Radium Girls - Characters

The Women in the Factory

Grace Fryer

Grace Fryer: A top-notch dialpainter. She is 15 at the start of the play and 26 at its close.

Kathryn Schaub

Kathryn Schaub: Grace's friend. She is another dialpainter. Also 15 at the start of the play.

Irene Rudolph: Kathryn's cousin. She is 17 at the start of the play. Later, she is in her 20s.

Mrs. Alma MacNeil: The women's supervisor at the factory.

The Company Men

Dr. Von Sochocky

Dr. Von Sochocky: Founder of the U.S. Radium Corporation and inventor of the luminous paint.

Arthur Roeder: President of the U.S. Radium Corporation. 34 at the start of the play; 65 at its close.

Edward Markley: Counsel for the company.

C.B. "Charlie" Lee: Vice President; later President of the company.


Their Family and Friends

Tom Kreider: Grace's boyfriend. He is several years older than she.

Diane Roeder: Married to Arthur Roeder.

Harriett Roeder: Their daughter. She is 9 years old at first; later, she is in her 30s.

Anna Fryer: Grace's mother.


The Advocates

Katherine Wiley: The Executive Director of New Jersey Consumer's League

Raymond Berry: An attorney for the dialpainters.


The Scientists

Dr. Marie Curie

Dr. Marie Curie: A two-time Nobel-prize winning scientist. She discovered radium.

Dr. Cecil Drinker: A Harvard industrial hygienist.

Dr. Harrison Martland: The county Medical Examiner.

Dr. Joseph Knef: A dentist.

Frederick Flinn, PhD: Columbia University, industrial hygienist.


The Press

Reporter (Jack Youngwood): A reporter for the Newark Ledger.

Sob Sister (Nancy Jane Harlan): A tabloid reporter for the New York Graphic.


The Witnesses

William J.A. Bailey: An entrepreneur; manufacturer of Radithor.

Mrs. Michaels: A consumer of Radithor.

Society Woman: Mrs. James (Cora) Middleton; a well-bred woman

Clerk: An overworked public employee.