The Radium Girls is a darkly comedic, horror-infused, work of historical fiction inspired by the stories and spirits of the young women who worked the line at radium watch dial factories across North America in the 1920s. It’s a tale told with biting wit and a fresh new score that blends era-appropriate music with a contemporary theatre sound.
The Radium Girls follows ambitious teenager, Olive, and her friends, Helen and Frances, as they land coveted jobs painting glowing watch dials at New Jersey’s United States Radium Corporation. At first, the factory seems like a dream come true with its high wages, glamorous coworkers, and proximity to the miracle element of the day - radium. But something isn’t right. Aching bones go unexplained, whispers ripple through the workstations, and Olive begins seeing ghostly figures lurking in the shadows. Beneath the shimmering façade of the factory, a more sinister truth seeps through. The executives in charge are hiding something, and the radium may be responsible for the mystery ailments that have begun to plague the workers. As the girls’ bodies begin to fail, Olive sets out to unravel the Corporation’s deadly lie, and, together with her friends, give the company heads a taste of their own poison.
Think Newsies meets Sweeney Todd, with the youthful edge of Spring Awakening.
After a highly anticipated and attended industry presentation in Fall 2023 directed by Tony Award winner Marissa Jaret Winokur, The Radium Girls was optioned by High Octave Productions. The creative team is looking to connect with interested parties as they shape the coalition for the project’s next steps, with an eye toward a world-premiere production.
Writers Amanda D’Archangelis, Sami Horneff, and Lisa Mongillo. Photos by Amanda Whiteley.
Writers Amanda D’Archangelis, Sami Horneff, and Lisa Mongillo conceived The Radium Girls after meeting at the BMI Lehman Engel Musical Theatre Workshop. They debuted a 15-minute version at the Players Theatre’s BOO! Short Play Festival in NYC, where it won Audience Favorite.
In 2019, a full-length draft was completed and named a semi-finalist for the Eugene O’Neill Center’s National Musical Theatre Conference.
The show was workshopped and premiered virtually through Western Connecticut State University’s New Works New Voices Festival, complete with green-screened sets, costumes, and fully orchestrated audio tracks . It was later featured at the Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival (KCACTF), winning five national honors including Overall Production Design and Musical Direction.
The show was chosen as a finalist for the NAMT Festival of New Musicals, placing in the top 20 out of 480 submissions. It was also selected as a finalist for Syracuse University New Works New Voices.
The Radium Girls received an industry reading directed by Tony Winner Marissa Jaret Winokur, starring numerous Olivier Award winner and Tony nominees. It was held at The Duke on 42nd Street, with arrangements by Jonathan Bauerfeld, music direction by Justin P. Cowan, and assistant direction by Chadd McMillan. It was presented by David Treatman Creative and High Octave Productions.
Songs featured on Playbill’s Songwriter Series and performed at showcases by Latiné Musical Theatre Lab and Christopher Newport University at Feinstein’s/54 Below.
The creative team participated in a development retreat at The Farm at Cabbage Hill, followed by a series of writing retreats to complete a new draft in preparation for an upcoming workshop and full production.