For the first time since the COVID-19 pandemic hit, students in the Port Byron Central School District will perform their Jr.-Sr. High play in front of a live audience.

The students will perform “Radium Girls” this fall, a play written by D.W. Gregory that tells the story of female factory workers who contracted radiation poisoning from painting watch dials with self-luminous paint. The females in each factory – one in Orange, New Jersey, one in Ottawa, Illinois and one in Waterbury, Connecticut – ingested deadly amounts of radium after being instructed to “point” their brushes on their lips to give the brushes a fine tip.

While the play isn’t a big theatrical performance, seniors in the play said it’s been a fun play to get ready for. Last Spring, the Jr.-Sr. High School put on a virtual performance, but all the seniors agreed it wasn’t the same. Their preference is to perform with a live audience because they can feed off the audiences’ energy.

“Radium Girls” will be performed tonight and tomorrow at 7PM (doors open at 6PM) and on Saturday at 5PM (doors open at 4PM). Tickets, which can be purchased at the door, are $8 for general admission and $5 for students and senior citizens. The auditorium is limited to 50 percent capacity, so get there early!