EAC’s Department of Theatre presents Radium Girls

By Erin Larson

THATCHERn – Eastern Arizona College’s Department of Theatre Arts is proud to present “Radium Girls”, a historical drama written by D.W. Gregory and directed by EAC alumna Elizabeth Henley. Radium Girls will be performed in the Theater in South Campus Classroom #3 on Nov. 9, 10, 11, and 12 at 7:30 p.m., with a matinee performance Nov. 12 at 2 p.m.

In the play, the audience follows Grace Fryer (played by freshman Devon Tyrell) on her passionate journey in search of justice, and corporate CEO Arthur Roeder (played by returning student Tyson Lund) as he struggles to find his way through a troubling court case.

Based on real-life events, Radium Girls begins during World War I at the U.S. Radium Corporation in Orange, New Jersey, where glow-in-the-dark watches are being manufactured for our boys on the front line. During this time, hundreds of young women painted the watch dials with radium paint and used their own mouths to create a fine tip on their brushes. As time progressed, these “Radium Girls” contracted strange illnesses and died.  The evidence mounted and revealed that radium was the culprit; but can Grace prove it?

“EAC has a long tradition of producing quality theatre,” said Elizabeth Henley, this season’s guest director and adjunct faculty member. “It has been a joy to have the opportunity to build onto that legacy and guide current student actors, stage managers and technicians to reach their personal best.”

“In this play, there certainly are some scenes in the courtroom, but I have always liked that this courtroom drama doesn’t keep its audience endlessly in the courthouse. Instead, it emphasizes the beauty in human relationships and how we connect to one another in the most trying of times.”

This production features set designs by William H. Nidiffer (EAC Theatre Design and Production Instructor), costume designs by Timilee McNair (EAC Fine Arts Costumer), lighting design by Don J. Eller (EAC Fine Arts Technician), sound design by Nathaniel De Rusha (Assistant Technical Director), stage management by Sarah DeHaven (Stage Manager) and assistant stage management by Brayana Rivera (Assistant Stage Manager). The talented cast of EAC students includes Bailey Bickmore, Kobie Bigelow, Ali Castro, Trevor Efros, Alana Figueroa, Shelby Hanks, Daken Hawkins, Shaelee Riding, Randall Riley, Alyssa Ruiz, Joseph Spears and Talia Thurber.
General Admission for Radium Girls is $5 per person and is offered free to full-time EAC students with student I.D. Tickets can be purchased at the door before each performance or by calling Eastern Arizona College’s Ticket Office at (928) 428-8228. Advanced reservations are recommended as seating for this production is very limited. EAC is honored, as always, to offer another exciting theatrical performance to our wonderful audiences in the Gila Valley.

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