The Flea Theater Premieres SHE KILLS MONSTERS, Previews 11/4

The Bats are back in The Flea Theater's world premiere production of SHE KILLS MONSTERS, a comedic romp into the world of fantasy role-playing games, written by Qui Nguyen and directed by Robert Ross Parker. Previews begin November 4, with opening night slated for Thursday, November 17.

"Qui and Robert have perfected a unique style of comic book theater and our Resident Company, The Bats, can't wait to throw a few punches," says Artistic Director Jim Simpson. "She Kills Monsters is a perfect pairing of skills and an exhilarating match of energies. We have unleashed the power of The Bats."

In SHE KILLS MONSTERS, average Agnes is finally leaving her childhood home following the death of her totally weird sister, Tilly. When she stumbles upon Tilly's Dungeons & Dragons notebook, however, Agnes embarks on an action-packed adventure to discover more about her sister than she previously cared to know. A high-octane comedy fraught with hostile fairies, randy ogres, and ‘90s pop culture, SHE KILLS MONSTERS is a heart-pounding homage to the badass (& geek) within us all.

The Flea will also host the Dungeons & Dragons-inspired art exhibit DOOMSLANGERS. Successfully presented at New York's Allegra LaViola Gallery last winter, Artist Casey Jex Smith brings to life a D&D adventure to save the mythical city of Dingershare from the evil Lord Ricaek. The exhibit can be viewed in the Flea's lobby one-hour before the show.

The production features members of the Flea's lauded resident acting ensemble The Bats: Satomi Blair, Allison Buck, Ugo Chukwu, Jack Corcoran, Edgar Eguia, Cleo Grey, Raul Sigmund Julia, Annabel Lalonde, Bruce A. Lemon, Sean McIntyre, Megha Nabe, Margaret Odette, Brett Ashley Robinson, and Nicky Schmidlein. The design team includes Nick Francone (set & lighting), Jessica Pabst (costumes), Shane Rettig (sound), David Valentine (puppets), Kate Sinclair Foster (props & asst. set), Mike Chin (fight director), Mimi Quillin (choreography), Patrick Metzger (asst. sound), and Michelle Kelleher (stage manager).

Qui Nguyen is a playwright, screenwriter, and Co-Artistic Director of the OBIE Award-winning Vampire Cowboys. Recent scripts include the hip-hop musical Krunk Fu Battle Battle (East West Players), Soul Samurai (Ma-Yi Theater & Vampire Cowboys), Bike Wreck (Ensemble Studio Theater), Aliens versus Cheerleaders (Keen Teens), and the critically acclaimed Vampire Cowboys productions of Fight Girl Battle World and Alice In Slasherland. Time Out New York cited Qui as one of ten downtown "Playwrights to Watch". Qui is a member of New Dramatists, the Ma-Yi Writers Lab, Ensemble Studio Theatre, and The Playwrights Center. Currently, his writing can be seen in HERE's production of Lush Valley and coming this February 2012 will be the Off-Broadway run of The Inexplicable Redemption of Agent G at Theater Row being produced by Ma-Yi Theater and Vampire Cowboys.

Robert Ross Parker is the co-Artistic Director of the Obie Award-winning Vampire Cowboys with Qui Nguyen, with whom he has co-authored and directed Vampire Cowboy Trilogy and A Beginner's Guide to Deicide, and directed Soul Samurai, Fight Girl Battle World (nominated IT Award for best direction, best production, winner best ensemble) Men of Steel, Living Dead in Denmark, and Alice in Slasherland. Other recent directing credits include Goodbye Cruel World (Roundtable Ensemble) Hamlet{solo} (Edinburgh 07, SoloNOVA 08 at PS 122, Canadian tour) Children's Letters to God (national tour), Stained Glass Ugly, Slicing Andre, Lady Convoy (NYC Fringe) and numerous readings for Ensemble Studio Theatre. At the Toronto Fringe, Robert directed Pseudolus and A Midsummer Night's Dream Project for Cabbagetown Theatre. He was the associate director for Silent Laughter off-Broadway, the assistant director for High Fidelity on Broadway, and has assistant directed at many theatres including EST, People's Light and Theatre Co, Toronto's Soulpepper and Barrington Stage. He is the editor of The Dramatist, the journal of the Dramatists Guild of America.

The Bats are the resident acting company members of The Flea Theater. Each year over a thousand actors audition for a place in this unique company. The Bats perform in extended runs of challenging classic and new plays. The Bats have recently appeared in World Premieres by A.R. Gurney, Will Eno, Adam Rapp, Beau Willimon, Mac Wellman, Elizabeth Swados, Thomas Bradshaw, Itmar Moses, Sheila Callaghan, Julian Sheppard, Ken Urban, Tommy Smith, Jonathan Reynolds, Trista Baldwin and Laurel Haines.

The Flea Theater, under Artistic Director Jim Simpson and Producing Director Carol Ostrow, is one of New York's leading off-off-Broadway companies. Winner of a Special Drama Desk Award for outstanding achievement, Obie and Otto awards, The Flea has presented nearly 100 plays and numerous dance and live music performances since its inception in 1996. Past productions include the premieres of Anne Nelson's THE GUYS; six plays by A.R. Gurney (POST MORTEN, O JERUSALEM, SCREENPLAY, MRS. FARNSWORTH, A LIGHT LUNCH and OFFICE HOURS); and plays by Mac Wellman, Roger Rosenblatt, Elizabeth Swados, Karen Finley, Adam Rapp, Will Eno, Thomas Bradshaw, Jonathan Reynolds, Bathsheba Doran, Steven Banks, Trista Baldwin, Laurel Haines, Sheila Callaghan and too many more to mention.

SHE KILLS MONSTERS runs November 4 - December 23, Tuesday - Saturday at 7pm and Saturday & Sunday at 3pm. The Flea is located at 41 White Street between Church and Broadway, three blocks south of Canal, close to the A/C/E, N/R/Q, 6, J/M/Z and 1 subway lines. Tickets are $25 and are available by calling 212-352-3101 or online at www.theflea.org. Please also note, all Tuesday performances are Pay-What-You-Can (one ticket per person; subject to availability at the door only) and Saturday matinees are $10.

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