Avondale High School Theater Group Goes to Next Level with Theatrical Skills
Production of She Kills Monsters Challenges Students to Learn New Performance Techniques
The Avondale Theatre Company (ATC) kicks of the 2017-2018 season with a comedic romp into the world of fantasy role games with its performance of She Kills Monsters by Qui Nguyen. The story, set in 1995 in Athens, Ohio, tells the story of Agnes Evans as she is dealing with the death of her younger teenage sister Tilly. While cleaning out Tilly’s room, Agnes comes upon a Dungeons and Dragons notebook left behind by Tilly. Wanting to connect with the younger sister that she never knew, Agnes attempts to play the game, and finds herself in a magical world full of demons, elves, monsters, and dragons. It’s an action-packed adventure that pays homage to the warrior in us all.
Avondale High School students Shannon Freck, Zoe Williams, and Miranda Miller hone their combat skills for performance of She Kills Monsters
She Kills Monsters is the first ATC production under the direction of the new Avondale High School Theater Director, Mr. Mike Sheldon. Sheldon replaces longtime Avondale teacher and director, Mr. Edmond Guay who retired from teaching in June, 2017. An Avondale High School graduate and former theater student, Sheldon knows firsthand that he has big shoes to fill in replacing Guay. “Mr. Guay was a great teacher,” said Sheldon, “he had many strengths that he passed onto the students. I hope to continue in his path while taking high school theater to the next level with stage performances built around high action theatrical skills like Stage Combat, Spectacle, Lighting, and creature creation,” he said.
Students are stepping up to the challenge of learning the new techniques and are preparing for the opening night curtain in two weeks. Seventy-six students make up the cast and crew and include Zoe Williams as Tilly, Rachel Jones as Agnes, Shannon Freck as Lillith/Lilly, Miranda Miller as Kaliope/Kelly, Chloe Stark as Vera/Beholder, Ava Hall as Evil Tina, Alexandria Taylor as Evil Gabbi, Elena Blatt as Farrah the Faerie, Nick Christy as Miles, Danny Barr as Chuck, Alex Holt as Orcas/Ronnie, Brendan Hart as Stephen, Gordy Gwilt as Narrator; and Zach Pedigo, Evan Lockard, Lindsey Nutt, and Amarae’ Robinson as Bugbears; Katie Christy, Caroline Stuart, and Rebecca Piepszak as Cheerleaders; Ashlyn Miller, Megan Dwelle, and Samantha Weaver as Fairies; and Sebastian Verhey, Thomas Snook, Krystal Davis, and Zofia Wagner as Monsters.
Curtain for the performances on November 2nd, 3rd, and 4th in the Avondale Performing Arts Centre (located in Avondale High School at 2800 Waukegan, Auburn Hills, 48326) is at 7:35 pm. Tickets are $5 and can be purchased at www.avondaledrama.com or by calling the box office 248-537-6210.
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