Radium Girls

By D.W. Gregory

Directed by Erin Nicole Eggers

Verona Area High School’s Theatre Department will present “Radium Girls” in the Performing Arts Center 234 Wildcat Way with our first Dinner Theatre experience partnering with the VAHS Culinary students on opening night in the high school atrium.

“Radium Girls,” by D.W. Gregory, is set in the early 20th century when recently-discovered radium was marketed as a “miracle cure.” Radium was used to treat cancer, blindness and hysteria. The world became enamored by its nice green glow, and everyday products were dosed with the toxic element. Radium was used in watch dials until the girls who painted them began to fall ill with a mysterious and painful disease.

Inspired by a true story, “Radium Girls” traces the efforts of Grace Fryer (Ava Stevenson), a dial painter, as she battles not only the U.S. Radium Corporation run by Arthur Roeder (Ruby Hicks) but her own family and friends, who fear that her campaign for justice will backfire.

“Radium Girls” Director Erin Nicole Eggers notes that “This story, while tragic and preventable, is ultimately an inspiring one. These remarkable women, who chose with their dying breaths to fight back against a powerful corporation, were the catalyst for changing worker protection laws from which we still benefit.”

This play could easily be ripped from today’s headlines. An invisible toxin is causing illnesses and death. Misinformation runs rampant. Who is to blame? Is it a public health crisis or fake news?

Featured in the cast of “Radium Girls” as factory workers, company representatives, family, friends and other historical figures are Julia Beardsley, Payton Bystol, Katya Davitski, Kaitlyn Hockensmith, Sophie Hodkiewicz, Addy Killinger, Devin Korolewicz, DyShaun McDaniel, Amara Rea, and Annabel Showalter

The production is under the stage management of Jai’niyah McClain, assisted by Sasha Henes. Students working backstage are Maeve Sebastion, Fernando Xocua-Ocelotl, Judd Blanchard, Leslie Alvarez and Luigi Santi.

Produced by Verona Area High School’s Theatre Department at the Verona Area High School Performing Arts Center, 234 Wildcat Way, Verona

Performances: March 3-5, 2022

Performance Times:
March 3rd, 6pm dinner, 7pm show.
March 3rd - 5th show only, 7pm

Show Ticket Prices: $10 Students, $12.00 Seniors $15.00 Adults

Dinner Theatre tickets on March 3 are only $25.00 for both the dinner and the show!

Call 608-228-9958 or visit vahs.vbotickets.com/events for tickets or more information.