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Radium Girls

Radium Girls

By D.W. Gregory.

Product Code: R72000

  • Full-length Play
  • Drama
  • Cast size: 4 to 5m., 5w., with doubling. May be expanded to 30 or more.

    Livestream and Record & Stream Rights Available

Rights and availability
This title can be licensed and sold throughout the World.

* Please note the royalty rate listed is the minimum royalty rate per performance. The actual royalty rate will be determined upon completion of a royalty application.

$11.95 /script

Min. Royalty Rate: $110/perf

In stock

Synopsis

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 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 9 to 10 actors, who play more than 30 parts—friends, co-workers, 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.

Notes

Livestream and Record & Stream Rights Available

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Details

  • Status

    In stock

  • Type of Show Full-length Play
  • Product Code R72000
  • Cast Size 9
  • Min. Royalty Rate $110/perf
  • Cost $11.95
  • Approx. Run Time 130 min

Categories

  • Target Audience High School | College and Adult
  • Performing Group High School | College Theatre | Community Theatre | Professional Theatre
  • Genre Drama
  • ISBN(13) 9781583421901
* Please note the royalty rate listed is the minimum royalty rate per performance. The actual royalty rate will be determined upon completion of a royalty application.

Customer Reviews

"This was a great experience! Cast, family, and community were blown away by the story and performance. A great play for social distancing in performance."
Review by Jeff Sams, Franklin High School, Franklin, Ohio
"I initially chose this show because I could have a large cast (important with high school performances). It ended up being the perfect show for us during this pandemic. We had a small cast which got even smaller due to quarantines. All the parts were able to be covered and performing with masks wasn't a hinderance."
Review by Sara Heacox, Coopersville High School, Coopersville, Mich.
"Because we were performing this during the pandemic, we had a small socially distanced audience and live-streamed it. The intimate nature of the performance really ended up being a plus for us. We focused more on the story and less on the set and such. I loved the simplicity. It was beautifully moving."
Review by Karen Dean, St. George's Independent School, Collierville, Tenn.
"The audience was really taken with the fluid transitions from scene to scene and they all learned a great deal about a very important story. The flexible casting makes this show ideal for high school since you can feature your strongest actors and give beginners a chance to get their feet wet in the smaller parts."
Review by Laura Whalen, Cary-Grove HS, Cary, Ill.
"Wonderful play with great challenges for the student performers and stage crew. The playwright was very helpful and open to answering all our questions."
Review by Paul Doniger, Pomperaug High School, Southbury, Conn.
"Radium Girls is a powerful production covering the women who used the radium pant on watch dials in the 20s. The struggle between money/image and doing what is right is forefront."
Review by Melissa Blankestyn, PORTA HS, Petersburg, Ill.
"This was a great script for a high school show. The audience was riveted by the story and wanted to learn more. It had some great dramatic scenes for kids to really show of their acting skills and provided a lot of roles of varying sizes, which made casting easy. "
Review by Amanda Brown, Intrinsic Schools, Chicago, Ill.
"Wonderful show! Clever writing. Tells the story of the Radium Girls from behind closed doors which allowed the actors to explore the characters' humanitarian side and the complex struggles that each character endured. Well balanced and tells a story that is important to American history. "
Review by Christina Chun, Consumnes Oaks High, Elk Grove, Calif.
"As a middle/high school drama teacher for the past 25 years, I just wanted to let you know that my drama class at Towle Institute, Wilmington DE. fell in love with "Radium Girls". My students made a connection with Grace the heroine of the story. All the character's were remarkable. The fact that the character's were real people that you could find on the internet astonished them. Knowing that the U.S. Radium Company was real and not far from Delaware in Orange NJ. They couldn't get over how a company could put so many young women in a situation where the only outcome was death, and live with themselves. We had an outstanding production and I would be proud to direct this show again in the future. The audience was moved to tears and applause. We did this production in 2015, but I am just now writing to let you know about it."
Review by Cheryl Shields, Towle Institute, Wilmington, Del.
"Radium Girls provides a compelling story and great opportunities for character study and research. The actors took their responsibility as storytellers quite seriously and the audience was moved and intrigued by this point in history. A great choice for our school audience and actors. "
Review by Emily Blackburn, The Overlake School, Redmond, Wash.
"Very well received by our audiences and a great acting challenge for my students. I must tell you of our success in presenting Radium Girls at a high school theatre awards event. We won Best Actress, Best Supporting Actor, and Best Featured Performer; and I know a great deal of the success was due to the quality of the play itself!"
Review by Jacklyn Keagy, Dover Area High School, Dover, Pa.
"Though historical in nature, the play provokes an audience to consider the implications of American consumerism and the corporate "bottom line" mentality. Our production elicited laughter, tears and gasps of dismay, which speaks highly of the script's resonance with a contemporary audience. The play is a great vehicle for developing strong ensemble acting from a group of committed actors. We cast 20 actors to play the nearly 40 characters."
Review by Mike Solomonson, Northland Pioneer College, Holbrook, Ariz.
"Radium Girls was one of the best shows we could have chosen to train our actors in serious dramatic roles. We were able to convey an important social message to our audience without being heavy-handed because of the intricacies and detail of the script."
Review by Drama Director, James W. Robinson, Jr. Secondary, Fairfax, Va.
"Radium Girls is a beautifully constructed and moving play. This show is a wonderful vehicle for actors of all levels; the roles are challenging and performers must work to the best of their abilities to bring them to life. Audiences were moved and left speechless as the house lights came up. Parents commented that this is a great show for students as they must research and work with such mature material."
Review by Joey Chavez, Santa Fe High School, Santa Fe, N.M.
"An amazing show that blows the audience away. Although it is challenging to perform, the content and message are worth exploring."
Review by Lisa Bodden, St. Gregory School, Tucson, Ariz.
"Powerful drama with a wide range of roles and flexible casting options."
Review by Jarrod Townsend, Williams Field High School, Gilbert, Ariz.
"Incredible script and an important story to tell. Staging can be as easy or creative as you wish. Roles are all well characterized."
Review by Lori Zyla, Parkersburg High School, Parkersburg, W. Va.

