Radiation, Resistance, and Resilience: ‘Radium Girls’ hits the Holy Cross CSS stage
June 4, 2025
Holy Cross Catholic Secondary School is under the bright lights on stage in Radium Girls, a gripping and thought-provoking play written by D.W. Gregory, performed by a talented ensemble of students from Grades 9 to 12.
Set in 1926, the play tells the true story of the young women who painted glow-in-the-dark watch dials using radium, a substance once hailed as a miracle cure, only to fall ill from its toxic effects.
“It is very dramatic. It does use comedy at some points, but it follows the sad story of the Radium Girls,” said Grade 12 student Chloe McDermott, who plays several characters including Madame Curie, a two-time Nobel-prize winning scientist who discovered radium.
At the heart of the story is Grace Fryer (portrayed by Grade 12 student Holly Heuchert), a former dial painter who bravely challenges her employer, the U.S. Radium Corporation, in a fight for justice.
Her chief opponent is Arthur Roeder (Grade 12 student Jack Jopling), the company president who struggles to reconcile science, morality, and the truth.
“There’s a lot of backstabbing, lies and deceit,” said Grade 9 student Leigha Cheng, who plays four characters including the ex-company president and company lawyer. “It’s a story you want to pay attention to because there’s a lot of underlying foreshadowing.”
Directed by teacher Serena McKenna, marking her 25th school production, Radium Girls showcases a 12-member cast who take on 37 distinct roles, from scientists to attorneys, and family to bystanders.
“A lot of us have very excitable characters and there’s very subtle hints at comedy but it’s intense and emotional throughout the play,” said Grade 12 student Gracie-Lynn Hughes, who plays dial painter Katherine Schaub and Cora Middleton, a high-society person and witness.
Performances run Wednesday, June 4 through Friday, June 6 at 7:00 p.m at Holy Cross CSS.
Tickets are available at the door, with doors opening each night at 6:15 p.m.