In 1926, radium was hailed as a miracle cure, Madame Curie was an international icon, and luminous watches were all the rage—until the young women who painted them began to fall mysteriously ill.

Inspired by true events, Radium Girls follows dial painter Grace Fryer as she bravely takes on the U.S. Radium Corporation in a battle for justice. Her opponent: Arthur Roeder, her former employer—an idealist struggling to reconcile the promise of science with the devastating human cost. As Grace’s fight gains momentum, she finds herself at odds not only with the company but also with her family and friends, who fear the consequences of her pursuit.

Written with both warmth and biting humor, Radium Girls is a fast-paced, highly theatrical ensemble piece for 10 actors portraying over 30 roles—friends, co-workers, scientists, lawyers, advocates, and more. Hailed by critics as “powerful” and “engrossing,” the play offers a sharp, unflinching look at America’s obsessions with health, wealth, and the commercialization of science.

Chicago Stage Review - Highly Recommended 
"...Point Of Contention Theatre Company’s Chicago premiere of Radium Girls quite simply raises the bar for black box theater productions. Not with dazzling effects or innovative conceptualization, but rather by doing something so simple and yet so powerfully profound. It makes you care." 

February 13, 14, 19, 20, 21, 2026 @ 7:30pm
February 15, 2026 @ 2:00pm
East Campus, Building 3, Black Box Theater

The performance of Radium Girls on Monday, February 16 is cancelled due to mandatory school closure for Washington’s Birthday under new legislation. We apologize for any inconvenience.

Recommended for ages 13 and up.
Radium Girls contains mature themes, including illness, death, and corporate negligence, but is appropriate for teen and adult audiences.

Tickets:
$15 General Admission
$10 Students, Seniors, Military, Faculty & Staff
A $2 ticket fee applies to all tickets.

Concessions will be available for a donation benefiting Valencia Theatre.

Produced by special arrangement with THE DRAMATIC PUBLISHING COMPANY of Woodstock, Illinois. Originally produced by Playwrights Theatre of New Jersey and developed with a commissioning grant from the Ensemble Studio Theatre/Alfred P. Sloan Foundation Science and Technology Project.