She Kills Monsters: Virtual Realms - Kent State University...She Kills Monsters: Virtual Realms A Note from Director Paul Hurley, continuedThere’s a phrase often used just before

The School of Theatre and Dance

2020-2021 Season

She Kills Monsters: Virtual Realms

DirectorPaul Hurley

Assistant Director/Fight DirectorSara Anne Tomczak

Costume DesignerKelley Shephard

Scenic DesignersJenna Jamison

Claire Vogt

ChoreographerAnna Marmaduke

Sound DesignerBrea Lecklikner^

Original Music by Brea Lecklikner^

Ian Stewart

Lighting DesignerJaemin Park

Production Stage Manager

Alexandra Baxter^

^Member of Alpha Psi Omega, National Theatre Honor Society

She Kills Monsters: She Kills Monsters: Virtual RealmsVirtual Realms

“She Kills Monsters: Virtual Realms” is presented by arrangement with Concord Theatricals on behalf of Samuel French, Inc. www.concordtheatricals.com

© 2020. THIS AUDIO-VISUAL PRESENTATION WAS PRODUCED BY SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT WITH CONCORD THEATRICALS CORP. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. THIS AUDIO-VISUAL PRESENTATION IS

AUTHORIZED FOR NON-COMMERCIAL USE ONLY. FURTHER DISTRIBUTION OF THIS PRESENTATION BY DOWNLOAD, STREAMING, REPOSTING, BROADCAST, TELECAST, OR IN ANY OTHER MANNER OR MEDIUM,

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UNAUTHORIZED REPRODUCTION, DISTRIBUTION OR EXHIBITION OF COPYRIGHTED AUDIO-VISUAL MATERIALS. CRIMINAL COPYRIGHT INFRINGEMENT IS INVESTIGATED BY THE FBI AND MAY CONSTITUTE A FELONY WITH

A MAXIMUM PENALTY OF UP TO FIVE (5) YEARS IN PRISON AND/OR A $250,000 FINE.

ByQui Nguyen

She Kills Monsters:She Kills Monsters:Virtual RealmsVirtual Realms

A Note from Director Paul Hurley

Thank you for being here. I want to acknowledge that the amount of screen time and Zoom sessions that you have experienced over the course of the past year was WAY more than you ever bar gained for. Yet here you are – you’ve committed to another 75 minutes and we are very excited to share this story with you! Very little about this process resembled the “normal” way of doing things. There’s no getting around it, producing theater in a pandemic brings with it numerous challenges, as well as some limitations, as not many plays are easy to produce in a virtual format. Luckily Qui Nguyen, the amazing playwright of the hit play She Kills Monsters, soon after the pandemic began adapted this story so that it could successfully be performed on Zoom. Audiences now get to experience She Kills Monsters: Virtual Realms in a whole new way. It just goes to show that anytime we come face to face with a challenge (if we choose to accept it!) we are invited to tap into a creativity that we have not yet had the opportunity to explore - much like the main character in the story you are about to see. That is exactly what we have taken on with this incredible ensemble of designers, technicians, and actors. Tonight, you will see 15 actors sharing this story, but behind the scenes there were over 30 additional amazing humans who helped to create this experience in a medium that is new to all of us. Their talent and creativity surpassed all of my expectations and went beyond what I thought was possible, resulting in a highly technical, beautiful, entertaining and deeply moving story. One of the biggest challenges we’ve taken on with the production is the choice to perform it LIVE and in real time. This is the only live performance that we are offering this year in our season, and we wanted to take on this daunting task because some of the most exciting aspects of theatre lie in the spontaneity, the unknown, and the shared communal experience, which all of us have missed this past year. (continued)


A Note from Director Paul Hurley, continuedThere’s a phrase often used just before the performance of a student matinee: “We can see and hear you, just like you can see and hear us.” I’ve always loved this because it reminds us that there is a give and take in every live performance. That’s what is so special about the theater! We all have a role to play, and the true magic of theater exists in that relationship between the actors and the audience, and we were committed to creating this experience for you. Again I’ll repeat, what you are about to see is going to be performed live. Anything can happen (just like in a “normal” theatrical performance): an actor may lose their internet connection, someone may forget a line, or other technical glitches may happen. And while we may not be able to see and hear you, we can definitely feel your energy. What you experience tonight will never be recreated this way ever again! So…here we go! In the spirit of community, we would like to invite you to a talkback following the performance as an opportunity to gather the actors, production team and you, the audience, to be with one another in the same virtual space for a few moments after this experience. We invite you to join immediately following the show at the link below.

