Naperville Central shifts to drama for 'Radium Girls'
It is not unusual for a theatrical production to delve into issues of illness, pain and injustice.
But Naperville Central High School students say their latest show is all the more powerful because the story's true.
Central's production of "Radium Girls" opens at 7:30 p.m. today at the school, 440 W. Aurora Ave. The show also runs at 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday, March 5 and 6. Tickets are $5.
Based on a true story, "Radium Girls" is about women who worked in a factory during the 1920s painting the dials on watches using radium-based paint. The play delves into the fatal illnesses that followed and the women's fight for justice against the U.S. Radium Corporation.
"You really connect to the characters and the emotions and their stories. Even though you might not have gone through this experience personally, I think you can relate to some aspect of their story," student director Becca Wilson said.
Director Tom Ulbrich said Central hadn't done a drama in awhile and he liked that it is based on a true story. It also has local ties as a similar incident happened in Ottawa.
Ulbrich said he wanted his actors to delve into the complexity of the characters.
"Oftentimes in a comedy it's real easy to rely on the script to carry the weight of the show because a funny line is a funny line," he said. "But these are real people with real emotions."
Junior Amber Vignieri who plays factory worker Grace Fryer, said she was "astounded at the injustices" the women suffered and the show challenged her as an actress.
"You really have to portray the isolation, the frustration and the pain, and just being able to do this in an instant is a really difficult thing as an actress," she said. "But as many times as I've done it, I've kind of come to adopt a little bit of her into myself so I can draw on that part of me."
To help the actors learn more about their characters and what took place, a team of four students served as dramaturges who spent hours looking up old newspaper articles, court documents and photos. Actors also researched their individual characters.
"It's strange playing a person and reading articles from - the '20s about how he's stepping down from the company and (knowing) stuff I'm doing actually happened," said senior Ian James, who plays antagonist Arthur Roeder, president of the U.S. Radium Corporation.
James also served as a dramaturge and said the time spent researching was worthwhile because it's not a historical event students typically learn about in class.
Students will share some of that research with a multimedia component to the show including pictures and interviews with the girls' doctors and dentists.
If you goWhat: "Radium Girls"When: 7:30 p.m. today and 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday, March 5 and 6Where: Naperville Central High School, 440 W. Aurora Ave.Tickets: $5Info: (630) 420-3885Cast listGrace Fryer: Amber VignieriKathryn Schaub: Lauren HughesIrene Rudolph: Megan LipskiMrs. MacNeil: Alexis TheisArthur Roeder: Ian JamesEdward Markley: Jackson PierceCharlie Lee: John LudlamDr. Von Sochocky: Daniel CrowleyTom Kreider: Kevin BrownDiane Roeder: Carolyn FooteHarriet Roeder: Kristin WillardAnna Fryer: Regan CareyKatherine Wiley: Nora FoleyRaymond Berry: Alex SistowiczDr. Drinker: Chris JohnsonDr. Martland: Krissy LudlamDr. Knef: Mike VitelloDr. Flinn: Ashley LambReporter/Jack Youngwood: Nick CiliakSobsister: Emily WalkerWilma Bailey: Kristin StromMrs. Michaels: Sarah HollanderSociety Woman: Sarah BraunClerk: Aly NunezBoard Member 1: Abigail ZeebBoard Member 2: Allison ZeebBoard Member 3: Jordan PiperPhotographer: Brent WoldmanLovesick Cowboy: Jake BarberCustomer: Hannah ZeebShopgirl: Colleen PultsShopper: Emma LindleyStore Owner: Nicole McCallionVenicine Salesman: Nicole LoyElderly Widow: Eileen BerryJudge: Liz AssalleyProduction staffDirector: Tom UlbrichStudent director: Becca WilsonTrue20001246In "Radium Girls," Irene Rudolph, center, played by Megan Lipski, discovers her lips are bleeding, the first sign of the poisoning that will later kill her. Grace Fryer, left played by Amber Vignieri, and Kathryn Schaub, played by Lauren Hughes, are shocked at the discovery.Scott Sanders | Staff PhotographerTrue