Hays High School will present a powerful and thought-provoking play that dramatizes a significant historical event in American history.
“Radium Girls,” a play by D.W. Gregory, tells the true story of a group of female factory workers who fought for justice against US Radium, a large factory in Orange, NJ. It will be presented at 7 p.m. on Nov. 14-16 at 12th Street Auditorium.
“The Radium Girls were a group of young women who painted watch dials with paint containing radium during the early 20th century,” said director Bill Gasper. “Their work led to radiation poisoning, numerous health issues and death. Their subsequent court case was among the first in which a company was held responsible for the health and safety of its employees.”
Gasper said the origins of the story date back to 1903 when Marie Curie, her husband Pierre, and Henri Becquerel were awarded the Nobel Prize for their work on radioactivity. Shortly thereafter, radium was considered a miracle cure and Madame Curie was an international celebrity.
US Radium developed a luminous radium paint that was applied by dial painters to watch faces among other products. The key ingredient was approximately one million times more active than uranium. Initially, the painter’s fine brush was rinsed in a glass of water, but the water was soon taken away and the painters were instructed to “point” their brushes in their mouths. Although the young women began to fall ill, company executives urged doctors to attribute causes other than radiation poisoning.
“Upon seeing the play, I was immediately impressed by the courage and determination shown by the young women who took legal action against their employer,” Gasper said. “Although such action was probably frowned upon during that time, they pushed forward, and as a result of their actions, many workplace safety regulations were established.
“The overall messages of greed, worker exploitation, corruption, and the resulting grief also captured my attention. I found it particularly upsetting how the company tried to delay court proceedings in hopes that the plaintiffs would die before a settlement was reached.”
Gasper said the structure of the play is well-conceived with a series of short scenes that take place at various locations. A pair of newspaper reporters appear throughout the show and provide brief news reports as a means to narrate the sequence of events.
Overall, there are 28 students involved in the production with 25 of those students appearing on stage.
“We have a very talented cast and crew who have worked hard to bring to life this story of courage, resilience, and the importance of standing up for what is right,” Gasper said. “It has been a popular story and play throughout the United States, and I’m pleased to have the opportunity to bring it to Hays.”
General admission tickets are $8 and can be purchased at the door or at https://www.ticketsource.us/hays-high-school.

Gallery • 7 Photos

Bill Gasper

US Radium Vice President Charlotte Lee (Katelyn Willemsen) listens as President Arthur Roeder (Oscar Flores) shares his vision concerning the company’s expanded use of radium in products other than luminous watch dials.