“Radium Girls” Brings Women’s History and More to the SIUE Stage, Beginning Oct. 10
The Southern Illinois University Edwardsville Department of Theater and Dance will open its 2018-19 fall season with D.W. Gregory’s “Radium Girls” at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 10 at Dunham Hall. The production continues at 7:30 p.m. Thursday-Saturday, Oct. 11-13 and at 2 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 14.
Peter Cocuzza, MFA, professor in the Department of Theater and Dance, is the director of this fascinating slice of history.
In 1926, radium was a miracle cure and luminous watches were the latest rage, until the girls who painted them began to fall ill with a mysterious disease. Inspired by a true story and written with warmth and humor, “Radium Girls” is a fast-moving, highly theatrical ensemble piece that offers a wry, unflinching look at the peculiarl American obsessions with health, wealth and the commercialization of science.
“The book, The Radium Girls, by Kate Moore and the subsequent play adaptation “Radium Girls” by D.W. Gregory follows the true story of Grace Fryer, a watch dial painter, as she fights for her day in court,” said Cocuzza. “Radium Girls” is for anyone interested in women’s history, medical mysteries, labor laws or courtroom dramas.”
“This is the true story of several of the women who fatally suffered from radium poisoning in the 1920’s, and their efforts to sue the companies that not only made them sick, but also refused to admit that radium was poisonous,” Cocuzza continued. “Shockingly, one of the companies did not consider testing the ill women until the first male scientist died as a result of radium poisoning.”
General admission is $15 for adults (18 and older); $12 for seniors (65 and up); $12 for non-SIUE students with a valid school I.D.; and $12 for SIUE faculty and staff. SIUE students are free with a valid SIUE I.D.
Tickets are now available. To purchase, visit the Theater and Dance Department box office located inside Katherine Dunham Hall in room 1042b or call 618-650-2774 or toll free at 1-888-328-5168, extension 2774. No reservations will be held without payment.
For more information, please call the above phone numbers or send a message to theater-tickets@siue.edu. For directions and parking, please visit the SIUE website at siue.edu\maps.
Photo courtesy by Valerie Goldston: Playing in the production “Radium Girls” (L-R) Sadie Harvey, Rhiannon Creighton and Clara Parker.
