Signe Elder, left) and Agnes (Leighson Selman, right) bond over swords and sorcery in West Texas A&M University Theatre's "She Kills Monsters," opening Oct. 26. Jax Stubblefield as Chuck lurks in the shadows.

-WT-

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