Radium Girls
Sunderland Theatre Bell Cultural Events Center E. College Way, Kansas City, Missouri 66061
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 for justice that would forever change U.S. labor laws. 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, as well as corporations that tried to keep Grace and the other girls silent. 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, loved-ones, 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.
Dates / Times:
- Saturday, Jun 22nd @ 2:00pm
- Saturday, Jun 22nd @ 7:00pm
- Sunday, Jun 23rd @ 2:00pm
Price: $8.00: Standard Ticket Price $10.00: At Door Price
Info