These Shining Lives by Melanie Marnich is a drama based on the true story of 1920s "Radium Girls"—women who contracted radiation poisoning from painting watch dials. It follows Catherine Donohue and her coworkers, highlighting their joy in working, and their subsequent betrayal by the Radium Dial Company, and their fight for justice.

Four women working in an Ottawa, Illinois factory, paint watch faces with radioactive radium, believing it is safe. As they fall ill with mysterious, agonizing ailments, they realize their employer has ignored the dangers, which lead them to a legal battle.

The play explores the personal, emotional journey of the women and their families, ultimately highlighting the human cost of negligence and the strength required to fight back.

The story covers corporate negligence, the importance of labor rights, and the resilience of the human spirit in the face of betrayal. It is not just a tale of illness, but a celebration of female strength, friendship, and the refusal to let a company define their worth.

The women win their case, setting a legal precedent for industrial workers rights, even though they succumb to their illnesses. 

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Note from the Director:

What excited me about directing this play is getting to bring to life a story that draws attention to a particular event in American history that is widely unknown. Before reading this play I had never heard of radium women and I find that many of the people I talk to about the play also are unfamiliar. I love getting to explore the world of the 1920s. It is such a fascinating time in American history, specifically for women.

While this play focuses on something tragic, playwright Melanie Marnich has written a play that is truly a roller coaster ride. With the expected moments of sadness also come many moments of laughter, beauty and fun. Marnich’s play captures the best and worst of humanity, our idealism, our resilience, our generosity and our determination. She also reminds us of the importance of community, friendship and family.

I will leave you with this - If one woman were to tell the truth about her life, The world would split open.

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