Radium Girls at Little Theatre of Norfolk

"Radium Girls" highlights Grace, Irene, and Kathryn who paint dials in the U.S. Radium plant and are instructed to finely point their brushes by molding the bristles with their mouths while painting. The factory’s new owner, Arthur Roeder, is excited by radium’s promising future and believes in the company’s potential for growth. Roeder’s mindset is supported by Marie Curie, the internationally famous scientist, who believes radium provides many health benefits and could even cure cancer. But soon many of the the girls begin to notice disturbing health issues, and one of their co-workers dies, but her death is brushed aside. The plant tries to keep the girls who are getting sicker from talking to the press, push back their court dates, and deflect any negativity toward the company. Some of the surviving girls finally get settlements and medical coverage for the rest of their shortened lives.

“Radium Girls” opens October 20 at Little Theatre of Norfolk, located at 801 Claremont Avenue in the Chelsea neighborhood of Norfolk. The production runs Fridays and Saturdays at 8:00 p.m. and Sundays at 2:30 p.m. through November 5. Tickets are available at ltnonline.org or by calling the box office at (757) 627-8551. Tickets are $18 in advance or $20 at the door. Patrons may save with a season flex pass for $102, which is six tickets that may be used in any combination. Parking is free in the lots behind the theatre and across the street.

RADIUM GIRLS is presented through special arrangement with THE DRAMATIC PUBLISHING COMPANY of Woodstock, Illinois.