Staff photo by Fritz Busch Jason Malcom (Arthur Roeder) right foreground, speaks as from left, Carly Wenninger (Grace Fryer), Sarah Todesco (Kathryn Schaub) and Elsie Munson (Irene Rudolph), partially hidden listen. Staff photo by Fritz Busch Carly Wenninger (Grace Fryer), left, and Sarah Todesco (Kathryn Schaub) enjoy a light moment of the New Ulm High School Spring Play “Radium Girls.”

NEW ULM — New Ulm High School (NUHS) presents its spring play, D.W. Gregory’s “Radium Girls” at 7 p.m. April 5 and 2 p.m. April 6 in the high school theater.

The gripping drama is based on a true story of female laborers poisoned and killed by radium-based paint a century ago.

In 1926, radium was considered a miracle cure until the girls who painted luminous watches began to become ill with a mysterious disease, later determined to be radiation poisoning.

“Radium Girls” traces the efforts of dial painter Grace Fryer (Carly Wenninger) as she fights for her day in court.

Wenninger said she enjoys being able to do the spring play with friends and found the play intriguing.

“It was a challenge to play an adult in an actual historical event that was an important moment in U.S. history,” she added.

Jason Malcom (Arthur Roeder) said the cast is a tight-knit group.

“Everybody connects with one another. We’re like a big family,” he said.

Henry Waloch said he enjoys acting and educating people about something they may not know about.

Sarah Todesco (Kathryn Schaub) said she enjoys being able to portray a real person in the spring play.

Elsie Munson (Irene Rudolph) said she enjoys learning about people that experienced something (radium poisoning) that she had no idea actually happened, but found it challenging to “capture the character after learning about a real person.”

Student director Tyson Goold said he likes working with the cast.

Waloch said challenges of the play included “keeping faithful to the actual story.”

Director Samarah Forster of Sleepy Eye said she’s been thrilled to work with the NUHS group, putting together the show quickly.

“I’ve worked with several schools and community theaters in this area. When I heard about the NUHS position, I jumped at the opportunity to meet even more theater-loving people,” Forster said.

“We just started rehearsals in mid-February, so with spring break, we will have put together this whole show in only seven weeks,” she added.

“You never know what to expect when joining a new program,” said Forster. “These students have accepted me with open arms and open minds. It has made this process an absolute joy. The set, designed and built by Kevin Maudal, is a work of art all by itself.”

Adult tickets at $7, students $5, activity passes are accepted and senior citizens have no admission charge.

The cast:

Factory girls, Grace Fryer, Carly Wenninger; Kathy Schaub, Sarah Todesco; Irene Rudolph, Elsie Munson; Mrs. MacNeil, Sophie Berger; others Bronwyn Schlagel, Sophia Furth, Erin Hensch, Elizabeth Pearson; Kelsey Grosam, Sophie Lund.

Company men, Arthur Roder, Jason Malcom; Edward Markley, Brooks Miner; Daniel Lehman, Gage Latozke; Charlie Lee, Warren Peterson; Dr. Von Sochocky, Jakob Geiss.

Their family and friends, Tom Kreider, Henry Waloch; Diane Roeder, Aubrey DeMarais; Harried Roeder, Sophia Furth; Mrs. Fryer, Lexi Schneider.

The advocates, Katherine Wiley, Amanda Vogel; Raymond Berry, Nick Vigil; the Court (Judge), Levi Ellanson.

The scientists, Dr. Knef, Katelyn Shumacher, Frederick Flinn, Everett Brown; Dr. Harrison Martland, Josh Gordon.

The press, reporter, Kelsey Grosam; sob sister, Josie Stade, photographer Josh Gordon.

The public, clerk, Amanda Vogel, store owner, Erin Hensch; customer, Elizabeth Pearson; male shopper, Luka Deree; shop girl, Bronwyn Schlagel; elderly widow, Sophie Lund; lovestick cowboy, Ben Groebner; venecine salesman, Hunter Dauer; jury and witnesses, Gage Latozke, Sophie Berger, Ellie Anderson, Kelsey Grosam, Sophia Furth, Josh Gordon, Hunter Dauer, Erin Hensch, Sophie Lund, Elizabeth Pearson, Bronwyn Schlagel, Luka Deree.