Kankakee resident Katy Papineau has a role in latest PLT production at Lewis University

2013 Sep 17

Katy Papineau is the narrator and plays Evil Gabbi in Lewis University's Philip Lynch Theatre's "She Kills Monsters" by Qui Nguyen. Papineau is a Kankakee resident and a graduate of Herscher High School.

The production will run September 27-29 and October 3-6. Evening performances begin at 8 p.m., while Sunday matinees begin at 2:30 p.m. A 4 p.m. matinee will be performed on Saturday, October 5. Tickets are $10 for adults, $9 for seniors and non-Lewis University students.

Inspired by the phenomenally successful role-playing game, "Dungeons & Dragons," Nguyen's 95-minute, action-packed play is a sort of epic, live-action anime. It uses the essential elements of the game to chronicle the quest of twenty-something straight-arrow teacher, Agnes (Jordin Richards of Tinley Park) living in Athens, Ohio in the 1990s.

After the tragic death of her 15-year-old sister Tilly (Hannah Taylor of Rockton), Agnes tries to get to know the shy, nerdy (lesbian-leaning) younger sister with whom she had nothing in common. Coached by a young gamester Chuck (Brendan Casey of Joliet), Agnes "plays out" an elaborate story found in a notebook left by the imaginative Tilly.

Tilly gave herself a fierce little warrior persona and cleverly turned the people in her "real life" into fantasy characters, including a stunning demon queen Lilith (Rachel Tau of Wood Dale); a fierce elvin warrior Kaliope (Sylmarie Soto of Joliet); two bullying cheerleaders (Katy Papineau of Kankakee and Faith Berry of Joliet); and a beastly overlord of the underworld, Orcus (Kamil Borowski of Stickney). Also part of the story is Agnes' boyfriend, Miles (Matt Carlson of Lockport); a nerdy classmate, Steve (Tyler Senjanin of Evergreen Park); and a no-nonsense guidance counselor, Vera (Mary Bradley of Palos Heights).

Lewis University's professor of theatre, Kevin Trudeau of directs the production that features 16 Lewis University students. Performing the roles of various monsters in the adventure: Kevin Bukauski and Drew Gardiner both of Tinley Park, Bryan Lochner of Essex, Adam Parker of Naperville, and Briana Reidy of Darien.

The design team includes: R&D Choreography, Richard Gilbert and Victor Bayona both of Chicago (violence design), Harold McCay of Joliet (scenery), Celeste Mackey of Joliet (costumes), Jessie Richey of McHenry (lighting), Adam Smetana of Racine, WI (sound), Carole McKee of Plainfield (props), Stephanie Daley of Lockport (choreography) and Emma McGee of Joliet (stage manager), Andrew Nelsen of Joliet (special effects), Annie Martello of Morris (assistant stage manager), Beth Sadler of Lockport (light board operator), Mallory Petronzi of Romeoville (monster maker), and Allie DiMiele of New Lenox (costume dresser.)

The show is recommended for patrons 16 years old and up and will run September 27-29 and October 3-6. Evening performances begin at 8 p.m., while Sunday matinees begin at 2:30 p.m. A 4 p.m. matinee will be performed on Saturday, October 5. Advanced ticket purchases are strongly encouraged. Tickets are $10 for adults, $9 dollars for seniors and students and $2 for Lewis students with their student IDs. Tickets are $8 for groups of 15 or more, a savings of more than 10 % off the original ticket price. Tickets are non-refundable.

For more information, patrons can check out the PLT Website, www.lewisu.edu/plt. Call the PLT box office to reserve tickets at (815) 836-5500, Monday thru Friday from 1-4:30 p.m., or email boxoffice@lewisu.edu. The Philip Lynch Theatre is located on the main campus of Lewis University, Oremus Fine Arts Building on Route 53 in Romeoville.

Lewis University is a Catholic university in the Lasallian tradition offering distinctive undergraduate and graduate programs to more than 6,500 traditional and adult students. Lewis offers multiple campus locations, online degree programs, and a variety of formats that provide accessibility and convenience to a growing student population. Sponsored by the De La Salle Christian Brothers, Lewis prepares intellectually engaged, ethically grounded, globally connected, and socially responsible graduates. The seventh largest private not-for-profit university in Illinois, Lewis has been nationally recognized by The Princeton Review and U.S. News & World Report. Visit http://www.lewisu.edu for further information.