Inspired by the phenomenally successful role-playing game, “Dungeons & Dragons”, Nguyen’s play is an action-packed adventure that weaves in and out of reality and fantasy. The story centers around Agnes, who stumbles upon a “Dungeons & Dragons” scenario that her recently deceased younger sister wrote before she was tragically killed. In getting involved in the game, Agnes embarks on an adventure that forces her to confront a personal tragedy, a finicky boyfriend, and fight to save her sister’s soul from a shape-shifting monster.
“This will be my seventh show with NEYT,” says director Trzos, “and this team, more than ever before, has embraced this project as a truly collaborative venture”. Master stage combat artist Jodi Clark worked closely with the students, teaching the fundamentals of combat and its influence on storytelling. “What I especially love about this play is that it incorporates gay characters – gay teens, no less – into the story without changing the heart of the message, which is about finding closure, love, and support during a time of unbearable grief”
Indeed, the material transcends stereotypical gay storylines by working to normalize gay characters and relationships without being another coming-out story. In this way, it becomes less about having gay and lesbian themes and more a play that happens to have gay characters telling the story, which is at once innovative and refreshing.
Droll, witty and geeky in the best sense of the word, the play is full of magical realism in the form of villains and scenarios familiar to “Dungeons & Dragons” fans, but with amazing costumes, masks and puppetry, plenty of exciting stage combat and 90’s dance moves, you definitely don’t have to be a gamer to love this show!
The play performs October 5 at 7pm, October 6 at 2pm and 7pm, October 12 at 7pm, and October 13 at 2pm and 7pm. Tickets for these performances are $13 for Adults, $12 for Seniors, and $10 for Students.
Tickets may be purchased in advance at www.neyt.org, in person at the NEYT Box Office, or by phone (802) 246-6398 from 12-5pm on Wednesdays. The show plays at New England Youth Theatre, 100 Flat Street in Brattleboro, Vermont.
New England Youth Theatre is an accessible theater, with accommodations for wheelchairs, and Assistive Listening Devices for patrons who are hard of hearing.
This show was made possible through generous support from the Farnum Insulators and Baystate Financial.
New England Youth Theatre is also supported by Foard Panel, the Vermont Children’s Trust Fund, Vermont Arts Council, and the National Endowment for the Arts.