Students Alex Hunt (left) and Rowan Latch (right) onstage during Glacier Peak High School’s November 13 dress rehearsal for their production of Radium Girls. Grace Fryer, played by Latch, was a dial painter and leading figure in the lawsuit against the U.S. Radium Corporation.
Photo by Heather Halverson
SNOHOMISH — Glacier Peak High School’s theatre students are turning back the clock to bring history to life onstage.
The Glacier Peak Theater Club has put in countless hours of work to put on their fall production of “Radium Girls,” a surprising choice for the program, given its serious nature.
“Radium Girls” is based on the true events of young female factory workers in the 1920s who suffered radiation poisoning while painting glow-in-the-dark clock dials. Dozens of women died while thousands were left with lifelong injuries.
“The kids that are here now have never done a drama. It’s all been comedies and musicals,” said director Terrie Lemcio. “This was the perfect time.”
The show, which has remaining dates Friday, Nov. 22 and Saturday, Nov. 23, highlights the efforts of Grace Fryer, a dial painter who fought for her day in court. Fryer, along with other factory workers, fought for the workplace safety standards and regulations we see today.
Lemcio emphasized the importance of high schoolers staging a show that deals with such serious historical topics.
“All the people around them, family, were worried it would backfire on them with good reason. But they didn’t give up on themselves,” she said. “So that is really the message I want people to get from this, is not giving up on yourself. It’s beautiful. Fight for your rights.”
Lemcio is tasked with choosing the productions for the school’s yearly fall play, as well as their spring musical. This is Lemcio’s second year as the school’s director.
“Radium Girls” has been a collaborative effort involving more than 40 students. Some students are onstage performing, while others are stagehands, stage managers, costume designers, sound technicians, and more. Guided by adult mentors, students have the opportunity to explore and develop their talents across all aspects of theater production, Lemcio said.
“We end up hiring half a dozen professionals that come in,” said George Jordan, the school’s production manager. “Choreographers, vocal coaches … choir directors. We hire directors for the orchestra, we hire costumers … we hire set designers to come in and design the set, and they all work with the students … to help them bring their skills up.”
Rowan Latch, who plays the lead role of Grace Fryer, said the role has challenged her to take a “deep dive” emotionally. Latch credits the emotional range of the play for fostering a strong bond among the cast.
“This one has very dry humor and just kind of a joy about it in the first half, and then sadness about it in the next half,” Latch said. “After every … hard scene, we go over to our castmates and just give them a hug, give them some love. Just something where we could all feel very connected.”
According to the production’s assistant stage manager, sophomore Sara Moffat, Latch has grown in the role. “It’s really fun to watch her go out there and really perform,” said Moffat.
The show’s challenging themes have pushed the cast, making their work even more rewarding, Lemcio said. Staging “Radium Girls” now feels especially meaningful, given today’s political climate, she said.
“We did ‘Newsies’ in the spring, and so we had the ‘fight for justice’ show down with ‘Newsies’ and I just thought this was the perfect time to tail onto that,” she said.
Glacier Peak High School’s theater department has long been known for its musicals, comedies, and Disney classics, but last spring’s production of “Newsies” introduced a theme of resilience and justice that resonated with the students. The show was also one of the first with elaborate sets and costumes, Moffat said.
“I wasn’t even part of it, but I went to see it three times. It was so good,” Moffat said.
According to Jordan, who manages the theater department’s finances, the performances of Newsies were so successful that the district requested a reduction in ticket prices. The revenue generated from the performances allowed the program to invest in much-needed upgrades, such as new microphones and stage lighting.
“We sell tickets, but the revenue from this goes back into the productions that are coming up,” Jordan said. “We’re a public school, we’re not in for profit.”
All proceeds collected from ticket sales for “Radium Girls” will go directly into the school’s upcoming spring production, “The Music Man,” Jordan said.
As Lemcio looks ahead to future shows, community seems to be key. For her, fostering a supportive environment where every cast member, crew member, and mentor feels valued is what creates such successful productions, she said.
“I always tell the kids that our community is first and the process is first, “ Lemcio said. “And if we have a tight and positive community, … then we’re going to have a good show no matter what.”
Glacier Peak High School’s production Radium Girls will run one more weekend on Friday, Nov. 22 and Saturday, Nov. 23. Tickets are available through the school’s box office and online.
This story was produced by a journalism student at the UW News Lab for the Tribune.
