‘Silent Sky’ production features life story of astronomer Henrietta Leavitt

The sky’s the limit, especially for the protagonist of Liberty’s latest theater production “Silent Sky.” 

Set in the early 20th century, the play tells the story of an American astronomer by the name of Henrietta Leavitt as she makes world-altering calculations and discoveries at the Harvard Observatory. These discoveries would lead other astronomers, such as Edwin Hubble, to find galaxies beyond the Milky Way.

Henrietta is passionate and hardworking as she accepts a position at the observatory alongside Annie Cannon and Williamina Fleming, other female “computers” as they are called. These women, all successful astronomers in their own right, find themselves in the minority among many male colleagues as they break tradition in order to make their scientific dreams come true.

Dreams can change, however, which is something Henrietta realizes after meeting an apprentice at the observatory, Peter Shaw. With this new love interest and with her sister Margaret’s pleas that she make more time for family, Henrietta must learn how to find the right work-life balance.

“I think the majority message overall is the balance between pursuing your passion and what you are called to do and … your family and your social life and your romantic interests and that kind of thing,” Alex Schultz, the sophomore acting major who portrays Peter, said. “We have gained so much from (Henrietta’s achievements), but she lost a lot to pursue what she did.”

Schultz’s character is fictional but allows the audience to consider what it might have been like for Henrietta to manage both her relationships and her desire to study constellations and galaxies. Another key message in the play is to be mindful of the present while looking to the future, something Henrietta learns along the way and a sentiment that lead actress, Laura Danko, also appreciates.

“It’s very bittersweet, and it’s very beautiful,” Danko, a junior musical theatre major, said. “It gets your brain kind of going and thinking about relating different things to your own life … and just kind of finding what the point is … and seeing what might be right in front of you that you’re missing (because you are) always looking at something else or looking ahead at something.”

The small cast and intimate setting of the Black Box Theater bring the monumental achievements of Henrietta and her colleagues down to earth. With a simple stage and close seating, audience members actively share in the experience together as they celebrate with Henrietta at the peak of her discoveries, laugh and smile at her friendship with Margaret and her colleagues and root for her romance with Peter. The smaller cast and the ability to fuel their creativity under the guidance of director and professor Chris Nelson are things both Schultz and Danko agreed they enjoyed about rehearsing this production. 

“We’ve been able to make really strong connections with each other, which has just led to a really great level of comfortability on stage,” Danko said.

“Silent Sky” will be showing in the Black Box Theater from March 24 to April 2. For more information or to purchase tickets, visit their website.

Malanowski is a feature reporter for the Liberty Champion