SHE KILLS MONSTERS

BY QUI NGUYEN

DIRECTED BY LISA DELIA

February 17^th, 19^th, & 20^th, 2022 at the Morton Memorial Library

The Cast

Audra James: Tilly Evans

Amanda Tomasello: Agnes Evans

Laura Hennessy: Chuck

Douglas Woolever: Miles

Kirstin Horn: Lilith/Lilly

Ifigeneia Gianne: Kaliope/Kelly

Peter Kiewra: Orcus/Ronnie

Ashley France: Vera

Nick Scott: Steve

Matthew Ryan: Farrah/Evil Tina

Alli Behnken: Narrator/Evil Gabbi

Production Team

Lisa Delia: Director

Christine McCarthy: Stage Manager

Erin Hebert: Fight Choreographer

Donna Letteri: Costumes

Vanessa Baer: Dramaturg

Lisa Delia: Sound Designer

Lisa Delia & Christine McCarthy: Prop Design & Construction

Madison Anthony: Stagehand

Josie Grant: Photography & Social Media

CAST AND CREW BIOS

Alli Behnken (Narrator/Evil Gabbi) is so proud to be in this production of She Kills Monsters! Alli is 15 years old and a student at Kingston High School. Alli has appeared in several productions at the CENTER for Performing Arts at Rhinebeck, such as Urinetown (Lockstock), Carrie (Sue), and As You Like It (Lord of the Forest)!!

Lisa Delia (Director) is a theatre artist from Poughkeepsie, NY. She has a bachelor's in theatre performance with a minor in musical theatre from Hofstra University, and is the current secretary for the Rhinebeck Theatre Society board of directors. This is her very first foray into directing, and she is endlessly thankful to her cast and creative teams for their trust and collaboration in this project. Previous acting credits include Joan in Fun Home (RTS), Olive in The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, and Shelley/Marvalyn in Almost, Maine (County Players). As always, thanks to Mom and Dad for their unwavering support.

Ashley France (Vera) is thrilled to be returning to the stage with RTS. Her first show with RTS was Fun Home in 2018. Since then she’s been in Love/Sick and To, Someone I Love at The CENTER for Performing Arts at Rhinebeck. Many thanks to Lisa and everyone at RTS for the opportunity to be part of this wonderful show.

Ifigeneia Gianne (Kaliope/Kelly) is a Theater and Philosophy major at Bard College. Her experience includes studying Ancient Greek tragedy in the National Theater of Greece, and acting in Electra, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Suddenly Last Summer, As You Like It, Le Bourgeois Gentilhomme, The Aunt from Chicago and Antigone. She has worked with the “No Project” organization and directed a play about human trafficking titled Traffic Lights and co-wrote A Parade of Idiots. She is particularly excited to be part of She Kills Monsters as it is her first time performing in the United States. Ifigeneia would like to thank the Rhinebeck Theatre Society for giving her this opportunity, the rest of the cast and crew for being so supportive, as well as her family, who enabled her to be here and work with all these talented people.

Laura Hennessy (Chuck) This is Laura’s first time performing at the Morton Library in the New Director’s Series; however, this isn’t her first go in acting or performance. Laura was last seen on The CENTER stage in As You Like It (LeBeau) and previously in The Laramie Project playing nine different roles. She has been an Assistant Stage Manager in A Midsummer Night’s Dream and was a light operator at The CENTER in Matilda and Jesus Christ Superstar. It has been a lot of fun playing Chuck in She Kills Monsters and she can’t wait for everyone to see it!

Kirstin Horn (Lilith/Lilly) is excited to be making her return home to the Hudson Valley stage with RTS. Before graduating from Cornell University with her degree in Industrial Labor Relations this past May, she was the President of the Cornell Shakespeare Troupe and helped develop their Dorm Room Shakespeare initiative during COVID. Past favorite roles include Princess Winnifred in Once Upon A Mattress and Rosalind in As You Like It. Off the stage she's followed many pursuits including (but not limited to) political organizer, union rep, and nanny. She is incredibly grateful to Erin for her patience and expertise in her fight choreography and to Lisa and Christine for their phenomenal leadership.

Audra James (Tilly Evans) is excited to be back on stage with a live audience! Audra has been acting since she was just 7 years old and will be receiving her Bachelors in Performance this upcoming May at SUNY New Paltz. Some of her favorite performances have included Spring Awakening (Ilse), Fun Home (Medium Alison), and Polaroid Stories (Skinheadgirl). She would like to thank Lisa for the opportunity to tell this story, as she did not see many queer characters on stage growing up and is proud to be that for another young theater-goer. She sends all her love and lots of broken legs to the entire cast.

Peter Kiewra (Orcus/Ronnie) is a stage and screen actor, composer, improvisational pianist, and amateur rakugo storyteller. He has previously performed in seven mainstage musicals at The CENTER for Performing Arts under his dear friend and mentor, the late Kevin Archambault. Hoping to carry a fraction of Kevin's positivity and energy through every stage he finds himself on, Peter is delighted to perform in what will be his first production with Rhinebeck Theatre Society, and to have the rare opportunity to draw inspiration from his own standby Dungeons and Dragons character—a gay kobold who rides a giant peacock—throughout the performance.

Christine McCarthy (Stage Manager) is a software developer from Poughkeepsie, NY. She has been stage managing for various theatre productions for a little over a year, including work on The Laramie Project (The CENTER for Performing Arts), Something Rotten! (New Deal Creative Arts), and Reading Between the Lies (CENTER for Performing Arts). She is excited to be returning to an RTS production, doubly so to be part of the New Director’s Series, and thrice over for the opportunity to work with the powerhouse of energy, vision and talent that is her good friend Lisa. From blocking to fight choreography to straight up arts and crafts nights, this show has been an absolute trip! Thank you to Kevin for his love and support and to Declan for wearing headphones at rehearsals.

Matthew Ryan (Farrah/Evil Tina) is very excited to be in this production. This is his second show ever, and his first experience with fight choreography. Matt is 16 years old and attends Kingston High School. He has featured in one other show, As You Like It at the Rhinebeck Center, as William and a Court Lord.

Nick Scott (Steve) is super excited to be in She Kills Monsters. Other Credits include Footloose, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Almost, Maine, and Heathers. Nick would like to thank his Cast + Crew and his Mother and Father for always supporting him. Enjoy the Show!

Amanda Tomasello (Agnes) made her theater debut this past summer portraying the role of Hippolyta in A Midsummer Night’s Dream. Amanda first studied screenwriting and film & television production at New York Film Academy and New York Institute of Technology. After completing a development internship at New Line Cinema, she spent many years in New Mexico as an executive producers’ assistant for scripted television shows. Her experience includes Breaking Bad, Better Call Saul, and The Night Shift. She is now studying acting at The Simon Studio Professional Lab Class and works in the book publishing industry at Penguin Random House. In her spare time, she enjoys writing and has recently written her first short play, which is in the process of being produced by New Deal Creative Arts. Amanda would like to thank Rhinebeck Theatre Society and the amazing team of crew and actors for this production of She Kills Monsters. She is so grateful for the opportunity to work with and learn from this group of talented and interesting people. Contact: ATomasello586@gmail.com

Douglas Woolever (Miles) is thrilled to be a part of this production. Douglas is a Residence Director at Marist College and plays D&D in real life in his free time. Enjoy the show!

"She Kills Monsters" is presented by arrangement with Concord Theatricals on behalf of Samuel French, Inc. www.concordtheatricals.com