Hints, Tips, and Tricks

"For educators hoping to incorporate more interdisciplinary opportunities between their drama department and STEM of History departments, this play really builds community!"
Tip by Stephanie Kyung Sun Walters, Friends Select School, Philadelphia, Pa.
"It took me forever to find this but if you want a substance that is clear in normal light and only fluoresces in black light search the following on Amazon: “ DirectGlow 1 Ounce Invisible Green UV Blacklight Bottled Ink for Hand Stamping Security Admissions Secret Messages Glow Party." "
Tip by Chase Coston, Union Pines HS, Carthage, N.C.
"Glow sticks, glow in the dark pigment powder and black lights made for an intense presentation that grabbed the audience right away."
Tip by Gregory Allen, Pinedale Middle School, Pinedale, Wyo.
"One thing we added were screens on the side of the stage to tell where the scene was taking place and what the time period was. We used a graphic of a clock and it worked so well. Many audience members mentioned how helpful that was to the story and helping them know where each scene was taking place."
Tip by Chris Murphy, Concordia Lutheran HS, Fort Wayne, Ind.
"Words to the wise: don't over design for this show. I added a platform and a few heavy set pieces that made it difficult to run the transitions as smoothly as I had hoped ... if I had to do it again, I'd eliminate the platform and simplify the set pieces in order to keep the cinematic flow of the show."
Tip by Kristina Cummins, Capital HS, Olympia, Wash.
"Casting is one of the most important keys to success."
Tip by Paul Doniger, Pomperaug High School, Southbury, Conn.
"It's all about time - sound effects, lighting, staging, should help enforce that time is ticking away."
Tip by Kit Degenhart, Crown Point High School, Crown Point, Ind.
"I found keeping sets and costumes as simple as possible helped greatly with the flow of the show."
Tip by Melissa Blankestyn, PORTA HS, Petersburg, Ill.
"We rented a UV light to achieve the glow in the dark effects with the makeup. Well worth the rental fee."
Tip by Marianne Phinney, Walpole Footlighters, Walpole, Mass.
"Make sure your scene changes are quick."
Tip by Susan Postma, Nooksack Valley High School, Everson, Wash.
"Although the script may read as written for a proscenium stage, it worked very well using a thrust stage which allowed for visual variety with numerous places to enter and exit. The play can be staged quite nicely with a minimal amount of furniture and a diverse lighting design."
Tip by Mike Solomonson, Northland Pioneer College, Holbrook, Ariz.
"Keeping it simple made it more effective. The story tells itself without extensive props and scenery. We used black background curtains only—very effective."
Tip by Leanne Wright, Heppner High School, Heppner, Ore.
"Look for the glow-in-the-dark face paint early and try it out. Good makeup makes for an awesome effect."
Tip by Lisa Bodden, St. Gregory School, Tucson, Ariz.

