Radium Girls
By D.W. Gregory (Dramatic Publishing)
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.
Author’s Note Radium Girls is a work of historical fiction. Although it is based on events that occurred in and around Orange, New Jersey, between 1918 and 1928, the characters and incidents portrayed have been shaped to serve the drama. Certain characters are entirely fictitious and others are based on multiple individuals.
**Where possible, we hope to have each part played by individual actors with subsidiary parts played by the “Greek Chorus” of dancers. Many of the key roles require the actor to age over a number of years. At least 2 roles require an accent. Some parts will be read in the call backs. For example the company board of directors.
By D.W. Gregory (Dramatic Publishing)
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.
Author’s Note Radium Girls is a work of historical fiction. Although it is based on events that occurred in and around Orange, New Jersey, between 1918 and 1928, the characters and incidents portrayed have been shaped to serve the drama. Certain characters are entirely fictitious and others are based on multiple individuals.
**Where possible, we hope to have each part played by individual actors with subsidiary parts played by the “Greek Chorus” of dancers. Many of the key roles require the actor to age over a number of years. At least 2 roles require an accent. Some parts will be read in the call backs. For example the company board of directors.
AUDITION DATES
August 12th and 15th. 7 to 9pm.
at the ECT "Attic Space" Theatre Workshop
105 Queen St. Fergus. 3rd Floor.
SHOW DATES
February 9th - 11th, 16th - 18th, 2024
at the Fergus Grand Theatre.
August 12th and 15th. 7 to 9pm.
at the ECT "Attic Space" Theatre Workshop
105 Queen St. Fergus. 3rd Floor.
SHOW DATES
February 9th - 11th, 16th - 18th, 2024
at the Fergus Grand Theatre.
THE WOMEN IN THE FACTORY:
GRACE FRYER…………...A top-notch dial painter, she is the heroine of the play, must have innocence and naivety but show great strength and conviction, 15 at the start of the play, 26 at its close.
KATHRYN SCHAUB (shawb)……...Her friend and another dial painter, she is sincere in her friendship and shares the same struggles as Grace, 15 at the start of the play.
IRENE RUDOLPH………...Kathryn’s cousin and another dial painter, 17 at the start of the play, Later she is in her 20s.
MRS. ALMA MACNEIL…...Their supervisor at U.S. Radium Corp.
THE COMPANY MEN:
ARTHUR ROEDER (REED-er)……….President of the U.S. Radium Corp., may seem cold-hearted and evil in his decisions, but he is ambitious and has a different set of motivations, not malicious in nature, 34 at the start of the play, 65 at its close. He goes through a complete change in attitude, motivation and empathy throughout the play.
EDWARD MARKLEY……..Legal Counsel for the company.
C.B. “CHARLIE” LEE……..Vice President of U.S. Radium Corp., later President of the company, supports the company at all costs.
DR. VON SOCHOCKY (von sa-SHOCK-y)…...Founder of the U.S. Radium Corp., Inventor of the luminous paint, validates all with scientific fact and has a long journey to resolution, has a Ukrainian accent.
THEIR FAMILY & FRIENDS:
TOM KREIDER (CRY-der)…….Grace’s boyfriend, several years older than she.
DIANE ROEDER (REED-er)….Married to Arthur Roeder.
HARRIET ROEDER……….......Their daughter, 9 years old, later she is in her 30s.
ANNA FRYER…………….........Grace’s mother.
THE ADVOCATES:
KATHERINE WILEY……...The executive director, New Jersey Consumer’s League.
RAYMOND BERRY……….An attorney for the dial painters.
THE SCIENTISTS:
DR. CECIL DRINKER……………A Harvard industrial hygienist.
DR. HARRISON MARTLAND…..The county medical examiner.
DR. JOSEPH KNEF (NEF)……...A dentist.
Dr. MARIE CURIE: Discovered Radium. Polish Accent. Later in the play she becomes a ghost and joins the dancers.
FREDERICK FLINN, Ph.D……….Columbia University industrial hygienist
THE PRESS:
REPORTER (JACK YOUNGWOOD).................A reporter, Newark Ledger
SOB SISTER (NANCY JANE HARLAN)............A tabloid reporter, New York Graphic, she provides ongoing commentary throughout the play and ultimately has her own interests in mind as wellt.
