CENTER THEATER COMPANY'S 

Silent Sky, by Lauren Gunderson brings to light the often-overlooked contributions of women in science, celebrating their achievements and acknowledging the challenges they faced. Through Henrietta Swan Leavitt's story, the play sheds light on the historical context of women in astronomy and their enduring impact on the field.

DIRECTED BY: TRACY BERSLEY

Friday September 6th 7:30 PM
Saturday September 7th 2:00 PM
Saturday September 14th 7:30 PM
Sunday September 15th 2:00PM

Saturday September 7th 7:30
Sunday September 8th 2:00PM
Friday September 13th 7:30PM
Saturday September 14th 2:00PM

Historical Background

Setting and Time Period: The play is set in the early 1900s, primarily at the Harvard College Observatory in Cambridge, Massachusetts. This was a time when women were rarely acknowledged in the scientific community and often relegated to subordinate roles.

Harvard College Observatory: At this time, the observatory was under the direction of Edward Charles Pickering, who employed women, known as "computers," to process astronomical data. These women worked on cataloging and analyzing astronomical data, especially the measurement of the brightness of stars, using photographic plates.

Role of Women in Science: The early 20th century was a period of limited opportunities for women in science. Despite this, many women made significant, though often unrecognized, contributions. They were typically paid less and given little credit for their discoveries.

Henrietta Swan Leavitt: The protagonist of Silent Sky, Leavitt was one of these "computers." She worked on a project that involved studying Cepheid variable stars, a type of star that varies in brightness over a regular period. Her work led to the discovery of the period-luminosity relationship, which became crucial for measuring astronomical distances and understanding the scale of the universe.

Leavitt's Discovery: Leavitt's discovery of the period-luminosity relationship for Cepheid variables provided astronomers with a "standard candle" for measuring the distance to faraway galaxies. This breakthrough laid the groundwork for future astronomers like Edwin Hubble to determine that the universe is expanding.

Impact on Astronomy: Leavitt's work fundamentally changed the field of astronomy, allowing for a better understanding of the size and structure of the universe. Her findings were instrumental in shifting the perception of the Milky Way as the entire universe to the concept of multiple galaxies.

Young Company A: Friday, May 10th @ 7:30pm, Saturday, May 18th @ 3:30pm, Sunday, May 19th @7:30pm

Young Company B: Saturday, May 11th @ 7:30pm, Friday, May 17th @ 7:30pm, Saturday, May 18th @ 7:30pm

Jr Company A: Thursday, May 9th @ 6:30pm, Saturday, May 11th @ 3:30pm, Wednesday, May 15th @ 6:30pm, Sunday, May 19th @ 12:00pm

Jr Company B: Saturday, May 11th @ 12:00pm, Thursday, May 16th @ 6:30pm, Saturday, May 18th @ 12:00pm, Sunday, May 19th @ 3:30pm

CAST A: June 7th @ 6:00pm, June 8th @3:00pm, June 9th @12:00pm

CAST B: June 8th @ 12:00pm, June 8th @6:00pm, June 9th @5:00pm

CAST A:

Macbeth ...................................................................................................................Grace Kent

Lady Macbeth ....................................................................……................Scarlet Kavanaugh

Banquo...............................................................................................................Giovanni Pinton

McDuff.................................................................................……………….……………..Tristan Hock

Witch 1, Ross, Fleance, Gentlelady…......................................................…Madeline Paul

Witch 2, Malcolm...................................................................................................Molly Peak

Witch 3, Donalbain ..............................................................................................Aaron Noel

Duncan, Doctor ..............................................................................................Violet Swanson

ENSEMBLE…………………………………………………Ross Minze, ZuZu Bersley, Patrick Nyiri 

CAST B:

Macbeth ...................................................................................................................Grace Kent

Lady Macbeth ......................................................................................................Zuzu Bersley

Banquo.........................................................................................................………….Ross Minze

McDuff, Ensemble......................…..................................................…..................Patrick Nyiri

Witch 1, Ross, Fleance, Gentlelady.……………............................................Madeline Paul

Witch 2, Malcolm, Ensemble..............................................................................Molly Peak

Witch 3, Donalbain, Ensemble .........................................................................Aaron Noel

Duncan, Doctor ..............................................................................................Violet Swanson

ENSEMBLE………………………………..Scarlet Kavanaugh, Giovanni Pinton, Tristan Hock

Show Schedule

Friday 7pm - Cast A

Saturday 2pm - Cast A

Saturday 7pm - Cast B

Sunday 2pm - Cast B

Cast A

WAYNE HOPKINS— Jack Tanner

OLIVER RIVERS— Cole Moore

MEGAN JONES— Campbell Sparks

NARRATOR— Zuzu Bersley

Cast B

WAYNE HOPKINS— Stella Swingler

OLIVER RIVERS— Piper Knight

MEGAN JONES— Grace Kent

NARRATOR— Quincy Emmet

ERNIE MAC and A VERY TALL MAN / SEAMUS / A CERTAIN POTIONS TEACHER / PROFESSOR TURBAN / GHOST HISTORY TEACH / PROFESSOR LOCKY / MR. NICK / SAL / SECOND HEADMASTER / REAL MR. MOODY- Evelyn Pattishall

HANNAH and FIRST HEADMASTER / PROFESSOR MCG / PROFESSOR SPROUTTY / XAVIA JONES / PROFESSOR LANNY / RUNES TEACH / MS. BABBLE— Esther Beardsley

FINCH FLETCHLEY and UNCLE DAVE / GOYLE / A FAT FRIAR / CLUMSY LONGBOTTOM / HERMEOONE #3 / VIKTOR / MR.BAGMAN / ZACH SMITH— Dory Buckley

LEANNE and GINNY / HELGA / FRENCHY— Lorelei Chernoff 

SALLY PERKS and HERMEOONE / BLONDO MALFOY / ROWENA / RITA SCOOTER / BIPPY— Oriana Todd

SUSIE BONES and HARRY / COLIN / HERMEOONE #2 / RIC GRYFF /MYRTLE— Emma Harrison

CEDRIC and MR. VOLDY— Theo Kaye

DEATH BUDDIES to be played by all.

Cast A

James Cole
Althea Chang
Shyanne Gillam
Isla Martin
Winnie Weeks
Addie Romm
Evangelina (Evie) Fotheringham
Dottie Gillam
Julia Sa
Stella Petrucelli
Elle Knoll
Edward Waters
Alexis (Lexi) Vessey
Ezra Lunk
June Reynolds
Auden Cirera Sauder
Ephraim (Pippi) Bolick
Halle McBroom
Eliana Morosoff
Louisa (Lulu) Schwarz
Quin Clarke
Shae Geralds
Alessia Morosoff
Amelia Moody
Norah Hiller

Cast B

Harriet “Hattie” Wendell
Amelia McMahon
Karen Cater
Ishy Harris
Serena Abrahamson
Jillian Ewing
Marion Frazier
Elliott Juras
Sarah Baysden
Katherine “Katie” Baysden
Larkin Nieman
Cora Whitaker
Poppy Chafin
Elizabeth Pfeister
Miles Kotzen
Campbell Althoff
Cecilia Bokoch
Quinn Robinson
Eleanor Petrucelli
Danielle Austein
Millie Morales
Elliot Whitson
Miles Goldsmith
Vivian Gellman