These Shining Lives
at School for Creative & Performing Arts

Reviewed on February 1, 2020

Erica Budde
Ursuline Academy
Submitted for publication to Newspaper 1

The feeling of female empowerment radiated throughout The School For The Creative and Performing Arts' theater. "These Shining Lives," by Melanie Marnich, is a play revolving around four women who worked for Radium Dial Company, a watch company located in Ottawa, Illinois. These women experienced great pay for the 1920's but later realized that their work cost them in ways such as bone cancer and jaw infections. The play tells how one courageous woman, Catherine Donohue, fought her case and changed Illinois law for workers' rights. "These Shining Lives" had its debut in the Head Theater at Centerstage in 2008.

This production was rooted in historical accuracy and raw emotion of the defeated women dying of radium poisoning in the '20s. Despite the emotionally difficult plot, the cast kept their energy up to captivate the audience throughout the production. Each character in this ten-person cast had their own unique identity which kept every scene complex.

Jordain Addis, who played Catherine, opened the play with an impactful monologue. With her genuine and realistic characterization, the audience could have forgotten they were watching a play. Her line delivery was clear and never lacked facial expression. Towards the end of the play, when Catherine's illness got stronger, Addis divulged the hardships through her body movement, showing Catherine's deteriorating condition. The male lead, Tom, played by Anthony DeGreen, encapsulated the effects of The Radial Dial workers' conditions on their families. He additionally portrayed the financial struggles during the time period. The leads' chemistry had the audience emotionally in touch with the impact of radium poisoning.

Catherine Donohue would not have been able to fight her case without the support of her coworkers. Charlotte, played by Angela Crawford, was a dynamic character starting with her standoffish attitude, but later, coming around to support Catherine in her darkest time. Charlotte's genuine personality made an appearance in Act Two and pushed Catherine to seek justice. Alongside Charlotte was Frances, played by Janiah Turman, the comedic relief of the play. Her one-liners lightened the mood and allowed the audience to laugh during the serious play.

The work of Lily Deye and Lachyra Lewis on costumes crew did not go unnoticed. Each costume expressed its character's personality and was period-appropriate. Also, the dynamic lighting assembled by Phoenix Haigis, Randal Weaver, and Angela Crawford brought to life the tone of the play and helped identify the transitions between events. For example, in Act Two, the green lighting over the factory visibly represented the radium illness each worker was suffering. The use of blue light over the Donohue house during Tom and Catherine's difficult conversations resembled the defeatedness they felt over her situation.

The School For Creative And Performing Arts should be incredibly proud of their production of "These Shining Lives." Every actor, actress, and crew member visibly put forth their effort to portray the ineffable hardships of the Radial Dial Workers during the '20s and '30s.

Lizzy Wheeler
Roger Bacon High School
Submitted for publication to Newspaper 10

Young girls and women from every type of life have become inspirations for all. The play, "These Shining Lives ," is an inspiration for all workers, especially working women. SCPA showed a family's struggle and a bond among women that kept them fighting, even through death.

"These Shining Lives ," by Melanie Marnich , takes place in Ottawa, Illinois during the 1920's. A young girl, Catherine Donahue , takes on a job at the Radium Dial Company , painting the watch faces while slowly getting sick from the intake of radium. She and her three friends stick together and even help out Catherine's family during this time. Her husband Tom always believed in her, even to her last breath.

The cast of "These Shining Lives" portrayed emotion, chemistry, and a deep understanding of their characters. The leading lady, Jordain Addis , portrayed Catherine . She showed a mix of her character and herself that made the performance feel real. The hardships she faced as Catherine made a believable performance. The lead actor, Anthony DeGreen , was the image of a perfect and supporting husband to Catherine . His emotion towards her created a visible chemistry that tied their family together, making his performance spectacular. His care looked genuine in every moment of fear and his facial expressions were spot on. The Trio, Charlotte , Frances , and Pearl , added humor and a visible symbol of support and love. These three, with the addition of Catherine, made the perfect team and made a believable rendition of an actual woman's life.

