Radium Girls Cast

Katherine Reardon is thrilled to be making her OLT debut! Katherine's recent credits include Studio Playhouse's production of Miracle on 34th Street, where she portrayed the role of Shellhammer. Her other recent credits include Not Now Darling as Janie McMichael, Breaking Up with Elvis as Brittany Ashley, Drinking Habits as Sally Andrews, Sherlock Holmes as part of the ensemble cast, and Luisa in The Fantasticks. Her passion for the arts extends beyond the stage, as she recently earned her Master's in Arts Administration from Baruch College. She currently works as a Corporate Services Recruiter for Landing Point Search Group in NYC. Katherine wants to thank the cast, crew, and production team for all of their talents and dedication in bringing this story to life.

Reilly Hacker is so excited to be a part of her second show at Old Library Theater as Kathryn Schaub in Radium Girls! Some of her previous credits include Brooke Wyndham in Legally Blonde(At Old Library Theater!), Helena in A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Agatha in Frankenstein, Officer #2/Musician in Twelfth Night, and Greek Chorus in Antigone. She also has a Bachelor's Degree in Theater from Ramapo College with concentrations in Acting, Directing, and Stage Management as well as a minor in Digital Filmmaking. Reilly would like to thank her friends, family, and mentors for their constant love and support and everyone in the cast and crew of Radium Girls for making this experience a positive one. She hopes the audience enjoys Radium Girls and the powerful story it depicts.

Marisa is proud to be making her Old Library Theatre debut with Radium Girls! Marisa was last seen on stage as the title character in The Story of the Velveteen Rabbit with Bergen County Players in December, and favorite roles include playing a variety of characters in The Farnsworth Invention (Teaneck New Theater), Loralei in The Actor's Nightmare (Bergen County Players), Ayah/Fakir in The Secret Garden (Elmwood Playhouse) and Virginia in The Pajama Game (Players Guild of Leonia). She has also been an active participant in various Zoom productions with The Living Room Collective. A costume designer and stage manager behind the scenes, she has worked backstage on many shows over the last 20 years at various theaters in the North Jersey area, and received a Perry Award nomination for co-costuming The Man Who Came to Dinner (Bergen County Players). When she isn’t acting, lighting, dressing or prop-ing, Marisa enjoys spending time with her husband and two adorable kitties as well as general tomfoolery.

Kay Koch is excited to be making her OLT debut alongside this fantastic cast and creative team! Most recently, Kay was seen as The Mayor/Ma Ferd in The Toxic Avenger with The Players Guild of Leonia. Recent credits include Elf: The Musical (Emily Hobbs - Cumberland Theater), Ragtime (Mother - Bergen County Players), Gloria: A Life (Gloria Steinem - OffBook Productions), Mr. Burns: A Post-Electric Play (Edna - Studio Playhouse), 1776 (Thomas Jefferson - OffBook), Gutenberg The Musical (Dee - OffBook) and Into the Woods (The Baker - Studio). Love to Packy, Jessi, Jess, and Laura for your endless support, encouragement... all of it. For you, TDK.

Donna Fraissinet (Anna Frye/Society Woman) Also appeared in productions of Three Little Pigs, Drop Dead, Miracle on Thirty-Fourth Street, Frankenstein, Almost, Maine, Yes, Virginia, There Is A Santa Claus, The Farnsworth Invention, Last Chance For Love.Com, Motherhood Outloud, Unlucky Clovers, Three Viewings, ‘Night Mother, The Glass Menagerie, and Don’t Drink the Water. As always, sending thanks and love to my supportive, talented and handsome husband, John.

Rebecca Lopkin is thrilled to be making her stage debut with The Old Library Theater. She was most recently seen on stage with TNT as Lizette in Farnsworth. Previous credits include- Tiffany Richard’s in “Mary, Mary” and Melissa Gardner in “Love Letters” with TNT and as Boo Levy in “The Last Night of Ballyhoo” with Open Tent Theater in NYC. She is the Founder and Artistic Director of Envision Theater, an educational theater company serving students in NJ, NY and PA. www.envisiontheater.com She thanks her family for their love and support!

