Silent Sky

by Lauren Gunderson

Astonishing discoveries await Henrietta Leavitt as she maps distant stars in galaxies beyond our own. But this brilliant, headstrong pioneer must struggle for recognition in the man’s world of turn-of-the-century astronomy. In this musical blend of science, history, family ties, and fragile love, a passionate young woman must map her own passage through a society determined to keep a woman in her place. This...

Astonishing discoveries await Henrietta Leavitt as she maps distant stars in galaxies beyond our own. But this brilliant, headstrong pioneer must struggle for recognition in the man’s world of turn-of-the-century astronomy. In this musical blend of science, history, family ties, and fragile love, a passionate young woman must map her own passage through a society determined to keep a woman in her place. This true story dives into the romance, wonder and sisterhood of science in the early 20th century female “computers” at Harvard Observatory.

Jane Chambers Award top Finalist 2013.

See research, pictures, essays, and more about the play: silentskyplay.tumblr.com

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Silent Sky

Recommended by

  • Maria Puig: Silent Sky

    Silent Sky is an absolutely beautiful play about female friendship and going beyond expectations! The dialogue is beautiful and funny and the play as a whole is incredibly inspiring. This play also places a spotlight on a group of women which have been forgotten by history and elevates their stories.

    Silent Sky is an absolutely beautiful play about female friendship and going beyond expectations! The dialogue is beautiful and funny and the play as a whole is incredibly inspiring. This play also places a spotlight on a group of women which have been forgotten by history and elevates their stories.

  • Ricardo Soltero-Brown: Silent Sky

    A brilliant, but (according to some) starry-eyed woman is given what she initially considers to be grunt work and still manages to change the world. This piece bursts with poetry while following Henrietta Leavitt's personal and professional journey, all the while managing to remind us of historical context. When the climax comes, the weight of a life's work is genuinely felt.

    A brilliant, but (according to some) starry-eyed woman is given what she initially considers to be grunt work and still manages to change the world. This piece bursts with poetry while following Henrietta Leavitt's personal and professional journey, all the while managing to remind us of historical context. When the climax comes, the weight of a life's work is genuinely felt.

  • Mark Rigney: Silent Sky

    It's such a great pleasure to watch a play, as it comes to a close, rise up and gather itself and deliver a serious emotional punch. SILENT SKY does that and more, providing laughs, connection, and the solid common sense to treat the audience as intelligent enough to follow both the science and human relationships. A delightful piece, and I'm so glad to have discovered it.

    It's such a great pleasure to watch a play, as it comes to a close, rise up and gather itself and deliver a serious emotional punch. SILENT SKY does that and more, providing laughs, connection, and the solid common sense to treat the audience as intelligent enough to follow both the science and human relationships. A delightful piece, and I'm so glad to have discovered it.

View all 6 recommendations

Development History

  • Type Commission, Organization South Coast Rep, Year 2010

Production History

  • Type Professional, Organization Theatrical Outfit, Year 2015
  • Type Professional, Organization TheatreWorks, Year 2014
  • Type Professional, Organization South Coast Rep, Year 2011

Awards

  • Jane Chambers Award
    Finalist
    2015