The crew helped create a beautiful production. The lighting team, Phoenix Haigis , Randal Weaver , and Angela Crawford , made the girls glow. In a literal sense, their color schemes of blue and green throughout the production created a glow that portrayed the radium glow. This was brilliant as the original color was green and the blue created a soft hue. The set was created by Annalyn Gauger and Bella Krantz . They created a perfect area on a small working space. Their design made each place feel as if it were standing alone. With the lighting team blacking out the rest of the stage, this helped create the best illusion. The set team worked hard, and their work has paid off. The props soloist, Meghan Hirka , helped with making each set feel like a home, workspace, and court. The attention to detail for each individual set space made everything come together. Last but not least, the costume crew, Lily Deye and Lachyra Lewis , really brought the characters together. Their classic dresses, suits, and all the way down to their shoes brought everything to life.

SCPA's rendition of "These Shining Lives " was certainly entertaining yet emotional. Congratulations to the cast and crew for creating their version of this story. Because now is the time of women empowerment and the progression of workplace conditions, this story is still relatable. Their performances and hard work really shone through this play.

Aiden Litmer
Walnut Hills High School
Submitted for publication to Newspaper 2

As the audience settled in and the clock started ticking, you couldn't help but feel eerily calmed by the three girls painting clocks, the beautifully controlled mess of a set, and the tantalizing performance of the opening monologue of SCPA's "These Shining Lives."

Having Premiered in 2008, "These Shining Lives" follows the story of Catherine, a wife and mother in 1920's Illinois, who, in a time of financial trouble, seeks out work at the local Radium Dial Company. As she spends her days painting watch face after watch face with radium dust, she is slowly confronted by creeping pains in her body as the audience is subjected to the frigid realism of the 20's.

Taking charge of almost every scene in the show, Jordain Addis took on the role of Catherine with unmatched confidence and care, pouring her heart into each delicately-placed word and each meticulously painted watch face. It was nearly impossible to not be drawn into every speech that Addis performed, as she took the character of Catherine and made her so powerfully believable. Often alongside Catherine was her husband Tom, played by the incredibly dynamic Anthony DeGreen, who crafted an immensely nuanced character from the time that he spoke his first words on stage. The chemistry between Addis and DeGreen proved consistently wonderful and enticing, making every moment of romance and heartbreak feel nothing other than completely real.

The rest of the cast was far from overshadowed by the two breathtaking leads, as each member of the cast had their own little moments of perfection. Angela Crawford's fearless portrayal of the free-spirited and playfully feisty Charlotte was a wonderful addition to the ever-changing dynamic of the Radium Dial workers, and her development into a worn and reserved character by the end of the production made her acting prowess very clear. Helping to neutralize the harsh realities of these women's stories, Janiah Turman and Sofia Aparicio-Gallagher took on the roles of Frances and Pearl to add a little well-needed comedic relief to the show, both crafting characters as believable as seats the audience sat in, while still being quick with a joke, however corny it may have been.

To take this stellar performance to the level of believability it achieved, the technical elements were masterfully crafted and unobtrusively eye- catching. Annalyn Gauger's split-set design lent itself to dynamic transitions and a multitude of opportunities when it came to the staging of a scene, making the absolute most of an otherwise small space. The light design, done by Phoenix Haigis was nearly flawless, with each cue bringing just the right amount of illumination while never sticking out. Every cue flowed perfectly into the next and did nothing but add to the overall reality of the show. Lily Deye's costume design also deserves many rounds of applause for her well-thought-out selection of every performers costume which always seemed to match the character that they had crafted beautifully.

As tears were wiped, thunderous applause filled SCPA's blackbox theatre. What took place in that theatre was nothing short of incredible, and as you vacated your seat, it felt as though you were walking away from a real piece of history, having just witnessed one of the most stunningly woven stories of all time.

