The dramatic new comedy “She Kills Monsters” by Qui Nguyen will play in the CBT’s Carousel Theatre March 23 through April 10. Buy tickets here.

After the death of her teenage sister Tilly, Agnes discovers an untouched “Dungeons and Dragons” campaign in Tilly’s room. In an effort to connect with her sister one last time, Agnes enters the imaginary “Dungeons and Dragons” world she once mocked. She uncovers levels of her sister that she didn’t know existed in an action-packed adventure filled with homicidal fairies, nasty ogres, and ‘90s pop culture.

The Pay What You Can Preview performance, where patrons can name their own price, will be held Wednesday, March 23^rd.  Half of the proceeds from PWYW tickets will benefit Girls Inc. of Tennessee Valley.   Behind the Scenes Sunday will take place following the Sunday, March 27 matinee.  A Designer Talk Back will take place Sunday, April 3rd following the matinee. And, an Actor Talk Back will take place following the April 10^th 2:00 pm matinee.  The Open Captioned performance also is Sunday, April 10th at 2:00 pm.

The production is sponsored by the Schubert Foundation, Inc., Knox County Tourism Consortium, Arts & Culture Alliance, and the Mildred Haines and William Elijah Morris Endowment Fund.   Media sponsors are Knoxville News Sentinel, WUOT, and WUTK.  Free and convenient parking is available in the Upper Parking of McClung Tower Garage (G2) on Volunteer Boulevard.

This show addresses themes of bullying and homophobia and contains depictions of violence, mild sexual content, and mild profanity. Those with auditory and visual sensitivities should be aware loud noises, theatrical haze and flashing lights occur at times in this production. 

Casey Sams (Director) is the Interim Department Head and a Professor of Theatre specializing in movement. She teaches movement, acting, period dance and musical theatre to both undergraduate and graduate students. She received her undergraduate and graduate degrees from Penn State and completed the Certification in Laban Movement Analysis at the Laban/ Bartenieff Institute for Movement Studies. Prior to arriving in Tennessee, Casey served as the Education Director for Virginia Stage Company, where she created programming for students from pre-k to post-graduate. She has worked as a Director, Choreographer, Movement Coach, and Intimacy Choreographer at theatres across the country including The Clarence Brown Theatre, Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park, The Roundhouse Theatre, St. Louis Repertory Theatre, Milwaukee Repertory, North Carolina Stage Company, PlayMakers Repertory, Virginia Stage Company, Pennsylvania Musical Theatre, The Knoxville Opera Company, and Vermont Stage Company. She is also a certified meditation instructor with The American Meditation Society and Koru Mindfulness.

The cast includes:  Rachel Darden (Agnes); Rachael Allion (Tilly); Jackson Ahern (Chuck): Zachariah Lidstone (Miles); Xitlalli Dawson (Kaliope/Kelly); Gwyneth Doppelt (Lilith/Lilly); Christine Sage (Vera/Evil Gabbi/The Beholder); Natalie Wrigley (Narrator/Evil Tina); Trevor Schmitt-Ernst (Steve); Jordan Gatton-Bumpus (Orcus/Ronnie); Michala Plato (Puppeteer 1/Farrah); Ella Trisler (Puppeteer 2); and, Garrett Wright (Puppeteer 3).  

The creative team for this production includes:  Jessica Klus (Assistant Director); DJ Pike (Scenic and Projection Designer); M. J. Hromek (Costume Designer); Joshua J. Mullady (Lighting Designer); Kaylin Gess (Assistant Lighting Designer); Tate E. Thompson (Sound Designer); Morgan Matens (Puppet Designer); Jake Guinn (Fight Choreographer); Kevin Roost (Assistant Fight Choreographer); Gina M. Di Salvo (Dramaturg); Michael Najman (Voice Coach); Shelly Pack Payne (Stage Manager); Emily Adams (Assistant Stage Manager); Katlyn Mundt (Assistant Stage Manager); and, Sarah Wahrmund (Assistant Stage Manager).

With a dual mission to train the next generation of theatre artists and to provide top quality professional theatre, the Clarence Brown Theatre at the University of Tennessee Knoxville is one of only 12 academic LORT (League of Resident Theatre) institutions in the nation with a professional theater on campus.  Under the leadership of Interim Producing Artistic Director Kate Buckley, Interim Department Head Casey Sams, and Managing Director Thomas Cervone, the CBT season runs from November through May and features five productions ranging from musicals to drama. 

The CBT provides a cultural resource for both the University and the larger East Tennessee community and affirms diversity and inclusivity in all their forms.

For more information or tickets, call the CBT Box Office at 865-974-5161 or visit us online at clarencebrowntheatre.com. Stay connected to the Clarence Brown Theatre on Facebook (Clarence Brown Theatre), follow us on Twitter (@ClarenceBrown) and view Clarence Brown videos on YouTube (Clarence Bro).