Media Reviews

"Radium Girls may speak to our collective capacity for denial. But it also celebrates our individual courage." -The Daily Record

"A compelling new drama...the playwright lays out the facts with historical accuracy, descriptive simplicity and graphic candor. " -Variety

"The best new play in New Jersey professional theatre." -The Star-Ledger

Productions

Location City State Opens Closes
Cedarville University Cedarville Ohio 2/13/2025 2/23/2025
The Acton Community Centre, Inc. d.b.a. Theatre III Acton Massachusetts 1/31/2025 2/9/2025
Western High School Russiaville Indiana 11/22/2024 11/23/2024
Lancaster Country Day School Lancaster Pennsylvania 11/15/2024 11/16/2024
Bonneville High Ogden Utah 1/10/2025 1/21/2025
Roger T. Sermon Center Independence Missouri 3/28/2025 4/6/2025
The Pumphouse Players Cartersville Georgia 3/21/2025 3/30/2025
Florida Gulf Coast University Fort Myers Florida 2/14/2025 2/23/2025
Gilbert Christian High School Gilbert Arizona 10/23/2024 10/25/2024
Grand Rapids Christian Schools Grand Rapids Michigan 2/6/2025 2/8/2025
Wellington High School Wellington Florida 11/7/2024 11/9/2024
Franklin Central High School Indianapolis Indiana 4/10/2025 4/12/2025
Nashua High School South Nashua New Hampshire 11/1/2024 11/3/2024
Yocum Institute for Arts Education West Lawn Pennsylvania 2/20/2025 2/23/2025
Dana Hall School Wellsley Massachusetts 11/8/2024 11/9/2024
Oconomowoc Arts Center DELAFIELD Wisconsin 5/29/2025 5/31/2025
Powerhouse Theatre Vernon British Columbia 4/30/2025 5/11/2025
East Pennsboro Area High School Enola Pennsylvania 11/14/2024 11/17/2024
North Scott Performing Arts Auditorium Eldridge Iowa 10/24/2024 10/24/2024
Andrews Academy Berrien Springs Michigan 12/7/2024 12/9/2024
Harper Creek High School Battle Creek Michigan 10/25/2024 10/27/2024
St Mary's University San Antonio Texas 11/15/2024 11/24/2024
Brecksville-Broadview Heights High School Broadview Heights Ohio 11/14/2024 11/16/2024
Performing Arts Collective Alliance Erie Pennsylvania 7/18/2025 8/3/2025
Grandville High School Grandville Michigan 1/30/2025 2/2/2025
Studio I Boca Raton Florida 11/15/2024 11/24/2024
The Charles B. Goddard Center Ardmore Oklahoma 9/19/2024 9/22/2024
Uniontown Area High School Auditorium Uniontown Pennsylvania 12/6/2024 12/7/2024
Port Chester Senior High School Port Chester New York 11/21/2024 11/23/2024
Sun Prairie East High School Sun Prairie Wisconsin 5/1/2025 5/4/2025
Moore High School Moore Oklahoma 9/26/2024 10/5/2024
Columbus North High School Columbus Indiana 11/15/2024 11/17/2024
Del Norte High School Theatre San Diego California 10/4/2024 10/11/2024
Hermiston High School Hermiston Oregon 10/25/2024 11/2/2024
Northwest High School Waukee Iowa 11/1/2024 11/3/2024
Phillips Exeter Academy Exeter New Hampshire 5/16/2025 5/18/2025
Hopeloft Bridgeton New Jersey 11/7/2025 11/15/2025
The Valor Center Highlands Branch Colorado 10/4/2024 10/12/2024
Wauwatosa East High School WAUWATOSA Wisconsin 1/31/2025 2/8/2025
College Sturgeon Heights Collegiate Winnipeg Manitoba 5/1/2025 5/2/2025
Kettle Moraine Lutheran High School Jackson Wisconsin 5/2/2025 5/4/2025
Ridgeview Classical Charter Schools Fort Collins Colorado 11/1/2024 11/2/2024
Henry County High School Paris Tennessee 11/22/2024 11/24/2024
Sierra Canyon School Chatsworth California 12/13/2024 12/15/2024
Broadway Theater Rock Springs Wyoming 2/28/2025 3/8/2025