Ella Terrell
Ursuline Academy
Submitted for publication to Newspaper 3

`Everything was shining: the stage, the lights, the costumes, and the actors. The whole production of "These Shining Lives," put on by SCPA Drama Ensemble, was shining.
`In the 1920's and 1930's, women would work painting watches with radium paint; eventually, many of the women developed radium poisoning. "These Shining Lives" follows the story of four of these women with Catherine at the center of it. The audience sees how their work at Radium Dial Company affects their families, friendships, health, and emotional well-being.
`The cast put on an emotional and heartfelt production. Jordain Addis as Catherine never stumbled despite her frequent soliloquies. Addis was clear and direct with every word she spoke. Her husband in the show, Tom, played by Anthony Degreen, had the important role of showing the effects radium had on the families of those affected, but the actor also needed to be able to provide some comic relief during these heartbreaking scenes, and Degreen managed to do all of this.
`The other Radium Dial workers managed to put on a spectacular performance as well. Angela Crawford as Charlotte was impressive; every line was delivered with the perfect amount of enthusiasm. Janiah Turman as Frances played her character perfectly. She was calm and respectable but loved to gossip. Sofia Aparicia as Pearl was the kindest and most innocent person on the stage, except for when she was telling horrible knock-knock jokes.
Any stage manager has their work cut out for them in a black box, but everything ran smoothly under the careful watch of the stage manager, Eva Schramm. The same goes for sets in such an open space, but everything was carefully placed, and each detail was immaculate thanks to Annalyn Gauger.
The lights successfully highlighted every character and each of their beautiful costumes. Everything in the show was perfectly appropriate for the time period and still managed to fit the style of each of the characters.
Because of the outstanding cast and crew, the SCPA Drama Ensemble put on a shining performance of "These Shining Lives."

Sophia Rooksberry
Walnut Hills High School
Submitted for publication to Newspaper 4

Glowing, sparkling, shining. To the average person, these are just words, perhaps used to describe the sky at night or the sand on a sunny day. These words were no different to the employees of the Illinois Radium Dial Company in the 1920's. That is, until one day, they could be used to describe the hue of their skin. After years of using "medicinal" radium paint to design at least 100 clock faces a day, the women who worked at the company became fatally sick; their skin glowed, their bones deteriorated, and the time they had left became finite. Suddenly, those words were no longer used to describe the sky or the beach, but rather, their diagnoses or state of health. "These Shining Lives," written by Melanie Marnich, analyzes the relationship of four of these women as they lived and died together.

With an assemblage of wildly-talented performers and gifted designers,The School for Creative and Performing Arts generated both tears and laughs with their multifaceted and genuine execution of the demanding historical drama.

The most notable relationship seen on stage was between the character of Catherine, played by Jordain Addis, and her husband, Tom, played by Anthony DeGreen. With finesse and courage, Addis adroitly brought to life a quintessential 1920's working mother and approached the fluctuation of emotions that accompanied her sickness with a poignant spirit. There to support his wife, come hell or high water, was Tom whose strength, kindness, and heart of gold were brilliantly revealed through DeGreen's performance. Together, these two actors explored all aspects of marriage, from sickness to health, and transformed the ideals of romance right before the eyes of the audience.

In a play as tragic as "These Shining Lives," the lives of the victims are often boiled down to the conflict that affected them. The relationships created by the actors who portrayed the four Radial Dial Workers told the story of their lives, not their illness. Each character brought a different element of their personality to the overall dynamic: Pearl, played by Sofia Aparicio, was the innocent jester who just wanted to bring laughter to the girls' lives. The vivacious Charlotte, played by Angela Crawford, brought rebellious undercurrents to the group. The moral backbone of the group was Frances, played by Janiah Turman. Finally, there was Catherine, played by Jordain Addis, the glue who tied the group together. Such a brilliantly layered relationship is difficult to attain, but these four actors never faltered in their portrayal.

Being a period piece, "These Shining Lives" required a very distinct technical design. Designed by Phoenix Haigis, Randal Weaver, and Angela Crawford, the sickly green gels of the stage lights accentuated the emaciated faces of the dying women while still keeping the stage alive. Megan Hirka seamlessly tied the stage together with her ingenuitive and decade-appropriate props design. On the other end of tech, the wig design of Gigi Davis effortlessly transported the audience back to the distinct era of bobs and Charleston cuts.

