A Reporter’s Unbiased Review

The Northern Kentucky University School of the Arts opened its latest Henry Theatre production, “She Kills Monsters,” which was a mix of fantasy, dark humor and stage combat. Directed by Katie Chambers, the show transforms the small theatre space into a world of reality and an alternate universe filled with ghosts, elves, weapons and Dungeons & Dragons. 

Though filled with sharp humor and exaggerated fantasy elements, the story also explored themes of grief and identity, particularly through an LGBTQ-centered journey. The contrast between lighthearted moments and more vulnerable scenes created a dynamic experience that shifted between laughter and reflection.

Directed by a first-time student director, the production faced the added pressure of a four-day, sold-out production. Within the intimate theatre space, the show relied on precise staging and committed performances to carry its fast-paced fight scenes and emotionally grounded moments. The result was a cohesive production that blended humor, action and heartfelt storytelling while navigating the technical and creative demands of a live performance. 

She Kills Monsters

Each year, students from the Northern Kentucky University School of the Arts (SOTA) bring four to six productions to life in The Henry Konstantinow Theatre, transforming the small, cozy space into a showcase of emerging talent and creative vision. Among this season’s selections is “She Kills Monsters,” a production that was not randomly assigned, but intentionally chosen by director Katie Chambers. Chambers pitched the show herself through SOTA’s competitive selection process, where students apply at the end of each academic year for the opportunity to direct.

According to the Henry Theatre, “She Kills Monsters” “focuses on Agnes Evans, a young woman who loses her parents and younger sister in a car accident. Intrigued by the Dungeons & Dragons module that her late sister, Tilly, created, Agnes plays the game for the first time and discovers how little she knew about her sister.” 

A Director’s Touch

As Chambers prepared for the production, she said that the scope of her responsibilities were at large.

“When preparing for the show, directors do everything,” Chambers said. “You have your actors do all the acting, and then lighting designers and sound designers can design things and do stuff on top of it. But at the end of the day, you really kind of oversee everything.” 

She explained that her role included blocking the show, creating the rehearsal schedule and working alongside the lighting and sound designers to determine how scenes would be presented. She also coordinated decisions involving props and set design. 

Chambers said she chose to lean into the limitations of the Henry Theatre’s small space. As the show centers around Dungeons & Dragons, monsters and large-scale effects, she saw an opportunity to approach those moments practically rather than elaborately. 

“I wanted to play with the funniness of making big effects really, really practical,” Chambers said.

She achieved this by staging fight scenes in slow motion, incorporating humorous dialogue and highlighting the emotional moments that ground the story beneath its fantasy elements.

The Battle Behind the Scene

Isabelle Acevedo, a senior musical theatre major, serves as the assistant fight director and fight captain for the production. Acevedo explained that one of the most challenging aspects of putting the show together was working within the limitations of the space. The stage, combined with large metal weapons and overhead lighting equipment, required “careful planning to ensure both efficiency and audience safety while maintaining engaging fight choreography.”

Acevedo also emphasized that, in stage combat, acting comes first. During rehearsals for the large battle scene in scene five — which features multiple creatures inspired by Dungeons & Dragons — the cast began by studying images of the creatures and physically embodying them. 

“We showed people a picture of the Dungeons & Dragons creature and we’re like, we want you to crawl around on all fours, make the sounds, be the creature,” she said.