Exeter Township Senior High School Reading Pennsylvania 11/7/2024 11/9/2024
First Flight High School KILL DEVIL HILLS North Carolina 11/14/2024 11/16/2024
Greenville Technical Charter High Greenville South Carolina 11/22/2024 11/23/2024
Burr and Burton Academy Manchester Vermont 11/6/2024 11/9/2024
St. Lucie West Centennial High School Port Saint Lucie Florida 3/27/2025 3/30/2025
Naperville North High School Naperville Illinois 11/1/2024 11/3/2024
Cheyenne Central High Cheyenne Wyoming 10/24/2024 10/26/2024
The Ooley Theatre Sacramento California 9/19/2024 10/5/2024
Cypress Ridge High School Houston Texas 10/4/2024 10/5/2024
Baytown Little Theater Baytown Texas 5/15/2025 6/1/2025
Pittsford Sutherland High School Pittsford New York 11/7/2024 11/9/2024
Stage Coach Players DeKalb Illinois 5/8/2025 5/18/2025
Seneca High School Tabernacle New Jersey 11/21/2024 11/23/2024
Christian Brothers Academy Syracuse New York 11/1/2024 11/2/2024
St. Joseph-ogden High School Saint Joseph Illinois 10/19/2024 10/20/2024
Buena Vista High School Buena Vista Colorado 11/8/2024 11/10/2024
Glacier Peak High School Snohomish Washington 11/8/2024 11/15/2024
Mankato East Senior High Mankato Minnesota 11/7/2024 11/9/2024
The Studio Theatre, Texas Lutheran University Seguin Texas 10/25/2024 11/2/2024
Eaton High School Eaton Colorado 11/14/2024 11/16/2024
Theatrikos Theatre Company Flagstaff Arizona 2/22/2025 2/22/2025
Harrison High School Harrison New York 11/8/2024 11/10/2024
Randolph Secondary Randolph Minnesota 11/22/2024 11/23/2024
Hole in the Wall Theater New Britain Connecticut 12/5/2025 12/20/2025
Ithaca Senior High School Ithaca New York 11/22/2024 11/24/2024
West Central High School Hartford South Dakota 11/7/2024 11/9/2024
Walden Theater Louisville Kentucky 1/17/2025 1/25/2025
Mendota Twp High School Mendota Illinois 10/4/2024 10/5/2024
Central Lakes College-Brainerd Brainerd Minnesota 10/11/2024 10/19/2024
Millbrook High School Raleigh North Carolina 11/14/2024 11/16/2024
Waldron Arts Center Bloomington Indiana 10/18/2024 10/20/2024
McClellan Theatre Anniston Alabama 3/13/2025 3/16/2025
Gainesville High School Gainesville Virginia 10/24/2024 11/16/2024
Burlington Central High School Burlington Illinois 11/15/2024 11/17/2024
Kaneland Senior High School Maple Park Illinois 10/25/2024 10/27/2024
Riverview High School Riverview Florida 11/7/2024 11/9/2024
Carmel High Carmel California 9/27/2024 10/5/2024
Open Door Christian Schools Elyria Ohio 11/8/2024 11/9/2024
Ridge High School Basking Ridge New Jersey 11/15/2024 11/16/2024
Bethlehem Central High School Delmar New York 12/13/2024 12/15/2024
Science Hill High School Johnson City Tennessee 11/15/2024 11/17/2024
Crean Lutheran High School Irvine California 10/30/2024 11/2/2024
Veterans High School Kathleen Georgia 11/15/2024 11/16/2024
Episcopal High School Bellaire Texas 9/19/2024 9/22/2024
Wellington High School Wellington Kansas 11/15/2024 11/17/2024
Jewel Box Theatre Oklahoma City Oklahoma 10/24/2024 10/26/2024
Capilano University Arbutus Theatre North Vancouver British Columbia 12/9/2024 12/14/2024
St. David's School Raleigh North Carolina 10/17/2024 10/19/2024
Cathedral High School St. Cloud Minnesota 10/24/2024 10/26/2024
Carroll High School Dayton Ohio 11/8/2024 11/10/2024
Bridgewater-Raritan Regional High School Bridgewater New Jersey 12/5/2024 12/7/2024
