Radium Girls
Written by D.W. Gregory
Directed by Wallis Johnson
June 6, 7, 12, 13 & 14, 2025 at 7:30 pm
June 8 & 15, 2025 at 2 pm
Adults $22
Students/Seniors $17
UCONN/ECSU/QVCC Students $15
Children under 12 $13
In 1926, radium was a miracle cure, Madame Curie an international celebrity, and luminous watches the latest rage—until the girls who painted them began to fall ill with a mysterious disease. Inspired by a true story, Radium Girls traces the efforts of Grace Fryer, a dial painter, as she fights for her day in court. Her chief adversary is her former employer, Arthur Roeder, an idealistic man who cannot bring himself to believe that the same element that shrinks tumors could have anything to do with the terrifying rash of illnesses among his employees. As the case goes on, however, Grace finds herself battling not just with the U.S. Radium Corporation but also with her own family and friends, who fear that her campaign for justice will backfire. Written with warmth and humor, Radium Girls is a fast-moving, highly theatrical ensemble piece for 10 actors, who play more than 30 parts—friends, coworkers, lovers, relatives, attorneys, scientists, consumer advocates and myriad interested bystanders. Called a “powerful” and “engrossing” drama by critics, Radium Girls offers a wry, unflinching look at the peculiarly American obsessions with health, wealth and the commercialization of science.
Starring
Bella Walls – Grace
James York – Roeder
Kathryn Schappert – Kathryn/Society Woman/Board Member #1
Alexa DeAndrade – Irene/Miss Wiley/Board Member #2/Mrs. Michaels
Paetyn Middleton – Harriet/Shop Girl/Crowd Scenes
Elizabeth Reynolds – Sob sister/MacNeil/Clerk/Mrs. Fryer
Jane Ellis – Mrs. Roeder/Madame Curie/Customer/Board Member #3
Chuck Kearns – Lee/Bailey/Drinker/Lovesick Cowboy/Male Shopper/Court
Nicholas Hargrave – Tom/Reporter/Knef/Berry/Flinn
Austen Lindberg – Markley/Von Sochockey/Venecine Salesman/Martland/Store Owner