This ensemble of actors, technicians and designers have worked incredibly hard over the past few months, and I am so proud of the work they all have done and the magic that has been created. I hope that you enjoy tonight’s performance of She Kills Monsters: Virtual Realms!

Join us for a Post-Show Discussion with the Cast and Production Team

Begins immediately after the show.Access the talkback athttps://kent-edu.zoom.us/j/85140864631

A Little Bit About Dungeons and Dragons (D&D)

The following was written by the Dungeons and Dragons experts in our cast and production team (Ben Davis, Kelley Shepard, Maddie Vaughan, Claire Vogt, Bonnie Waldrop, and KimDahae Wenz):

What is D&D? D&D is a fantasy improvised storytelling game with an element of chance. The easiest way to explain it is this: it is a table-top roleplaying game that combines the concept of playing “make-believe” with the rules of a board game. You and your friends use storytelling to play as characters in a fantasy world working toward a goal, whether that’s going on a quest, fighting monsters in a dungeon, or something else entirely.

There are two kinds of people who are essential to playing D&D: • The Dungeon Master (otherwise known as the DM). The DM writes an epic fantasy story (along the lines of Game of Thrones or The Lord of The Rings) and creates the world that the players will inhabit and guides the unfolding events throughout the game.• The players. Each player creates a unique character, selecting options from a variety of races, classes, and subclasses available on a predetermined character sheet. When they finally sit down to play, the players take on their character and roleplay within the fantasy world crafted by the DM. Together the players and the DM work to tell a fun and engaging story. The DM is in charge of the plot of the adventure, playing as additional characters and monsters that the players encounter, while everyone else works together to solve and overcome any challenges they come across. There is an element of chance to it, and that’s where the board game aspect comes in. The play-ers and the DM will roll different kinds of dice to determine how the events and actions in the story will unfold. Rolls are made for everything from how strong your character initially is, to determining if some random event does or does not occur. The game has a vast range of possibilities in play, and unlimited stories that can be told through the medium.



A Little Bit About D&D, continued

One of my Favorite things about Dungeons and Dragons is. . . THE STORYTELLING! D&D combines improvisation with high fantasy sto-rytelling effectively allowing you and your friends to create a thrilling and engaging story together in a matter of hours. Whether you are creating a player character with a rich and full backstory or you are crafting an entire world of harmonies and chaos to set your players loose in, anyone can tell a story through D&D. It is one of the most creatively stimulating games out there, and all you need to play is paper, a pencil, some dice, and an imagi-nation. THE RELATIONSHIPS that form between the characters. While I still enjoy the fights, the moments of character exploration is what I really play for. Ba-sically I prefer the role-play aspect of D&D because it's a chance to flex my creative muscles and become someone new for a few hours. THE HILARIOUS ANTICS THAT ENSUE! ROLLING THE DICE for a big moment! Whether it's because someone is dying on the ground or someone is trying to throw a dwarf over a ravine, the tension that the entire party has while they watch them roll is such an amazing experience that I haven't been able to find recreated somewhere else. THE CREATIVITY it inspires, both at the table and beyond! The incredible painted miniatures to represent your character, the detailed maps that the DM can create for battle, and the hand poured custom dice are all different aspects of art that come to life inspired by the game and used directly at the table. But also when players aren't at the table they are sewing, painting, and sculpting cosplay of their own characters, painting, drawing, and digital-ly creating artistic renderings of what they imagine their character to look like, and DMs get together to create communities of shared ideas and story concepts so everyone can craft even more enjoyable games!


A Little Bit About D&D, continuedTHE COMMUNITY. In the game, you band together with a group of people who are wildly different from you in order to achieve something great. As the story of the characters progresses, the party gets closer to each other. They become allies, friends, and sometimes even family. This sense of communi-ty is started in the imaginary world of the game, but it bleeds out into the players and the DM. We go on an adventure with our characters and form our own connections with the players around us as we get to hunt for lost treasure, sneak past horrifying creatures, and persuade allies to help us in our quest. We all pour our hearts and souls into making a story together that matters to us all, and in doing so we find allies, friends, and sometimes even family in the people playing the game with us.