Goffstown High School NH New Hampshire 11/7/2024 11/9/2024
Muscatine High School Muscatine Iowa 11/8/2024 11/9/2024
McAfee Performing Arts and Lecture Center Saratoga California 11/8/2024 11/16/2024
South Lakes High School Reston Virginia 11/14/2024 11/16/2024
Evanston Twp High School Evanston Illinois 12/12/2024 12/14/2024
Germantown High Germantown Wisconsin 11/1/2024 11/3/2024
Kelso High School Auditorium Kelso Washington 11/1/2024 11/9/2024
Indian Land High Lancaster South Carolina 11/14/2024 11/16/2024
South Lakes High School Theatre Arts Reston Virginia 11/14/2024 11/16/2024
Saint James School Performing Arts Building Montgomery Alabama 11/14/2024 11/16/2024
Atlee High Mechanicsville Virginia 11/21/2024 11/24/2024
Gahanna Lincoln High School Gahanna Ohio 11/4/2024 11/6/2024
Fourth Avenue Theatre Sioux Center Iowa 4/2/2025 4/5/2025
Hillsborough High School Hillsborough New Jersey 11/15/2024 11/16/2024
North County Senior High Bonne Terre Missouri 12/6/2024 12/7/2024
Tallmadge High School Tallmadge Ohio 11/14/2024 11/16/2024
Basis Oro Valley Oro Valley Arizona 11/15/2024 11/16/2024
Highland High School Highland Indiana 11/22/2024 11/24/2024
Donegal High School Mount Joy Pennsylvania 11/22/2024 11/24/2024
Camden Catholic High School Cherry Hill New Jersey 11/8/2024 11/10/2024
Adams City High School Commerce City Colorado 10/25/2024 11/2/2024
Grayling High School Grayling Michigan 12/13/2024 12/14/2024
Spring Lake High School Auditorium Spring Lake Michigan 10/24/2024 10/26/2024
Tallahassee State College Tallahassee Florida 10/3/2024 10/13/2024
Rockridge High School Taylor Ridge Illinois 11/8/2024 11/10/2024
New Covenant Academy Springfield Missouri 12/6/2024 12/7/2024
Goshen High School Goshen Indiana 11/22/2024 11/24/2024
Julesburg High School Julesburg Colorado 5/2/2025 5/2/2025
Buckeye Trail High School Lore City Ohio 11/1/2024 11/2/2024
Appleton West High School Appleton Wisconsin 11/21/2024 11/23/2024
Canby High School Canby Oregon 11/7/2024 11/16/2024
Resurrection Church Leawood Kansas 10/25/2024 10/26/2024
Waterman's Community Center North Haven Maine 11/15/2024 11/17/2024
Menomonie High School Menomonie Wisconsin 10/31/2024 11/2/2024
Manalapan High School Englishtown New Jersey 11/22/2024 11/23/2024
Hays High School Hays Kansas 11/14/2024 11/16/2024
Middletown High School South Middletown New Jersey 11/21/2024 11/23/2024
Concordia University-Chicago River Forest Illinois 10/9/2024 10/12/2024
International School Bellevue Washington 11/8/2024 11/9/2024
Godolphin School Salisbury 12/6/2024 12/7/2024
Jordan-Elbridge High School Jordan New York 11/15/2024 11/16/2024
Grassfield High School CHESAPEAKE Virginia 11/21/2024 11/23/2024
Remington High School Whitewater Kansas 11/15/2024 11/16/2024
Mot Charter High School Middletown Delaware 11/1/2024 11/4/2024
Waynesburg University Waynesburg Pennsylvania 11/20/2024 11/23/2024
Milford High Milford Massachusetts 11/22/2024 11/24/2024
Peninsula Catholic High School Newport News Virginia 11/7/2024 11/9/2024
Kettering Fairmont High School Kettering Ohio 11/1/2024 11/3/2024
San Ramon Valley High Danville California 4/16/2025 4/19/2025
Batesville High School Batesville Indiana 11/22/2024 11/23/2024
Ballston Spa Senior High School Ballston Spa New York 11/21/2024 11/23/2024
Black Box Theatre Secaucus New Jersey 1/23/2025 1/25/2025

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