Six alumni help illuminate ‘Radium Girls’ at FGCU’s TheatreLab
- Laurie D. Babcock
- Bower School of Music & the Arts
- Contributors: James Greco, Photos
6 – minute read
Six alumni have returned to their alma mater to bring the powerful story of “Radium Girls” to life at Florida Gulf Coast University’s TheatreLab. The production, Feb. 14-23, shines a light on the untold struggles of female factory workers poisoned by radium in the 1920s. Their compelling story will be brought to life by a team of seasoned FGCU graduates paired with current students — the next generation of production professionals.
A spotlight on the cast and crew
Brittney Brady (’11, theatre and English), recently returned to Southwest Florida after earning her master of fine arts in directing at California Institute of the Arts. While simultaneously working on projects in New York and Los Angeles, she’s directing “Radium Girls” at FGCU.
“It’s been incredibly rewarding to return to my alma mater after years of working elsewhere and to collaborate with talented artists — both students and alumni — on a project that tackles such important, timely issues,” she says.
The “Radium Girls” crew also features students Amanda Collins as assistant director, Lilikoi Porter as stage manager and Faith Angles and Kailey Ceseretti as assistant stage managers, and alum Kyle Carson (‘24, theatre) as technical director. Rounding out the crew of alums and current theatre majors are Lea Pick (‘24, theatre), scenic designer, and Bo Dreszer, assistant scenic designer; Maddie Anderson (’21, theatre), lighting designer, and Jake Ratterman, assistant lighting designer; and Nate Tria (‘19, theatre), costume designer, and Ella Fecteau, assistant costume designer. In addition, alum Olivia Daley (‘23, theatre and digital media design) designed the graphic for the playbill and 12 current students comprise the cast of “Radium Girls.”
“Having alumni involved in this production is a wonderful way to bridge the gap between current students and the professional world,” Brady says. “It offers students the chance to see how their training translates into real-world work and gives them the opportunity to network with those who have already navigated the early stages of their careers.”
“The opportunity for our current students to work with professional designers that have an in-depth knowledge of what our students experience will give them invaluable insight into what it takes to get established in the professional world,” says Anne Carncross, an FGCU theatre professor and technical director. She’s also the production manager on “Radium Girls” and a major part of the reason the alums have joined the show.
“I picked a few of my favorite graduates so I could work with them again. I get attached to my students and I follow their professional careers,” she says.
After hearing FGCU President Aysegul Timur speak about community and alumni engagement, Carncross came up with the idea of having “Radium Girls” be an alumni-designed show.
“I love all of these alumni. I keep in touch with each of them, and I’m so excited to see and work with them.”
She also echoes Brady’s sentiment that working with so many graduates provides a unique networking opportunity for the current theatre students.
“In the theatre, our networks are everything. It’s how we find jobs, get help answering questions, find people to hire, guide students to connect with professionals to answer questions. I cannot list the number of times I have turned to my network to get our students jobs, internships, interviews and opportunities for growth.”
Illuminating history and topical themes
“Radium Girls” by D.W. Gregory is a drama based on the true story of female factory workers poisoned by radium-based paint in the 1920s. The play follows three women who work at the U.S. Radium Corp. in Orange, N.J, painting dials on luminous watches. The factory owner sees radium as a promising, profitable innovation, but workers begin to suffer severe health issues from exposure to the radioactive element.
“It’s a devastating story with hopeful inspirations,” Carncross says. “If we all do our jobs properly, our audience will be taken to a different world and be immersed in the experience. They won’t see costumes, scenery, lighting or actors. They’ll experience a story filled with characters they connect with, feel heartbroken for, cheer for and feel connected to personally. The immersion and feelings the audience experiences are how we know we did our job well.”
Thematically, the play examines justice, equity and the fight against exploitation as exemplified by its strong female protagonists.
“These themes align closely with FGCU’s mission of fostering an environment where students can thrive as engaged and responsible global citizens,” Brady says. “The theatre program’s commitment to producing work that engages with the human condition is reflected in the play’s themes, which highlight the struggles of workers standing up to the powerful institutions that harmed them.”
“Our theatre program is a diverse mix of individuals, beliefs and values, and our students are active in all the themes of the play,” Carncross adds. “A great example of us living these values is the number of women on the technical and design side of things.”
Each of TheatreLab’s three productions this school year are, in fact, plays written by women. Carncross chose the all-female playwright season, and the decision to produce “Radium Girls” stemmed from a suggestion by Tatum Bates, the student representative on the theatre department’s season selection committee.
As one of the few female theatrical technical directors in the U.S., Carncross says “our students see this quest for equity in the workplace daily.”
“Radium Girls” can be seen Feb. 14-23 at TheatreLab in the Arts Complex at FGCU. Tickets for the show are available online.