Of all the words to describe SCPA's performance of "These Shining Lives" - symbolic, breathtaking, melancholy, beautiful - there is only one that can convey the true essence of the show: shining.

Margaret Sansoucy
Randall K. Cooper High School
Submitted for publication to Newspaper 5

Back in the 1920's, many women thought they found bliss. They could work and make money on their own by painting watches with radium. Everything was perfect. Until it wasn't. The radium used to make the watches' glow caused terminal and fatal poisoning. This tore apart families and friends and caused heartbreak all over the world. This story was brilliantly shown in the play. "These Shining Lives," put on by The School for Creative and Performing Arts.

The play follows the life of Catherine as she gets a job at the Radium Dial Company. She meets friends Charlotte, Frances, and Pearl. Throughout the entirety of Act 1, their lives couldn't be better. However, in Act 2, the conflict arises. Catherine starts feeling unusual pain in her bones, but no doctor will tell her why. Finally, Catherine, Charlotte, Frances, and Pearl see a doctor that tells them the truth. They all have terminal radium poisoning. This takes place in the 1920's and 1930's but premiered in 2008.

This was not an easy show to do, but the Drama Ensemble did a wonderful job. The faces were genuine and showed real emotions throughout the entire play. While this wasn't a high-energy show, the actors kept the audience interested through strong character choices. It was a small cast, but that didn't take away from the performance. The set was done wonderfully, and the background sound was done very tastefully.

The lead actors performed exceptionally. Jordan Addis played Catherine and did an amazing job at playing a happy girl whose life gets turned upside-down. Her reactions were wonderful and added much to the performance. Anthony DeGreen played Tom, Catherine's husband, and did a wonderful job showing his character's arc,from being unsupportive and a classic 1920's husband to a loving and completely supportive husband. Both leads had wonderful chemistry and showed the love between a husband and wife.

The supporting cast also did an awesome job. Angela Crawford played Charlotte and showed growth from snotty to a real friend. Showing honest emotion, she had the audience brimming with tears. Janiah Turman and Sofia Aparicio (Frances and Pearl) had great chemistry as two best friends, and in many scenes, had the audience roaring with laughter.

The set was in a small Blackbox, but that didn't deter from the production at all. The props were well-researched and detailed. In a true genius move, Megan Hirka(props) used yogurt with food dye to make the radium paint since the girls put it in their mouths. The sound added more drama as did the lighting.

The events of the play may have taken place 100 years ago, but the actors of SCPA showed the audience that it is sill important. Bringing the audience to tears through laughter or sadness, the ensemble did a truly amazing job. They had great chemistry and reactions, and the tech crew brought it all together. A truly amazing show was brought to life and left the audience in wonder.

Delaney Jennings
Randall K. Cooper High School
Submitted for publication to Newspaper 6

Though many things have changed with the world, we can still look back and see that the mindsets of some people haven't changed. That's one of the lessons that "These Shining Lives" teaches.

"These Shining Lives" follows the life of Catherine Donohue as she enters a job at the Radium Dial Company painting the faces of watches. While there, she makes friends, and over the years, they struggle together because the watches have given them radium poisoning. The show also follows the relationship between Catherine and her loving husband along with the struggles that a working woman has in relation to taking care of the household in the 1920's.

The School for Creative and Performing Arts' production of "These Shining Lives" was unique, because the SFX team turned the projection screen into a giant clock and throughout the show had historic pictures of the people and the real- life working conditions in a factory during that time period.

Though the cast was small, the talent was immense. Jordain Addis, playing Catherine Donohue, , did an excellent job telling the true story of her character . There was no differentiating between actor and character as the story was told. The acting that Anthony DeGreen, who played Tom Donahue, portrayed was spectacular. The passion that he showcased throughout the show, whether it was his love for Catherine or his fight for her, Anthony helped to bring the story alive.

