The GhostLight Theatre unveils first-ever Young Adult Production
The GhostLight Theatre unveils first-ever Young Adult
Production with the play “She Kills Monsters” - July 18th - 21st
The GhostLight Theatre continues its 2024 Theatre Season with She Kills Monsters – Young Adventurers Edition – a play by Qui Nguyen, directed by Lindsay Gaspari. This play marks the first-ever Young Adult Production of The GhostLight Theatre, and it will be presented in the GhostLight’s Black Box Theatre space from Thursday, July 18th, through Sunday, July 21st. On Thursday, Friday, and Saturday, curtain is at 7:30 p.m. and on Sunday at 3 p.m. at 101 Hinkley Street in Benton Harbor. General Admission tickets are $28, $25 for seniors, and $20 for students aged 18 and under. Tickets can be reserved online at www.GhostLightBH.com or by calling the box office at 269-252-5222.
Set in Athens, Ohio, in 1995, She Kills Monsters follows high school senior, Agnes Evans a year after her sister, Tilly, has died in a car accident. Agnes has discovered a notebook left behind by the sister she never understood, and inside the notebook, she finds a module for a Dungeons and Dragons campaign. Intrigued by the contents, she embarks on a quest to learn who Tilly really was. Her journey not only peels back the layers of her sister’s hidden identity, but reveals her own as well, forcing her to face her inner demons, devils, and monsters. Joined by a colorful and dynamic cast of characters, Agnes and her Party tell a story that contemporary teens find relevant and relatable. LQBTQIA+ characters and relationships are represented and discussed. The production is recommended for mature audiences (13+) and may contain language and combat that some audience members may find objectionable. Children below age 5 will not be permitted in the theatre.
“We are incredibly excited to kick off our first-ever Young Adult training program with the critically-acclaimed vehicle She Kills Monsters”, Artistic Director and GM Paul Mow said. “These young adults have been working on or around our other shows in order to be trained in multiple aspects of theatrical design and have been putting in the hours to understand what goes into all things stagecraft.” “There are lots of great opportunities in our SW Michigan community for kids to sing and dance,” Mow continued, ”but when it comes down to true theatrical training and work on straight plays or behinds the scenes, we hope to continue offering a different experience to those students who are really pining for that knowledge.” “Students from Paw Paw to St Joseph to Bridgman are participating and making new friendships along the way,” Mow said. “It’s great to see them working hard and having a great time while doing so.”
The cast includes Betsy Fiesbeck, as Agnes, Liv Abrams as her sister, Tilly, Pyper Florin playing Vera, Agnes’s best friend and the voice of reason, Nick Gates as Miles, Agnes’ boyfriend and a Gelatinous Cube, and Jorin Tabbert as Chuck, the dungeon master who helps guide Agnes through the game. Also featured in the cast are Peighton Mooney as Lilith/Lily, a demon queen, but also a 15-year-old girl, Macy McCreary as evil elf Kaliope and an unexpected ally, and Payton Deegan as both Orcus the Overlord of the Underworld and Ronnie, who is not much different. Elisa Busa plays Little Tilly, a vicious faerie named Farrah, and an evil cheerleader named Gabbi. She is accompanied by Zoe Blocker, who plays another evil cheerleader named Tina, and various monsters. Fallon Spears plays the “great mage” Steve, a character who appears in both the real world and the fantasy realm and a few monsters as well.
“It has been such a delightful experience to work with this cast,” says stage director Lindsay Gaspari. “This show as well as the teens performing it serve as a reminder to us as adults not to underestimate children as powerful storytellers. I have watched them grow as a team and as individuals throughout this process, and I am grateful for them and their parents, and to the GhostLight Theatre for enlisting me as the director of the production.”
Jodie Wilson, YA program director has been assisting Lindsay Gaspari throughout the process as well as throughout the summer. Eni Buckhanan designed both costumes and puppets for the production and Dan Cooper designed & built the sets. Collin Wagner is the technical director and lighting designer, and Laura Gomez has managed Properties with help from Lauren Mow. Combat scenes are choreographed by Jay Donley of Chicago’s Violent Delights, with the Dance Battle choreographed by Paige Mulick.
Sponsors for this production include season sponsors Chicago Records Management and On Base Productions, as well as show sponsor The Connie Cassidy School of Dance.
In addition to She Kills Monsters, the GhostLight Theatre mainstage season consists of two final productions: Stephen Schwartz classic dance musical Pippin (Aug. 8-25) directed and choreographed by Lari Lawrence-Gist, Director of Dance at The Citadel Dance and Music Center, as well as a reprise of The Rocky Horror Show Musical (Oct. 17-Nov. 3) which sold out it’s 8-show run last fall before opening night.
General Manager and Artistic Director Paul Mow says, “We couldn’t be more excited about our 5th anniversary season here at The GhostLight Theatre. These particular shows are sure to take our audiences on very different journeys this year but all of them will challenge our hearts in one way or the other.”
GhostLight Theatre 2024 remaining Season Dates and Details:
- August 3rd : The GhostLight 5th Anniversary Gala Concert – St. Joseph High School Auditorium
- August 8 - 25: “Pippin”, directed & choreographed by Lari Lawrence-Gist.
- October 17 – November 3: “The Rocky Horror Show Musical” returns!
Tickets range from $20-$28 and can be purchased at https://www.ghostlightbh.com/currentseason
Sponsorship information is available at: https://www.ghostlightbh.com/support
For more information, visit: www.ghostlightbh.com or email info@ghostlightbh.com
The GhostLight Theatre, an innovative playhouse with a mission to enlighten, inspire,
and illuminate Benton Harbor and the surrounding region,
is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization
101 Hinkley Street, Benton Harbor, MI 49022
GhostLightBH.com 269-252-5222
