By Tomas Alonso
Co-Arts & Culture Editor

Poster for CCC’s production of “She Kills Monsters”. Photo courtesy of Clackamas Community College

Director Allison Moon brings “She Kills Monsters”, the multiple award-nominated dramedy stage play written by Qui Nguyen, to Clackamas Community College’s main stage Nov. 13.

Nguyen is famous for his work co-writing the Disney film “Raya and the Last Dragon.” 

“She Kills Monsters” follows the story of Agnes Evans, an average young woman whose only dream is to find some excitement in her life. A dream that cruelly comes true in the form of a car crash that kills her parents and younger sister Tilly. 

Brought to life with scenic and lighting design by Chris Whitten, props by Tegan Richards and costumes by Aiden McFarland, this production promises a blend of fantasy and heart. At the center of it all is director Allison Moon.

“The play begins when she discovers that her younger sister played Dungeons and Dragons, and was actually creating her own campaigns,” said Moon. “It’s really a story about grief and about family and love.”

Agnes meets a diverse group of characters through Tilly’s D&D campaign, including elves, demons, warriors and monsters, all of whom are representations of the real-life individuals her sister knew. What starts out as a search for knowledge quickly transforms into a poignant examination of acceptance, identity and grief. 

“She Kills Monsters,” written in 2011, is a newer work. As important as it is to keep Shakespeare alive, Moon believes it is just as important to stay modern.

“Being able to produce plays by living playwrights and then also playwrights who are of marginalized identities, why the heck not?” said Moon. “As understandable as it is to do Shakespeare or Tennessee Williams, if we want the medium to survive, we will have to start bringing in new works.” 

“She Kills Monsters” runs Nov. 13 through Nov. 23, Thursdays and Fridays at 7:30 p.m., Saturdays and Sundays at 2:30 p.m. and Nov. 14, at 10 a.m., in the Niemeyer Osterman Theatre.

Tickets are $16 for adults, $14 for seniors (62+) and free for all students. Tickets are discounted by $1 if purchased online at www.clackamas.edu/theatre.