Spring lineup at Robsham Theater
These Shining Lives—which tells the true story of the strength and determination of young female factory workers in the 1920s and ’30s who were exposed to radium in the workplace—launches the Boston College Theatre Department/Robsham Theater Arts Center spring season. The production, directed by Milly Caballero ’24, will be presented February 22–25 in the RTAC’s Bonn Studio.
The acclaimed work by Melanie Marnich follows the “Radium Girls” of the Radium Dial Company, who painted the faces of luminous watches and clocks with radioactive paint. Though protagonist Catherine and her friends are dying as a result, theirs is a story of survival, as they refuse to allow the company that stole their health to kill their spirits—or endanger the lives of those who come after them.
Ěý“These Shining Lives is a wonderful production,” said Theatre Department Chair and Professor of the Practice Luke Jorgensen. “It is such a powerful story about a group of women struggling to survive dangerous workplace conditions, and is equally triumphant and tragic. A tale about, written by, and directed by women—in this case super talented senior Milly Caballero.”
Next month will see the premiere of Cleveland Circle,Ěýa play by 2023 alumni Aidan O’Neill and Lily Telegdy that follows a group of young Bostonians as they navigate life after college. Directed by Professor of Theatre Scott T. Cummings, the production will run from March 21–24 in RTAC’s Bonn Studio.
“Cleveland Circle is exciting not only because the writers are recent BC graduates, but also because it is a funny play that speaks to people about relationships and revenge. It is about, and created by, people in their 20s,” Jorgensen said. Â
RTAC’s main stage will be the setting from April 25–28 for Qui Nguyen’s She Kills Monsters, under the direction of Associate Professor of Theatre Courtney Elkin Mohler. The story centers on Agnes Evans, who leaves her childhood home following the death of her teenage sister, Tilly. When she finds Tilly’s notebook for the fantasy role-playing game “Dungeons & Dragons,” she is catapulted into a journey of discovery and action-packed adventure in the imaginary world that was her sister’s refuge. Â
“She Kills Monsters is a wild combination of role-play fantasy and reality,” said Jorgensen. “A woman seeking to better understand her sister enters a world of real-life dungeons and dragons—complete with amazing stage combat, magic, and puppetry on a very grand scale.”
More information on these productions, including performance times and ticket prices at . For tickets, go to  or call the RTAC Box Office at 617-552-4002.