Pearl was last seen on the OLT stage as Jessie in Sweat. She has performed in many shows at OLT and other theaters, a proud graduate of AMDA, NYC She has also tried her hand at backstage jobs, including producing and costumes! Pearl would like to thank Beatriz for the opportunity to play this role in this heartfelt story and is delighted to be in this production with such a talented cast and crew. Special thanks and love to husband Greg, and to family and friends for their unending support.

Natasha is thrilled to be in her first production at Old Library Theater. “Radium Girls” is Natasha’s first theatrical experience. Natasha has been in the medical field since graduating from Hunter Silberman School of Social Work as an MSW in group therapy and social work. However, a different line of work and rough immigration adjustment in a foreign country has not overcome her enormous passion for theater. Natasha is the first generation of Belarusian immigrants in the US, born and raised in Belarus. Natasha is looking forward to expanding her experience in the theatrical world and at Old Library Theatre.

Melody Appel is thrilled to be in “Radium Girls” with OLT! She was most recently seen as Libby Tucker in Nutley Little Theater’s “I Ought to be in Pictures”. In addition to performing, Melody is a director and children’s theatre teacher. She holds a BA in Theatre from Montclair State University. Melody would like to thank Beatriz and the team for their hard work and to her family and Sammy for their love and support.

Janna Epstein is thrilled to be making her debut at OLT and to have the opportunity to play such different, fun and zany characters alongside a dynamic and passionate community. She recently performed as Daisy in WHATCo's radio play production of The Great Gatsby and later this summer she will play Desdemona in WHATCO's production of Othello in partnership with Teaneck New Theater. She would like to thank Beatriz and the team for their hard work, her endlessly supportive husband, incredibly loving parents, darling cat children (and froggies) and amazing friends.

Arthur Carlson - Emmy-winning former NY stand up comic. He made his Old Library Theater debut in January appearing in their One Act Festival. He made his first appearance in community theater with the 2021 production of The Ghost Train. Since then, he has appeared in a variety of shows including Yes, Virginia, There is a Santa Claus, Almost Maine, Perfect Arrangement, and Miracle on 34th Street. He wishes a big thank you to the cast and crew for all their hard work and enthusiasm for bringing this important true story to life.

James Phillips (Tom Kreider) makes his third OLT appearance, having performed previously in For Whom the Yell Tolls (Joss) and House of Blue Leaves (Man in White). Other recent credits include Romeo & Juliet (Paris/Prince), Ripchord (Derek), and Inherit the Wind (Bertram Cates). All the love to the cast and production team, his family near and far, and his friends, especially Brittany and Kevin (may your move be a happy one).

John is pleased to be returning to the OLT stage after last appearing in “August: Osage County” as Charlie Aiken. He has been active in NJ Community Theatre for almost 20 years producing, directing, and acting in more than 30 productions. His first role came after a call from his wife, “There are no men auditioning for this show”. He was cast, progressed and now is on the Board at Studio Players in Montclair and Teaneck New Theatre. On the stage, some favorite roles have been Robert in "Boeing Boeing" and Avram in "Fiddler on the Roof" at Theatre League of Clifton; the Emperor in "New Clothes for the Emperor", Krojack in "Don't Drink the Water", Schmendiman in “Picasso at the Lapin Agile” and the Magistrate in "Fools" (Perry nomination) at Studio Players; Gage Holland in "Clark Gable Slept Here" at Nutley Little Theatre; and Gribble in “Room Service” and the Snail in “A Year with Frog and Toad” for TNT. Love to talented, beautiful Donna.

Allen’s thrilled to be with OLT with this wonderful cast and crew staging this truly important play, with his character being the antithesis of his last appearance as Kris Kringle in Studio Players’ Miracle on 34 th Street.. He previously appeared in Lord Stirling’ Theatre’s Dracula and Treasure Island, as Van Helsing and Billy Bones, respectively, as Chef in Studio Players’ Don’t Drink the Water and in several Trilogy Theatre children’s shows. He’s been on Broadway (i.e., 39 Broadway in both Hackensack and Paterson: ) with the Hackensack Theatre Company and Genesis Repertory, respectively and with Teaneck New Theatre. Other stage credits include Caldwell B. Cladwell (Urinetown), Sidney Redleitch (Bell, Book and Candle), Scanlon (One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest), and Kurt’s and Veronica’s dad (Heathers). Allen was also one of the now legendary “Downtown Altoona Players,” available only on YouTube. Thanks to Bea for bringing me aboard and, as always, a shout out to my wife for putting up with me.

