As the South Hills theatre department prepares for its fall production, “She Kills Monsters”, the cast hopes to bring an exciting show for everyone to enjoy.
The theatre teacher and director, Jeremy Cooley, spent several days finalizing the cast list with auditions. He shared some insight into the casting process.
“The biggest challenge is always casting. I was not expecting as many people to audition for this show as I did. Then by the time auditions happened, I had 40 people signed up. Casting is always the hardest part of any show, but this show, specifically,” Cooley said.
The casting process of any play or show requires multiple steps for an actor to be assigned a role. Much thinking and specific adjustments are typically made to see how well an actor can perform.
“Usually what I look for, is not only talent and ability, but also the amount of preparation that was evident in the actor’s audition. Did they look at the materials I gave them, or did they show up unprepared? Also whether they’re able to take directions. If they can change based on what I ask for, that tells me that they can take direction and are better suited for roles,” Cooley said.
After the casting process, the actors got to work, from getting in the character’s headspace to performing lines, and mastering stage blocking (movement). The cast figured out their unique approach to acting. Hiram Pierce (10), had ways of committing to the role.
“Honestly, the most challenging aspect is that some of the lines are written in a way that is hard to deliver in the way that I want to. So it’s about getting that balance of the character’s voice down, while also delivering the line in the manner in which it was supposed to be delivered,” Pierce said.
Angelina Contreras (11), who plays the leading role of Agnes, gave some insight into the main plot of the story and her role.
“She Kills Monsters” is a fantasy where it involves Dungeons and Dragons. We see how different characters are going through certain things. Agnes is trying to cope with the loss of her little sister Tilly. We also see Tilly trying to find herself. In the LGBTQ+ community, we get to see how the characters experience finding their identity. It’s a beautiful story, and I love that I’m able to interpret it like I am right now, especially with the cast,” Contreras said.
The show holds many themes that are still valuable and relevant in today’s society.
“This show is really about understanding who you are and accepting who that is, and being proud and happy about it. Whether you’re a nerd who plays D and D, whether you’re part of the LGBTQ, community, even if you’re both or neither, whatever it is, whoever you are, it’s awesome, and that’s kind of what the show is about,” Cooley said.
The production is set to stage on November 15 and 16, in the South Hills theatre. It allows audiences to engage and enjoy a story of acceptance, self-discovery, and the strength of friendships.