Though all of the friends that Catherine made in the factory were all great in their own way, Angela Crawford , portraying Charlotte , did an excellent job playing her character as the tough one that she tries to be, and then towards the end of the show, you can clearly see that she switches to her true self as the radium poisoning drastically changes all of their lives.

The technical aspects of the show are all stunning, all of the props fit into the time period, and the lighting and sound cues were always on time. It was incredible how the lighting changed depending on what angle it was coming from. For instance, there was a window, and depending on the time of day, the lighting would accommodate. It was also very spectacular how they utilized the sound of a ticking clock and a heartbeat during important scenes.

"These Shining Lives" not only told us an important story about the woman in the workplace and the struggles that they had with company men in the 1920's, but it also told us an important message that could carry on into the 2020's.

Lizzy Schutte
Mercy McAuley High School
Submitted for publication to Newspaper 7

The School for Creative and Performing Arts Drama Ensemble's production of "These Shining Lives" was, in a word, captivating. From the moment the lights came up on the set that fit the 1920's setting with impeccable accuracy, to the emotional final scene, the students of SCPA told a commonly forgotten story, giving a voice to women who fought so hard to be heard nearly one hundred years ago.

"These Shining Lives" tells the true story of four women who worked painting clockfaces to make them glow in the dark. The paint they used was chock-full of radium, which, after years of pointing the brush tips with their mouths, caused the women's bodies to deteriorate in slow, painful deaths. The women fought against their employer in a court of law, eventually winning the case.

Leading and narrating the story in the role of Catherine was Jordain Addis who had an authentic, natural chemistry with every one of her fellow performers. Addis took on the pain and emotional toil that her character suffered and channeled them into a raw retelling of a tragic story. By Catherine's side in the story was her husband Tom, played by Anthony DeGreen. DeGreen's performance was unforgettable and of professional quality. The emotion delivered in every one of his scenes ranged widely both in type and intensity, but every scene was delivered with a breathtaking sense of honesty.

Bringing a heartwarming dose of friendship and laughter to the show were Catherine's best friends and coworkers, Charlotte (Angela Crawford ), Frances (Janiah Turman ) and Pearl (Sofia Aparicio ). The onstage chemistry among the four best friends was tangible as they stuck by one another through the most trying of situations. Each performer had a completely developed character, down to minute detail, and all came together to create a beautiful sense of friendship.

The technical elements of the show rounded out the emotional production. The use of technology added a unique element to show with a clock projection at the back of the stage that changed clock faces at every scene. Some moments of the show were brought to full beauty as the projection showed photographs from the 1920s and time period-accurate music played during scene changes. The props and set pieces were made complete by small details that enhanced the authenticity of the production. The lighting of the show directed attention in the black box setting, and illuminated the characters with bright stars as their deaths were recounted in the narrative.

Overall, The School for Creative and Performing Arts certainly did not disappoint as they brought light to a story that must continue to be told. The students did a wonderful job honoring the memories of real people who fought for justice, despite backlash and obstacles. The production of "These Shining Lives" was a beautiful retelling of a heartbreaking story.

Annie Farkas
Ursuline Academy
Submitted for publication to Newspaper 8

SCPA's production of These Shining Lives, inspired audience members to speak up and out, with a talented cast and crew that executed this challenging play seamlessly.

This show is set in the late 1920's in Ottowa, Illinois. At the time, very few women had jobs, but the job that is available for women is to work at a watch factory, called Radium Dial. The play is based on a true story, and follows the story of Catherine, a young wife, mother, and worker at Radium Dial Company, who, along with her best friends and coworkers, Charlotte and Frances, discovers they have radium poisoning after years of working at the Radium Dial Factory The women fight for justice to be done with their unjust poisoning.

The whole show was put on by a 16-person ensemble. This was an all-hands-on deck kind of show, and SCPA really pulled off an incredible performance. A majority of the cast members were also a part of the crew, which shows an all-in effort, and impressive collaboration between cast and crew.

