W Theatre to perform ‘These Shining Lives’
Mississippi University for Women’s Department of Theatre will present “These Shining Lives,” a historical play written by Melanie Marnich. The production will stage three showings April 9 at 8 p.m. and April 10-11 at 7 p.m. in the Black Box Theatre in Cromwell Communication Center on The W’s campus.
The play chronicles the true story of four women who worked at The Radium Dial Company in Illinois in the 1920s and 30s. The women, the “Radium Girls,” find economic independence when they land jobs painting watches for a living using a luminous, radium-based paint. The play follows their lives as they form friendships, fall ill from radiation exposure and fight for justice against the corporation.
“What excited me about directing this play is getting to bring to life a true story that draws attention to a particular event in American history that is widely unknown,” said Kathy Newman, associate professor of theatre and the director. “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.”
The play highlights themes of corporate negligence, female resilience and workers’ rights. These hard-working women had no idea they were painting watches with radioactive material until it started to cause severe poisoning. Radium dial painters suffered horrific, fatal illnesses due to ingesting radioactive paint, which settled in their bones, emitting constant radiation. They experienced rapid tooth loss, intense jaw necrosis, “radium jaw,” spontaneous bone fractures, anemia and often dying in pain as their skeletons disintegrated. However, it was the actions of these four women and the fight they fought with corporate greed, demanding throughout the process, justice, they ultimately transformed industrial safety standards.
Newman added, “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 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.”
The cast includes current W students Michaela Chunn, Montarius Henderson, Sarah Smith, alumnus Payton Bellew, W Staff Member Tiffany Winter and Music Department Chair Dr. Julia Mortyakova.
Student tickets are $7 and adult tickets $12.
Please call (662) 329-7353 for more information or visit the department’s website at muw.edu/theatre/.