Silent Sky by Lauren Gunderson
Set in the early 20th century, the play tells the inspiring true story of the astronomer Henrietta Leavitt. It explores the struggles and triumphs of a woman whose passion for astronomy challenged societal expectations and changed the way we understand the universe. With music and math bursting forth onstage, “Silent Sky” is an uplifting and thought-provoking theatrical experience. Appropriate for ages 10+.
February 23-March 17, Fridays & Saturdays 7:30pm; Sundays 2pm
ADDITIONAL EVENTS:
Trailblazing Women Art Gallery Showing, February 23-March 10.
Throughout the run of this production, Theatre in the Round will be showcasing portraits of women who have made significant contributions to STEM fields. These portraits, created by artist Sadie Ward, have been created from upcycled bras, which Ward calls Brart. “One of the ways to remove patriarchy in our society is to recreate faces that were actively erased by that patriarchal society,” says Ward,” Brart is a socially derived artform that requires the participation of community to fuel conversation, while actively repurposing textiles.”
Women in Astronomy Panel, Saturday, February 24.
This event, immediately following the performance if Silent Sky, will feature a panel of women in various career stages from the University of Minnesota School of Physics and Astronomy: Catherine Slaughter (Graduate Student, Astrophysics), Alexandra La Reste (Post-doctoral Researcher, Physics), and Claudia Scarlata (Professor, Director of the Minnesota Institute for Astrophysicists), moderated by Prisca Cushman (Professor, Physics).
Audience Discussion with the Cast & Dr. Roberta Humphreys, Sunday, March 10.
Audience members will be able to participate in a question-and-answer time with the cast and director of Silent Sky as well as stellar astrophysicist, Dr. Roberta Humphreys. Dr. Humphreys is an Honorary Fellow of the Royal Astronomical Society and a Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science. She led the Minnesota Automated Plate Scanner research group for over twenty years, creating a digitized, searchable catalog of the Palomar Observatory Sky Survey.
