For the first time in PHS history, the fall play was chosen using a survey completed by members of the PHS drama club, the Midnight Players. In previous years, directors have made the choice independently from the students, but in spring 2025, a survey was sent out to club members for suggestions for this year’s shows. This survey resulted in the fall play being Radium Girls and the spring musical being The SpongeBob Musical.
Mr. Andrew Bauchman, director of the Midnight Players, has been the drama director of the Midnight Players for two years. In the past, the choice of show was up to the director, with the constraint of not being able to repeat plays or musicals done in the past, and limited to shows PHS could get the rights for. But last year, Bauchman decided to let the club members suggest their next shows through a survey.
“Just as I get to know the school a little bit better I’m trying to give the students more of a voice,” stated Bauchman.
The survey sent to the Midnight Players contained two questions: which plays and musicals they would nominate as good fits for the program, and which shows they didn’t think would be a good fit for the program. The nominations were discussed by the executive board and the director.
Senior Beata Mirowicz has been a member of the Midnight Players for five years, and has been a Midnight Players Executive Board member for four years. This year she is playing the role of Grace in Radium Girls.
“The final decision was finally, ultimately up to our director,” stated Mirowicz. “But we did have a lot of input and I think that was a really big deal.”
Radium Girls by D.W. Gregory takes place in the early 1900s, following factory working girls who are poisoned by radium.
“I actually wasn’t even familiar with Radium Girls last year, some of the students suggested it and it just looked like a good fit for the school,” stated Bauchman. “It’s kind of a dark drama compared to what we’ve done in the past.”
Radium Girls is a historical tragedy, which differs from the Midnight Players plays of the last three years: Puffs, Not Quite Right, and A Midsummer Night’s Dream, which have all been comedies.
“An opportunity to tell a serious story without the musical element of it was something we really wanted to do this year,” said Mirowicz.
The “dark” themes explored in Radium Girls differs from the whimsical tones of the upcoming spring musical, The SpongeBob Musical, which was also chosen using the survey suggestions of the Midnight Players.
“That’s what it’s all about to me, being able to pivot from one style to another. I think that the more range that we can show in here the better,” said Bauchman.
Beth Weld is the senior stage manager for the Midnight Players and has been a member of the club for five years.
“[Right now] we’re just kind of rebuilding the sets we have from the previous shows, and we’re repainting everything, just sprucing everything up for this show,” said Weld. “It’s a great show. We put a lot of work into it.”
Radium Girls is the first play the Midnight Players will host in the auditorium after its two years of being closed off for construction. Weld expressed excitement about using the new technology in the revamped auditorium for the upcoming play.
“We all have new soundboards, new lightboards. It’s like, ‘whoa,” stated Weld, “ I remember the old [ones], and this is such an upgrade.”
The Radium Girl’s show dates are Nov. 20, 21, and 22 in the PHS auditorium. Tickets can be purchased on the PHS website.
