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Overview

Synopsis

Radium Girls is D.W. Gregory’s gripping drama based on the true story of female laborers who were poisoned and killed by their factory’s radium-based paint. Though Radium Girls ranges from 1918 through the 1940’s, the bulk of the narrative is centered on events in New Jersey in the mid 1920’s.

The play highlights Grace, Irene, and Kathryn who paint dials in the U.S. Radium Plant and are instructed to finely point their brushes by molding the bristles with their mouths while painting. The factory’s new owner, Arthur Roeder, is excited by radium’s promising future and believes in the company’s potential for growth. Roder’s mindset is supported by Marie Curie, the internationally famous scientist, who believes radium provides many health benefits and could even cure cancer.

But soon many of the the girls begin to notice disturbing health issues, and one of their co-workers dies, but her death is brushed aside. The plant tries to keep the girls who are getting sicker from talking to the press, push back their court dates, and deflect any negativity toward the company. Some of the surviving girls finally get settlements and medical coverage for the rest of their shortened lives.

Radium Girls fiercely examines the commercialization of science, the pursuit of both health and wealth, the power of the underdog, and the fierce injustice laborers in America have faced, and may even continue to face in the present.

Show Information

Category
Play
Age Guidance
Youth (Y)/General Audiences (G)
Number of Acts
2
First Produced
2000
Genres
Drama, Historical/Biographical, Tragedy
Settings
Unit/Single Set
Time & Place
New Jersey, 1920s
Cast Size
large
Orchestra Size
None
Dancing
None
Ideal For
College/University, Community Theatre, Ensemble Cast, High School, Large Cast, Regional Theatre, Star Vehicle Female, Star Vehicle Male, Includes Young Adult, Adult, Mature Adult, Child Characters

Context

Plot

Characters

Name Part Size Gender Vocal Part

Irene Rudolph

Lead

Female

Non-singer

Kathryn Schaub

Lead

Female

Non-singer

Grace Fryer

Lead

Female

Non-singer

Arthur Roeder

Lead

Male

Non-singer

Edward Markley

Lead

Male

Non-singer

C.B. “Charlie” Lee

Lead

Male

Non-singer

Dr. Von Sochocky

Lead

Male

Non-singer

Mrs. Alma Macneil

Supporting

Female

Non-singer

Tom Kreider

Supporting

Male

Non-singer

Diane Roeder

Supporting

Female

Non-singer

Anna Fryer

Supporting

Female

Non-singer

Katherine Wiley

Supporting

Female

Non-singer

Raymond Berry

Supporting

Male

Non-singer

Harriet Roeder

Featured

Female

Non-singer

Dr. Cecil Drinker

Featured

Male

Non-singer

Dr. Harrison Martland

Featured

Male

Non-singer

Dr. Joseph Knef

Featured

Male

Non-singer

Dr. Marie Curie

Featured

Female

Non-singer

Frederick Flinn, Ph.D.

Featured

Male

Non-singer

Sob Sister (Nancy Jane Harlan)

Featured

Female

Non-singer

William J.A. Bailey

Featured

Male

Mrs. Michaels

Featured

Female

Non-singer

Society Woman

Featured

Female

Non-singer

Clerk

Featured

Either Gender

Reporter (Jack Youngwood)

Featured

Male

Non-singer

Ensemble

Ensemble

Either Gender

Songs

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A song with an asterisk (*) before the title indicates a dance number; a character listed in a song with an asterisk (*) by the character's name indicates that the character exclusively serves as a dancer in this song, which is sung by other characters.

Monologues

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Scenes

All scenes are the property and copyright of their owners. Scenes are presented on StageAgent for educational purposes only. If you would like to give a public performance of this scene, please obtain authorization from the appropriate licensor.

Key Terms

    The journey and development of a character throughout the course of their story.

    Anything that creates additional problems for the characters. Usually always found throughout the rising action.

    The struggle between two opposing forces within a narrative.

    Strong dignity and seriousness.

    An internal conflict is created by something about the character themselves, like their personality or their emotions.

    A poisonous element that is both combustible and glows in the dark.

    Sources that provide firsthand evidence or testimony about a topic.

    The central character engaged in the conflict.

    A radioactive chemical element. After it was first discovered, many people believed radium was a cure-all medicine. However, it was discovered that prolonged use of radium caused severe illness and even death.

    Anything that is used to get ideas or inspiration for a devised play.

    The limited period of time allowed for bringing certain legal actions against someone.

Videos

Quizzes

Themes, Symbols & Motifs

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Quote Analysis

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