Tom, played by Anthony DeGreen was a standout character in this performance. He was a passionate character who displayed a range of emotions. He portrayed his character with Broadway-esque authenticity that caused the audience to forget they were watching a high school production. DeGreen and Addis, who played the role of Catherine, obviously had a natural connection, and their chemistry as characters portrayed the themes of love and heartbreak throughout the play. Jordain Addis had a non-stop performance, with her only break of the show being at intermission. She walked back and forth on stage from scene to scene and was not once phased. She spoke with such dynamic passion and emotion.

Angela Crawford, who portrayed the role of Charlotte, was an unbelievably engaging and genuine actress. She drew the audience in as she spoke and was very entertaining to watch. Her acting was very natural, and she beautifully executed the portrayal of her character. Another one of the "girls," Frances, played by Janiah Turman,cq> got the most laughs out of the audience as a result of her timely remarks and lovable persona.

Projections were displayed throughout the show on a floor-to-ceiling clock built by the set crew consisting of Annalyn Gauger and Bella Krantz. The clock and the projections on it were really the focal point of the show because of the clock's central placement. Projections, which were worked on by Randal Weaver, added helpful information and images to enhance each scene. Additionally, music from the 20's was included at different points in the show, which added to the historical authenticity of the play.

This unconventional play proved to be an entertaining and inspiring performance that spoke volumes about fighting for justice and learning from the past so that society can continue to be the best it can be.

Lucy Lawler
Saint Ursula Academy
Submitted for publication to Newspaper 9

In 1898, Marie Curie made a brilliant discovery. Through rigorous research, the Polish physicist and chemist isolated a new element. It was beautiful… and dangerous. SCPA's production of "These Shining Lives" explores the veiled toxicity of both radium and the 1920's workplace.

"These Shining Lives" is a dramatic play rooted in dire truth. The story is narrated by Catherine Donohue , a loving wife and mother of two. She takes a position at Radium Dial , a popular company that hires women to produce glowing clocks and watches. Catherine masters the "lip, dip, paint" technique, befriending her fellow workers and experiencing fabulous freedom. As time stretches on, the women are slowly poisoned, developing numerous maladies. Faced with fear and injustice, they struggle to find the "shining" joy that brought them together.

With just six weeks of preparation, SCPA's Drama Ensemble created a superb production. Tackling a period piece is never easy; however, the cast and crew exhibited extreme dedication from all sides.

Jordain Addis excelled as Catherine Wolfe Donohue. The actress was gentle yet commanding, delivering lengthy monologues with artistic ease. Diligent and dynamic, Addis conveyed the inner strength of a woman wronged. Anthony DeGreen's performance as Tom Donohue was extremely endearing. DeGreen embraced his character's internal conflict, generating massive empathy with his rage and sorrow. Together, these two actors drove the play's intensity.

Of course, the supporting cast was similarly radiant. Angela Crawford played Charlotte Purcell , a sprightly woman with a pension for mischief. Full of pluck, Crawford was a constant source of entertainment; furthermore, her chemistry with Addis allowed for the perfect foiled friendship. Sofia Aparicio (Pearl ) and Janiah Turman (Frances ) also brought depth to the narrative. Their sincere delivery and expressive facials allowed interactions to feel genuine. Each actress was powerful and assertive, portraying their characters as people rather than victims.

The play's technical aspects were executed with meticulous care. SFX leader Bella Krantz , assisted by Randal Weaver , used projections to add a quiet sense of authenticity. The images not only provided historical context, but also became more distorted as the women succumbed to illness. Gigi Davis , the wig and make-up designer, selected pretty and personalized hairstyles. Charlotte's wild curls reflected her chutzpah, while Catherine's sleek bob revealed stability and composure. The sound, handled by Maya Norman , was impeccable. Jazzy music played during brief scene changes, illustrating the unique aesthetic of Roaring Twenties culture.

When Marie Curie discovered radium, she did not know the extent of its properties. But with time and experience, humanity was able to uncover the truth. SCPA's "These Shining Lives" explored the unknown and addressed the past and present need for a constant pursuit of knowledge.