THE WITNESSES:
WILLIAM J.A. BAILEY…………….An entrepreneur, manufacturer of Radithor
MRS. MICHAELS………………….A consumer of Radithor
SOCIETY WOMAN………………..Mrs. James (Cora) Middleton, a well-bred woman
CLERK……………………………...An overworked public employee
OTHER MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC WHO TAKE AN INTEREST IN THE CASE.
###There is also a dance group that is being used as a greek chorus to establish time and place, move between scenes, reflect emotion, portray the effects of radiation and play small parts such as extra factory workers, crowds, jury members etc.
Many of these dancers have been pre-auditioned and are members of the Dande and Heart company.
THE TIME: The 1920s
THE PLACE: Orange, New Jersey
GRACE FRYER…………...A top-notch dial painter, she is the heroine of the play, must have innocence and naivety but show great strength and conviction, 15 at the start of the play, 26 at its close.
KATHRYN SCHAUB (shawb)……...Her friend and another dial painter, she is sincere in her friendship and shares the same struggles as Grace, 15 at the start of the play.
IRENE RUDOLPH………...Kathryn’s cousin and another dial painter, 17 at the start of the play, Later she is in her 20s.
MRS. ALMA MACNEIL…...Their supervisor at U.S. Radium Corp.
THE COMPANY MEN:
ARTHUR ROEDER (REED-er)……….President of the U.S. Radium Corp., may seem cold-hearted and evil in his decisions, but he is ambitious and has a different set of motivations, not malicious in nature, 34 at the start of the play, 65 at its close. He goes through a complete change in attitude, motivation and empathy throughout the play.
EDWARD MARKLEY……..Legal Counsel for the company.
C.B. “CHARLIE” LEE……..Vice President of U.S. Radium Corp., later President of the company, supports the company at all costs.
DR. VON SOCHOCKY (von sa-SHOCK-y)…...Founder of the U.S. Radium Corp., Inventor of the luminous paint, validates all with scientific fact and has a long journey to resolution, has a Ukrainian accent.
THEIR FAMILY & FRIENDS:
TOM KREIDER (CRY-der)…….Grace’s boyfriend, several years older than she.
DIANE ROEDER (REED-er)….Married to Arthur Roeder.
HARRIET ROEDER……….......Their daughter, 9 years old, later she is in her 30s.
ANNA FRYER…………….........Grace’s mother.
THE ADVOCATES:
KATHERINE WILEY……...The executive director, New Jersey Consumer’s League.
RAYMOND BERRY……….An attorney for the dial painters.
THE SCIENTISTS:
DR. CECIL DRINKER……………A Harvard industrial hygienist.
DR. HARRISON MARTLAND…..The county medical examiner.
DR. JOSEPH KNEF (NEF)……...A dentist.
Dr. MARIE CURIE: Discovered Radium. Polish Accent. Later in the play she becomes a ghost and joins the dancers.
FREDERICK FLINN, Ph.D……….Columbia University industrial hygienist
THE PRESS:
REPORTER (JACK YOUNGWOOD).................A reporter, Newark Ledger
SOB SISTER (NANCY JANE HARLAN)............A tabloid reporter, New York Graphic, she provides ongoing commentary throughout the play and ultimately has her own interests in mind as wellt.
THE WITNESSES:
WILLIAM J.A. BAILEY…………….An entrepreneur, manufacturer of Radithor
MRS. MICHAELS………………….A consumer of Radithor
SOCIETY WOMAN………………..Mrs. James (Cora) Middleton, a well-bred woman
CLERK……………………………...An overworked public employee
OTHER MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC WHO TAKE AN INTEREST IN THE CASE.
###There is also a dance group that is being used as a greek chorus to establish time and place, move between scenes, reflect emotion, portray the effects of radiation and play small parts such as extra factory workers, crowds, jury members etc.
Many of these dancers have been pre-auditioned and are members of the Dande and Heart company.
THE TIME: The 1920s
THE PLACE: Orange, New Jersey
MIRACLE ON 34TH STREET
Adapted by Mountain Community Theater from the novel by Valentine Davies. Based upon the Twentieth Century Fox motion picture Miracle on 34th Street.
Directed by Deb Stanson and David Tanner.
Adapted by Mountain Community Theater from the novel by Valentine Davies. Based upon the Twentieth Century Fox motion picture Miracle on 34th Street.
Directed by Deb Stanson and David Tanner.
Auditions
June 8 and June 9, 2023 7:00 pm – 9:00 pm Elora Community Theatre Workshop 105 Queen Street, 3rd Floor Open audition, no appointment needed Cold read from the script. |