The message of "Radium Girls," a play that will be performed by Donegal Performing Arts (DPA), is a simple one, said Elena Jenney, who plays a lead character in the show.

"Fight for what you believe in," she said. "Fight for your friends and family, even if everyone might not support you. It's important to have a voice and speak up for what you think is right."

Based on a true story, "Radium Girls" highlights the pitfalls of using radium - once touted as a miracle cure-all - to paint luminous watch faces in the 1920s. When the girls who paint the watch dials begin to get sick, they uncover the truth that they're being poisoned by radium. They fight for their day in court, led by Grace Fryer, portrayed by Elena, a Donegal freshman.

"I like historical plays, so this has been really cool to be a part of," she said, noting that, like her character, she initially resisted being in the spotlight. She changed her mind when she learned more about the story.

"When I first read through Grace's part, I thought, 'Wow, I have so many things in common with her,'" she said. "I can put myself into the character because I already know what she feels like in many ways. Even though it's a sad play, it's an important story to tell. It's something to pull on your heartstrings. It's engaging, it's encapsulating, and it shows a part of labor that you wouldn't normally think about."

Sophomore Elijah Barlett portrays Arthur Roeder, Grace's former employer and a man struggling with reconciling what he believed to be true with reality.

"I've really liked diving into the different layers of this character," Elijah shared. "I've been working on trying to get across that Arthur isn't truly a bad person. It's just a bad situation."

The show is a bit of a departure from DPA's usually comedic fare, said Nathan Frey, a junior who plays Edward Markley. His character, a defense attorney for the U.S. Radium Corporation, has been a challenge to perfect.

"What I'm having fun with this character is this is my first time playing a character who is not even arguably a gray area character," he said. "Markley's a bad guy, and I'm kind of having fun with that. I'm excited to see audience reactions to my character. I don't think they're going to like me very much, and I've never had that experience on stage before, so I'm excited to see what that will bring."

Like her castmates, junior Rachel Wallace was not familiar with the story before joining the cast.

She's enjoying participating in a show that highlights female empowerment and seeking justice for people who have been wronged.

Rachel, who portrays Katherine Wiley, did her own research into the story to better understand the characters.

"There's a bit of a weight on your shoulders to properly portray these true characters who have been through these real things," she said, adding that while her character might seem like a good person on the surface, there's more to her underneath. "My character is a legal advocate for Grace ... but she's really only doing it for her own gain. She wants the publicity, the fame and the money. It's been challenging to act so evil at times."

That's the core of the play, she noted: human fallibility.

"Everyone has their own flaws, and that's what makes these characters so human," she said.

"Radium Girls" was written by D.W. Gregory, a playwright who hails from Lancaster County. It's been well-received by critics who have praised its powerful and engrossing storyline.

Audiences should come prepared to learn about an overlooked part of history and to connect with the story, said Elijah, adding, "Be prepared for an emotional experience."

The show is directed by Brianna Wilhelm, a 2017 Donegal graduate and veteran of DPA. Performances will be held at 7:30 p.m. on Friday and Saturday, Nov. 22 and 23, as well as at 2 p.m. on Sunday, Nov. 24, at Donegal High School, 1025 Koser Road, Mount Joy. For more information and to purchase tickets, visit http://www.dpa.donegalsd.org.