PORTSMOUTH —
In the first production held in the newly renovated Portsmouth High School Kate Grana Auditorium, PHS student thespians will present “She Kills Monsters” by Qui Nguyen at 7 p.m. on Thursday, Friday and Saturday, Nov. 21-23.
Tickets are $10 for adults, $5 for students and senior citizens. The production includes some contemporary mature content.
The comedic play explores the world of fantasy role-playing games and 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.
With nearly $400,000 worth of renovations and completely new lighting and sound systems as well as 500 new theater seats, the newly renovated Kate Grana Auditorium is dedicated to a former music teacher who spent decades in the Portsmouth schools.
Ms. Grana, who died in May 2016 after a brief illness, served as an inspiration to friends and family to make the space what she had always wanted after the theater was slowly deteriorating over time. People close to Ms. Grana and supporters of the school’s theater and music programs formed a nonprofit organization, the Kate Grana Music & Arts Association, to raise funds that would ultimately pay for the renovation.
The cast of 15 actors and 10 techies are so pleased to be participating in this contemporary script with state of the art sound and lightning,” said director Sheli Beck Silveria. “It will be a great production to truly launch the Kate Grana Auditorium.”