For one week in October, Adelphi University’s Department of Theatre will be performing “These Shining Lives,” Melanie Marnich’s drama inspired by the true story of the women who worked at Illinois’ Radium Dial Company in the 1920s. As Catherine Donohue and her three friends – Charlotte, Pearl and Frances – are victimized by their employers, they rise up to become heroes and change labor laws for all generations to come.
More than 1,000 women worked at the Radium Dial Factory and painted glow-in-the-dark numbers on the faces of clocks and watches.
Over time, many fell ill. The source was radioactive paint. Catherine and her friends seek retribution in the form of a class-action lawsuit against Radium Dial Company. They refuse to allow the company that stole their health kill their spirits – or endanger the lives of those who come after them.
The Cast: Jacky Bernhard ’16 (Charlotte, Reporter 1) from Massapequa, Bernhard is a sophomore acting major in her first main stage production. Her previous roles include Cornelia in “The White Devil,” as well as her work in student directing scenes such as Bryony Lavery’s Frozen (Ralph). Jacky is also a writer and musician who sings and performs solo and in bands. She is a student in the Adelphi Honors College.
Linda Demirdjian ’15 (Pearl, Daughter, Judge) is a junior transfer student from Queens. Her film and television credits include “Law and Order: SVU,” “Orange is the New Black,” “White Collar,” “Blue Bloods” and “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles.”
Rachael Feldman ’15 (Catherine) is a junior acting major hailing from scenic Framingham, Mass. Recent credits include: “Spelling Bee” (Rona Lisa Peretti), The Who’s “Tommy,” (dancer/various roles) and “Imagine Oz” (Toto).
Morgan Moffitt ’16 (Francis, Reporter 2, Official) is a sophomore acting major. She began acting and working in the theatre in her hometown of Garland, Texas and is very excited to be cast in “These Shining Lives.”
Paul Passaro ’14 (Musician) is a senior design/ technology major from New York. His interests include lighting, sound, and carpentry. He has been assistant technical director, sound designer and assistant light designer on various projects at Adelphi. In addition to his Adelphi credits, he worked at URJ Camp Harlam as the sound and lights designer, and technical director. He designed “Willy Wonka” and a series of variety shows while there.
Leore Riven ’15 (Mr. Reed, Company Doctor, Son, Leonard Grossman) is a junior from Queens. Adelphi credits include “Good Person of Szechwan” (Old Man), “Breaking the Silence” (Big John) and “Imagine Oz” (Ensemble).
Timothy Simpson ’15 (Tom, Dr. Rowntree, Dr. Dalitsch) is a junior acting major originally from Glen Rock, N.J. His credits include “Murder By Midnight” (Dick Piston), “The Modern Prometheus” (The Creature), “Arsenic and Old Lace” (Mr. Gibbs/Lt. Rooney), and “The Brother’s Grimm Spectaculation” (various characters).
The show, directed by Janice L. Goldberg, runs from Oct. 1 through Oct. 6 in Adelphi University’s Performing Arts Center, Black Box Theatre, 1 South Ave., Garden City.
