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Washington Evening Journal
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EV Drama Department brings ‘Radium Girls’ to the stage
The EV Drama Department stepped back in time March 17 and 18 with its production of “Radium Girls.” D.W. Gregory’s play is a drama based on a true story of female laborers who were poisoned and killed by their factory’s radium-based paint in the early 1900s.
In 1926, radium was a miracle cure, Madame Curie (Ada Mews) was an international celebrity, and luminous watches the latest rage. That is, 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 (Keegan Burdick), a dial painter, as she fights for her day in court and for the rights of her friends (Emily Allison and Imigyn Stratton). Her main adversary is her former employer, Arthur Roeder (Caleb Garringer), who just cannot bring himself to believe that the same thing that shrinks tumors could have anything to do with the terrifying illnesses at his plant.
He holds on to his disbelief, even as his wife (Hannah Grimm) starts to believe the girls. As time goes on, Grace finds herself battling more than just the U.S. Radium Corporation, Mr. Roeder, and its lawyer (Jaidyn Rugg). She starts fighting with her own family, friends, and even her own fiance (Keegan Walker), because they fear that her campaign for justice will backfire.
Cast and crew
Cast members included: Emily Allison, Kathryn/Board member #1/Shopgirl/Harriet; Keegan Burdick, Grace; Caleb Garringer, Arthur Roeder; Keegan Walker, Tom/Reporter/Knef/Berry; Imigyn Stratton, Irene/ (Miss) Wiley/Board member #2; Daige Sabin, Lee/Bailey/Drinker/Male shopper/lovesick cowboy/court/Flinn; Emma Pierce, Sob Sister/Clerk/Widow/Macneil; Jaidyn Rugg, Markley; Hannah Grimm, Mrs. Roeder/Customer; Ada Mews, Madame Curie; Kaylee Frazier, Mrs. Fryer; Halie Conrad, Mrs. Michaels/Board Member #3/Photographer; Kaylan Holeton, Society Woman; Adam Forbes — Von Sochockey/Store Owner/Martland/Vaccine Salesman; Allyson Lowe, Male Shopper
Crew members included: Carrie Burdick, director; Margaret Fisher, student director; Jerica Hanna, Illumination Specialist; Rebecca Berry, sound technician; curtain, Victoria Threlkeld; Myles Grove, Ceciley Lortz, Blake Murphy, Addi Troyer, Channing Stratton, Ty Ayers, Dylan Kleine, Eli Marsh, Addysyn Westfall, stage crew.
From left, Grace Fryer (Keegan Burdick), Kathryn (Emily Allison) and Irene (Imigyn Stratton) portray factory workers whose job is causing sickness and death in “Radium Girls.” (Melinda Wichmann/The Hometown Current)
Reporter (Keegan Walker, center left) and Sob Sister (Emma Pierce, center right) interview Madame Curie (Ada Mews), far left. Halie Conrad, far right, portrays a photographer. (Melinda Wichmann/The Hometown Current)
Mrs. Fryer (Kaylee Frazier), Grace Fryer (Keegan Burdick) and Tom (Keegan Walker) discuss Grace and Tom’s future in a scene from the EV Drama Department’s presentation of “Radium Girls.” (Melinda Wichmann/The Hometown Current)
From left, Lee (Daige Sabin), Markley (Jaidyn Rugg) and Mr. Roeder (Caleb Garringer) discuss the problem with employees falling ill and quitting in a scene from the English Valleys Drama Department production of “Radium Girls.” (Melinda Wichmann/The Hometown Current)
From left, Mr. Roeder (Caleb Garringer), Von Sochockey (Adam Forbes, partially hidden) and Macneil (Emma Pierce), give instructions to factory workers Kathryn (Emily Allison) and (Irene) Imigyn Stratton. (Melinda Wichmann/The Hometown Current)
Kathryn (Emily Allison) looks at a friend and co-worker’s medical report after taking it from Emma Pierce while Grace Fryer (Keegan Burdick) and her fiancé Tom (Keegan Walker) look on. (Melinda Wichmann/The Hometown Current)
Arthur Roeder (Caleb Garringer) and his wife (Hannah Grimm) discuss the bottle of miracle cure containing radium he brought home for her in a scene from “Radium Girls.” (Melinda Wichmann/The Hometown Current)
Grace Fryer (Keegan Burdick), standing, presents her fiancé Tom (Keegan Walker) with wallpaper samples for a future nursery in a scene from “Radium Girls.” (Melinda Wichmann/The Hometown Current)
The need for more research on using radium to treat cancer is highlighted as Madame Curie makes an appearance. Pictured are, from left, society woman (Kaylan Holeton), Madam Curie (Ada Mews), Reporter (Keegan Walker), Mrs. Fryer (Kaylee Frazier), Sob Sister (Emma Pierce), Photographer (Halie Conrad), Shopper (Allyson Lowe), Irene (Imigyn Stratton) and Grace Fryer (Keegan Burdick). (Melinda Wichmann/The Hometown Current)