Some Helpful D&D Terminology: Role-Playing - When a player speaks as if they were their In-game character. Think Acting. Most roleplaying is improvised.

Character Sheet - A piece of paper defining who a character is, and what they can do. created at the start of all D&D games, all players except the DM have one.

Dungeon Master (DM) - The player who creates the world and events that are used in a game of D&D. Kind of like a referee.

Player Character (PC) - The character a player takes control of, usually created and designed by the player who plays them. Each player usually only plays one.

Non-Player Character (NPC) - A character that is typically voiced, character-ized, and created by the Dungeon Master.

Dance 2020/Virtual Vision

^Member of Alpha Psi Omega, National Theatre Honor Society


Cast of CharactersNarrator...............................................................Bonnie WaldropTilly...........................................................................Kirstin HenryAgnes.....................................................................Isabella TorresChuck..........................................................................Ian StewartVera..................................................................Morgan TomasettiMiles............................................................................Jack LewisKaliope/Kelly......................................................KimDahae WenzLilith/Lilly.................................................................Riley McIntyreOrcus/Ronnie..............................................................John KrausThe Great Mage Steve..................................................Ben DavisFarrah the Faerie...........................................................Lucy HessEvil Tina......................................................................Allie SheskiEvil Gabbi........................................Israeljah (Aylah) MendenhallEnsemble...............................Noah McCullers, Maddie Vaughan

Understudy, Agnes/Kaliope................................Bonnie WaldropUnderstudy, Vera/Tina/Gabbi.......................................Lucy HessUnderstudy, Chuck/Orcus/Ronnie................................Ben DavisUnderstudy, Tilly/Lilith/Lily.................................Maddie VaughanUnderstudy, Miles/Steve.....................................Noah McCullers

Setting:Athens, OH

Time:Present Day


Production Staff

Director................................................................................................Paul HurleyAssistant Director/Fight Director............................................Sara Anne TomczakChoreographer..........................................................................Anna MarmadukeCostume Designer.......................................................................Kelley ShephardAssistant Costume Designer.......................................................Emily KemmererCostume Crafts Artisans....................Kate Collins, Eleanor Dobry, Kim Gapinski, Emily Karr, Emily Kemmerer, Claire LannDramaturgy Advisor.......................................................................Yuko KurahashiLighting Designer...............................................................................Jaemin ParkAssistant Master Electrician............................................................Michael KrolikScenic Designers........................................................Jenna Jamison, Claire VogtDigital Filter Artist.............................................................................Serenity TateProps Artisans...................................Jenna Jamison, Claire Vogt, Travis WilliamsProps Manager.......................................................................Tamara L. Honesty^Sound Designers.........................................................................Brea Lecklikner^Assistant Sound Designer/Board Operator........................................Bella BrehmAssistant Sound Designers................................................Ezra Silkes, Claire VogtProduction Stage Manager......................................................Alexandra Baxter^Assistant Stage Managers..........................................Noah Johnson, Reilly Masi, Sammie Pamfilie, Sarah SpeedyCostume Design Faculty Advisor..........................................Michelle Hunt SouzaCostume Design Faculty Advisor..........................................Michelle Hunt SouzaCostume Technology Faculty Advisors.........................................Kerry Jo Bauer, Costume Technology Faculty Advisors.........................................Kerry Jo Bauer, Grace Cochran Keenan Grace Cochran KeenanLighting Design Faculty Advisor...................................................Jakyung C. SeoLighting Design Faculty Advisor...................................................Jakyung C. SeoScenic Design and Props Faculty Advisor..............................Tamara L. Honesty^Scenic Design and Props Faculty Advisor..............................Tamara L. Honesty^Sound Design and Video Faculty Advisor................................Nicholas DrashnerSound Design and Video Faculty Advisor................................Nicholas DrashnerStage Management Faculty Advisor...................................................Tom HumesStage Management Faculty Advisor...................................................Tom HumesTechnical Direction Faculty Advisor.................................................Steve Pauna^Technical Direction Faculty Advisor.................................................Steve Pauna^School Director................................................................................Eric van BaarsSchool Director................................................................................Eric van BaarsManaging Director.........................................................................Rebecca GatesManaging Director.........................................................................Rebecca GatesProduction Manager.........................................................................Karl ErdmannProduction Manager.........................................................................Karl ErdmannMarketing Coordinator......................................................................Joni KonevalMarketing Coordinator......................................................................Joni KonevalPerforming Arts Box Office Manager..................................................Alex SwigerPerforming Arts Box Office Manager..................................................Alex SwigerCostume Shop Supervisor....................................................................Robin RuthCostume Shop Supervisor....................................................................Robin RuthAssistant Costume Shop Supervisor....................................................Marti ColesAssistant Costume Shop Supervisor....................................................Marti ColesLighting and Sound Supervisor...........................................................Jason PottsLighting and Sound Supervisor...........................................................Jason PottsScene Shop Supervisor......................................................................Jason GatesScene Shop Supervisor......................................................................Jason Gates

