Killing Monsters and Slaying Hearts at the Cherryville Little Theater
By: Ashley Reep – WNN
Cherryville, NC (WNN) — The Cherryville Little Theater closed out its mainstage season with a heartfelt journey of She Kills Monsters: Young Adventurers Edition, on Sunday, June 1st. A play that blends sisterhood with elements of Dungeons & Dragons (also known as D&D).
Autumn Bolton and Becca Degregory directed the show, transporting audiences into a world where fantasy helps confront loss and the monsters are not always dragons but the emotional scars we carry.
The Story of Sisters
She Kills Monsters tells the story of two sisters, Agnes (played by Callie Grace) and Tilly (played by Erika Danielle). Tilly is a teenager who loves fantasy and Dungeons and Dragons, but she tragically dies in a car accident. While going through Tilly’s things, Agnes finds a D&D journal her sister wrote. With the help of a quirky Dungeon Master (played by Joey Bolton), she decides to play through the game to better understand her sister.
For those unfamiliar with Dungeons and Dragons, the theater did a wonderful job of introducing the concept of the tabletop game. It is a fantasy storytelling game where players imagine themselves as characters on an adventurous journey.
Through the game, Agnes meets a version of her sister she never truly knew. As the adventure unfolds, Agnes begins to understand the parts of Tilly that were hidden in real life but are fully alive in the world she created. In facing mythical creatures, Agnes also confronts her own grief, misunderstandings, and the deep need to truly know her sister.
Epic Performances
Callie Grace brought a grounded and authentic presence to the show by taking on the role of Agnes. “I do like participating in shows that leave an impact and this one definitely does,” she says.
Despite being new to the Cherryville stage, Callie embraced the role fully, even tackling stage combat. She admitted that the stage combat wasn’t easy to learn, but her performance told a different story. She rose to the challenge and, yes, she did kill monsters.
Erika Danielle is no stranger to storytelling either. Erika’s passion for theater began early, and since then, she has immersed herself in the local theater scene.
“The relationships that I have created in this show are like no other,” she shares. “This whole production moves people in a way that I have not experienced before.” – Erika Danielle
Erika’s portrayal of Tilly captured both the strength and vulnerability of a young girl who lived boldly through fantasy. Her performance resonated with audiences and castmates alike.
Nerdville: Cherryville’s First Comic-Con
(Swipe to see gallery above) By: Ashley Reep (WNN)
Alongside the production, Angie Dolan and Autumn Bolton created an event called Nerdville that was held on Saturday, May 31st, 2025. An interactive and creative space where community members could delve into their passions with activities like a stage combat workshop, improv sessions, live D&D games, a cosplay contest, and a grand finale of the She Kills Monsters production. Nerdville offered a new way for the community to engage with theater beyond the traditional audience experience.
More Than Just A Play
Autumn’s direction brought a clear vision and emotional depth to the production, skillfully blending humor, fantasy, and heartfelt moments. The audience’s standing ovation at curtain call was well deserved.
“I’ve grown to love the making of art,” she says. “What makes this production special is all of the people who are a part of it. It makes you laugh, it makes you cry…it hits all the good spots you want when you come to see a piece of theater.” – Autumn Bolton
Be sure to follow the Cherryville Little Theater for more great shows and upcoming projects: https://cherryvillelittletheatre.org/
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