These Shining Lives

THESE SHINING LIVES

Director: Jane Froiland

PERFORMANCES

Friday,  January 23rd  7:30pm

Saturday, January 24th 5:00pm

Approximate Run Time: 100 minutes

PERFORMANCE LOCATION

Jungle Theater
2951 Lyndale Ave S
Minneapolis, MN 55408

SYNOPSIS

The Shining Lives by Melanie Marnich begins in the 1920s, when a group of young women land what seems like a dream job at the Radium Dial Company, painting glowing watch faces that symbolize progress, independence, and modern life. What starts with glamour and opportunity soon shifts, as hidden costs and unexpected challenges begin to surface. Their bond is tested as they struggle to make sense of what is happening to them and to claim their rightful place in a world that would rather look away.

Told with lyrical beauty and emotional depth, The Shining Lives celebrates friendship, courage, and the strength of ordinary people who rise to extraordinary circumstances. It’s a moving story about resilience, the power of community, and what it means to insist on being seen and heard.

The Shining Lives is based on real events. In the 1920s, women known as the “Radium Girls” worked painting glowing watch faces in Illinois. Their fight for safety and justice became one of the first big workplace safety cases in the U.S. — and their courage helped protect future generations of workers.