School of Theatre and Dance Faculty and Staff

Eric van BaarsDirectorAssociate Professor, Theatre

Daniel-Raymond Nadon, Ph.D.Associate DirectorProfessor, Theatre

Kerry Jo BauerAssistant Professor, Costume Technology

Jennifer BlackAssistant Professor, Dance

Courtney BrownAssistant Professor, Voice and Acting

Marti ColesAssistant Costume Shop Supervisor

Nicholas DrashnerAssistant Professor, Sound Design

Karl ErdmannProduction Manager

Amy FritscheActing Area CoordinatorAssociate Professor, Acting and Musical Theatre

Rebecca Balogh GatesManaging Director

Jason GatesScene Shop Supervisor

Tamara L. HonestyAssistant Professor, Scenic Design

Tom HumesAssistant Professor, Stage Management

Paul HurleyAssistant Professor, Acting and Movement

Grace Cochran KeenanAssistant Professor, Costume Technology

Natalie HuyaTheatre Faculty, Kent State Ashtabula

Terri KentMusical Theatre CoordinatorProfessor, Musical Theatre & Acting

Eric KildowAssistant Professor of Theatre, Kent State Trumbull

Gregory KingArtistic Director, Kent Dance EnsembleAssistant Professor, Dance

Joni KonevalMarketing Coordinator



Jennifer KoreckiAssociate Professor, Musical Theatre

Yuko Kurahashi, Ph.D.Graduate CoordinatorProfessor, Theatre

Kyle LovellAcademic Advisor

Matt MarquisManager, Information Technology

Catherine MeredithAssistant Professor, Dance

Donna MillerAdministrative Clerk

Steve PaunaTechnical DirectorAssociate Professor, Theatre

Fabio PolancoAssociate Professor, Acting and Directing

Jason PottsLighting and Sound Supervisor

Jeffrey Marc RocklandDance Division CoordinatorAssociate Professor, Dance

Robin RuthCostume Shop Supervisor

Jakyung C. SeoAssociate Professor, Lighting DesignDesign Technology & Production Coordiantor

Terri SieferAdministrative Clerk

Alex SwigerPerforming Arts Box Office Manager

Michelle Hunt SouzaAssistant Professor, Costume Design

Jonathan SwobodaAssociate Professor, Musical Theatre

Barbara Allegra VerlezzaAssociate Professor, Dance

James WeaverAssistant Professor of Theatre,Kent State Stark

School of Theatre and Dance Faculty and Staff

Patricia BesticHannah BlakeDane CastleTerence CranendonkJohn EichenlaubMichael GattoTheresa HollandMavis Jennings

Carrie LangguthSamuel McIntoshMichael OatmanBeverly Petersen-FittsRobert RussellErin SmithLana SugarmanRohn Thomas

School of Theatre and Dance Adjunct Faculty

School of Theatre and Dance Accompanists

Colin Dees Natasha Musaelyan

School of Theatre and Dance Graduate Assistants

Tetta AskelandAlex BarnhartBethany CaputoDevin GalloEve KruegerJessica Cope-MillerJaemin Park

Dylan RatellKeely RutledgeSteve SawickiBrian SeckfortKelley ShephardSara TomczakTravis Williams


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She Kills Monsters: Virtual Realms - Kent State University...She Kills Monsters: Virtual Realms A Note from Director Paul Hurley, continuedThere’s a phrase often used just before