Reston Community Players Brings Fantasy, Family, and Heart to the Stage

Contributed by Reston Community Players

The cast of She Kills Monsters poses for some shots during the weeks leading up to their performances. Opening night is Jan. 16. Photo by Chip Gertzog

Reston Community Players (RCP) kicks off the new year with an action-packed and unexpectedly heartfelt comedy, “She Kills Monsters,” running Jan. 16 through Feb. 1 at the Reston Community Center’s CenterStage.

Written by acclaimed playwright Qui Nguyen, “She Kills Monsters” blends humor, fantasy, and grief into a story that resonates with longtime theatergoers and first-time Dungeons & Dragons fans alike. The play centers on Agnes Evans, a high school teacher struggling to understand the sudden death of her teenage sister, Tilly. When Agnes discovers a D&D campaign Tilly created, she steps into a vivid fantasy world filled with warriors, demons, and mythical creatures—learning along the way that the game reveals far more about her sister’s life, friendships, and identity than she ever knew.

What unfolds is both a thrilling adventure and an emotional exploration of loss, connection, and the ways stories help us survive difficult moments. Since its debut, “She Kills Monsters” has become one of the most frequently produced plays in American theatre, celebrated for its inclusive storytelling, pop culture references, and powerful emotional core.

RCP’s production is directed by Joshua Paul McCreary and features stage combat choreographed by members of The Noble Blades, a group of professional stage combat artists. Audiences can expect fast-paced fight scenes, inventive puppetry, bold visuals, and a cast drawn from the region’s deep pool of local talent.

“Continuing our season exploring issues of identity and freedom, ‘She Kills Monsters’ is a perfect companion to last fall’s ‘The Rocky Horror Show’ and our upcoming productions of ‘What the Constitution Means to Me’ and ‘A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum,’ ” said RCP Board President Michael Barret Jones. “We’re excited for audiences to experience the joy, humor, and heart that ‘She Kills Monsters’ brings to the stage.”

The production holds special meaning for Producer Laura Mills, whose personal connection to the material deepened during rehearsals. “I recently lost my brother in November, and he played D&D, Magic: The Gathering, and live-action role-playing when we were growing up,” Mills said. “While the sadness and anger of my grief can mirror that of Agnes and her friends, the laughter and love I feel when watching rehearsals is all the more powerful because of the wonderful cast and crew. I know audiences will enjoy this adventure, and I hope they will walk away feeling inspired and ready to fight their own monsters.”

Performances take place at the Reston Community Center’s CenterStage, 2310 Colts Neck Road. Shows start at 8 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays, Jan.16, 17, 23, 24, 30, and 31, and at 2 p.m. Sundays Jan. 25 and Feb. 1. There is no performance on Sunday, Jan.18.

Tickets may be purchased online at restonplayers.org/ or through the Reston Community Center Box Office by calling (703) 476-4500, Press 3.