Bob last appeared as the Marquess of Queensberry in “Gross Indecency: The Three Trials of Oscar Wilde” at the Nutley Little Theatre. OLT roles include: Mr. McClam in “Fly By Night”, Murray “It Shoulda Been You”, Winthrop/Judge “Legally Blonde”, Stan “Sweat”, Old Man Strong “Urinetown”, Alan “Baby”, Dr. Einstein “Arsenic and Old Lace”, Charlie “Bridges of Madison County”, Charlemagne “Pippin”, Charles Guiteau “Assassins”, Fagin “Oliver”, Adult Man “Spring Awakening”, Priest “Superstar”, Panch “Spelling Bee”. Fourth Wall Theatre: Daddy Cane “Bright Star”, Murray “It Shoulda Been You”, Nathan Detroit “Guys & Dolls in Concert”, Judge Roan “Parade”. Theatre 71 in NYC: Commuter in “Raison D’Être, An Evening of Pirandello”. Bob directed “The House of Blue Leaves” (2022) “Next to Normal”, "Footloose” and “Blood Brothers” for OLT.

Mead is very excited to be working with Old Library Theatre again. Having recently directed in the One Act Festival in January, Mead has changed hats and looks forward to acting in RADIUM GIRLS directed by Beatriz Esteban-Messina and with this amazingly talented cast. A recently retired Bilingual Elementary School Teacher from the Passaic School district after 30 years, Mead has been involved full time in theatre since he retired February 2022. Mead's acting credits since his retirement include: Joseph Pinunziato / Father Rosalia in My Big Gay Italian Wedding; Spike in Yankee Stadium, June 1960 both performed at Old Library Theatre; Teddy Sunderson in Perfect Arrangement and Narrator in Moveable Feast both at Nutley Little Theatre; Radio Announcer in War of the Worlds, a Radio Show at The Barn Theatre, and most recently, Cecil Ouimet in the New Jersey Premiere of Certifiably Yours. Mead's directorial and scenic design include Gemini by Albert Innaurato (June 2022) for which he was nominated as Best Director and Best Scenic Design in the Broadway World New Jersey Awards of 2022; God of Carnage by Yasmina Reza (December 2022); I'm Getting Murdered in the Morning - a murder mystery dinner theatre production at the former Franklin Steakhouse (March 2020) all at and through Nutley Little Theatre; Jimmy, the Bully, All Grown Up by Eric Alter at Apricot Sky Productions in Montclair (October 2022); and Across A Crowded Room by F.J. Hartland at Old Library Theatre's 12th One Act Festival (January 2023). Mead will be directing one act plays this fall for Apricot Sky Productions and is extremely proud and excited to be directing another main stage production of BENT by Martin Sherman at Nutley Little Theatre in the Spring of 2024. Mead would like to thank Beatriz, the cast and crew of Radium Girls for the opportunity to continue his love of theatre by acting in this brilliant show. Thanks a million to his husband, Mike for all his love and support for the past 30 years. "I couldn't have gotten to where I am without you!"

A longtime member of the OLT, Tom has lost track of the number of shows he's been in here but believes it to be over 40 productions. In addition to his acting, he has also had two of his plays performed during the OLT's annual one-act play festival as well as directed two other one-act plays. He wishes to dedicate this performance to his lovely wife, Sheryl.

David Leegrand - This is David’s second performance at Old Library Theater. His first performance at OLT was as the charming “Charlie” in “The Most Precious Thing” in last year’s one act festival. David is so happily grateful to be part of such a gifted and dedicated cast and crew; and publicly thanks the director, Beatrice, for allowing him to be a part of such a poignant story. David also wishes to shout out fellow cast members, Mead, James, and Arthur, for being on this journey with him. Favorite roles include: “De Valvert/Ensemble” (Cyrano). Don John “Much Ado About Nothing”, Antonio, (Merchant of Venice), ‘Touchstone, “As You Like It”, Glenn (Rumors), and “Bootsie” (“Bootsie Manilow Speaks” Stageworks at Studio 2-3-7’s one Act Festival) David would last, but, absolutely, not least, thank YOU the audience for who this mosaic of art is for. Hope you enjoyed it.