The Sterling High School (SHS) theater department is starting off the school year with their annual fall play. This year, the theater director Tim Schlegel picked the story “Radium Girls.”
“Radium Girls” is based on a true story in which the lead girl, Grace, works in a factory with other women that paint radium paint on dial watches and clocks. The women would lick the tips of the paint brush which caused them to ingest radium, get sick, and eventually die. The company, led by Mr. Roedor, covers the illness up in order to keep making money; with the company eventually being put on trial.
Schlegel said when picking the play that it “depends on who I think I will have trying out and if we get enough people for those roles.”
Senior Henry Oberg, who is the lead Mr. Roeder in the play, said, “I think it’s an important story to tell. It is important to evaluate the past in this way.” Oberg added, “I’m excited to be playing Mr. Roeder. He’s much more serious than my previous roles, which will be fun to explore.”
Sophomore Avery Moran is the lead, Grace, in the play. Moran said being a lead is “really exciting but also it makes me a little nervous.”
To prepare for the play, the cast has rehearsals Monday through Thursday from 7-9 p.m.. They block each scene and eventually add the sets and lights to create the entire show. Blocking each scene is when the actors figure out the characters body movements and language in the scene.
To prepare for the show both Moran and Oberg are making sure they know their lines and are familiar with their characters, while also knowing the history behind the show.
The play is October 27 and 28 at 7:30 pm. October 29 is the last day of the show and it starts at 2 pm.
Mr. Roeder – Henry Oberg
Grace – Avery Moran
Irene Rudolf, Factory Girl, Court – Alex Mendoza
Dr Von Sochocky, Dr Knef, Venecine Salesman – Ashton Stange
Clerk, Shopgirl, Factory Girl – Lila Bess
Charlie Lee, Dr Frederick Flinn, Male Shopper, Lovesick Cowboy, Court – Francisco Pease
Store Owner, Edward Markley, Dr Martland, Court – Gavin Fischer
Reporter, Court – Jonas White
SOB Sister, Court – Josie Pink
Harriet, Customer, Court – Lydia Harris
Mrs. Roeder – Maggie Wittenauer
Mrs. Fryer, Photographer – Michelle Henderson
Daniel Lehman, Raymond Berry, Court – Mitchell Prevo
Kathryn Wiley, Court – Morelia Vargas
Tom Kreider – Owen Gaffey
Mrs MacNeil, Elderly Woman, Court – Rileigh Wren
Kathryn Schaub, Court – Trinity Pankey
Factory Girl – Elaine Tackett
Factory Girl – Jennifer De La Puente
Factory Girl – Elliana Long
Factory Girl – Evalyn Gaffey
Factory Girl – Christina Moore
Factory Girl – Lorelai Wolf
Factory Girl – Nya Rodriguez
