Auditions will be held on Tuesday, evening, August 8th at 6pm. Time slots 6-7:30pm, followed by callbacks that same evening.
Actors will be asked to prepare a short one minute monologue of their choice followed by reading directly from the script.
GUIDELINES
Rehearsals begin on Wednesday, August 16 at 6:30-8:30pm. Rehearsals: Wednesdays 6:30-8:30pm (Some rehearsals may be extended to 9pm) Sundays 1:00-4:00pm
"Radium Girls" is part of the TSP Professional Training Production series. You must register at: https://clients.dancestudiomanager.com/theatre-south-playhouse/client/index.php?obj=groupclass&action=edit§ion=class&id=891
Show fee: Three payments of $215
*some scholarships are available through our Acts of Love and Kindness Scholarship fund to those in financial need at: https://www.theatresouthplayhouse.org/scholarships
Performance Weekend: Oct 19-22nd Tech Week: Sunday Oct 15-18th
OTHER INFORMATION
Character Break-Down:
Grace Fryer (F, 15 and ends the play at age 26): She’s our story’s heroine, but her path to this position is not direct. Grace is the definition of a dynamic character. In the early years of her life Grace plays by the rules. She follows instructions, keeps quiet, and quite simply does as she told, trusting that others have her best interests at heart. However, the naivety of her youth soon gives way as she witnesses a taste of the cold realities that life often holds. Once awakened, Grace stoically surges against the tides of power to seek justice for those who have been wronged.
Arthur Roeder (M): It would be easy to view Mr. Roeder a coldhearted, evil man. Unfortunately, even coldhearted, evil men do not see themselves as such. Roeder is not a malicious man, per say. Yes, he makes a series of horrible, problematic decisions. However, he does so with the belief that he is justified in his actions. At least, that is what he must tell himself to survive each day during his ordeal. Roeder is a man of ambition. He is emblematic of the American success story. He is intelligent, decisive, and innovative. And before you right him off as being purely selfish and conniving, reflect on his motivations. He has a company for which he is responsible. He has employees that require his strength. He has shareholders who require his perseverance.
Edward Markley (M): Markley is the company’s legal representative. Markley’s take on the situation that erupts within the company is simple; he must prevail against those who would bring down his employer. During power struggles, the black and white of right and wrong often gives way to shades grey. We know this to be true, and few exhibit this reality better than Markley.
Sob Sister (any gender): She’s an interesting character. She provides the ongoing commentary of our story, filling the audience in with updates between scenes.
Miss Katherine Wiley (F): Here’s our source of inspiration. Miss Wiley is a woman ahead of her time. She campaigns for social justice and seeks to fight tyranny wherever it exists. As the executive director of New Jersey’s Consumer’s League, Miss. Wiley stands up for the working-class men and women of her state. She should be played as unapologetically strong, determined, and idealistic. She is a progressive thinker, and her battle is to make the world a better place for the little people who have no voice. Without these individuals’ tireless efforts, the world would be a much worse place.
Kathryn Schaub (F, 15 at start of play): Kathryn is Grace’s partner in battle. Working alongside Grace at U.S. Radium, Kathryn experiences everything that Grace undergoes. She works in tandem with Grace to put forth her argument against their former employer.
Von Sochocky (M): He almost seems to be the most sincere male character of the show. He has a long path towards resolution. As the inventor of the magnificent translucent paint, he bears the ultimate responsibility for the deaths of countless human beings. Realizing this truth, he works to do what is right as time progresses.
Diane Roeder (F): Mrs. Roeder is Roeder’s support mechanism. She positively influences her husband, encouraging his support for those with difficult lives. She also shares in the struggles her husband undergoes, personally dealing with public censure for her husband’s actions. She must battle to find justification for maintain support of her husband amidst an avalanche of condemnation against him. It is no easy task.
Harriet Roeder- Their 9 year daughter (later in her 30's.)
Anna Fryer (F): Grace’s wonderful mother, Mrs. Fryer is the guiding force behind Grace’s early development. She is a decent, hardworking woman. Mrs. Fryer is a rational and reasonable person. She stands by her daughter through thick and thin. However, when she feels that her family’s ability to survive is at last on the line, she resolves herself to steer Grace towards a new path. Grace’s ultimate decision towards the end of the play is interesting. Perhaps her mother’s influence convinces her after all.
Dr Joseph Knef (M): A dentist. What does he believe in? What do you want him to believe in? He’s more than happy to voice that opinion in your presence. He’s insincere, manipulative, and devoid of convictions. In our first encounter with him we believe he’s a wonderful, sympathetic person. Later on, we see that he’s anything but. Still, as with all human beings, he must believe his actions are justified. He is perhaps the clearest display of one of the show’s themes; he works for his own best interests.
Raymond Berry (M): The council for our protagonists, Berry works to build the case against U.S. Radium. He’s a decent, moral man. He’s also one of the few male characters that isn’t unsympathetic in one way or another. He works on behalf of the common man. He fights for justice.
Jack Youngwood/Reporter (M): The other half of our dynamic press duo, the Reporter tells joins Sob Sister to present the news to the public.
Frederick Flinn, Ph.D (M): He is an industrial hygienist from Columbia University. Science provides the ultimate truth, right? Scientists see understanding, regardless of where their findings may lead them… right? Well, who’s paying bills? Like anything, science can be corrupted by money. Flinn is a paid consultant who provides credible testimony that U.S. Radium is not responsible for the illness and deaths of its employees.
Irene Rudolph(F): Kathryns's cousin. A colleague of Grace, Irene is one of the first employees to succumb to her illness. (17 at start of the play then in her 20's)
Alma Macneil (F): The enforcer! Ms. Macneil is a supervisor at U.S. Radium. As the senior female in a position of management, she takes her job very seriously. She works one step above the girls on the floor, and knows all too well it is her responsibility to keeps things moving smoothly. Management requires responsibility and sacrifice. She does her duty well.
Madam Curie (F): Indefatigable despite a career of physically demanding and ultimately fatal work, she discovered polonium and radium, championed the use of radiation in medicine and fundamentally changed our understanding of radioactivity.
Society Woman (F): Exemplary of a proper lady, Society Woman leads official ceremonies and hosts the crème del la crème of good society.
Clerk (f): A clerk of the court.
Court (M): A judge.
Drinker (M): A Harvard industrial hygienist, Drinker is the man behind uncontaminated scientific research. His findings represent actual truth and not paid truth. How is his true presented? Well, out of context at first. Want to favorably quote a man whose work proves your wrong doing? Easy, just select a few small slivers of what he has written and ignore the rest.
Board Members 1-3 (M/F/Any Gender): These are the U.S. Radium Corporation’s board members. The tow the company line, again, for their own best interests.
Mrs. Michaels (F): “A consumer of Radithor,” which sounds like a descriptions from something on the Syfy Channel. She can’t help it, she loves the stuff!
Dr. Harrison Martland (M): He’s “the county medical examiner.”
William Bailey (F): He manufactures Radithor.
Lovesick Cowboy (M): We all have one in our family.
Venecine Salesman (M/F): In a salute to the bagel salesman from Fiddler, the Venecine Salesman pitches his product with equal vigor.
Elderly Widow, Male Shopper, Customer, Store Owner, Shopgirl Photographer,Townspeople, courtroom attendants, employees of U.S. Radium, etc.