Silent Sky by Lauren Gunderson

Silent Sky

WRITTEN BY LAUREN GUNDERSON

ORIGINAL MUSIC BY JENNY GIERING

COMMISSIONED AND FIRST PRODUCED By SOUTH coast repertory with support from the elizabeth george foundation

DIRECTED BY NORAH LONG

CAST

Henrietta Swan Leavitt: Julianna Crandall

Margaret Leavitt: Sydney Heitzman

Peter Shaw: Zechariah Ciske

Annie Cannon: Olivia Voerster

Williamina Fleming: Sarah Graham

PRODUCTION TEAM

Production Manager & Director: Norah Long*

Scenic Designers: Norah Long* and Corry Hammett

Costume Designer & Construction: Kathy Kohl

Wig & Hair Designer: Kathy Kohl

Sound Designer: Norah Long*

Lighting Designer & Programmer: Wesley Cone

Intimacy Consultant: Annie Enneking

Dialect Consultant: Keely Wolter

Production Stage Manager: Noelle Preston

Assistant Stage Manager: Ryan Knight

Dramaturg: Norah Long*

Music Editing: Ryan Knight

Light Board Operator: Noelle Preston

Sound Board Operator: Beatrice Lungu

Set Construction Lead: Corry Hammett

Construction Crew: Kenny Buhl, Beverly Hammett

Publicity Design: Eric Berg

Supplemental lighting equipment, set dressing and props provided by: University of Minnesota Department of Theatre Arts & Dance Nautilus Music-Theater

SPECIAL THANKS

Bill Healey

Ursula Bowden

Gopher Lighting

Chris Jacobs

Briegette Kirchman

Eric Berg

Susan Ramlet

Jayna DeMell

Hannah Sawczak

Erica Hanson

Chloe Eckstein

Parker Wruck

Michaela Leist

Tessana Krueger

Meg Breithaupt

Vincent Zarletti

Josh Tompkins

The Costume Collective

LETTER FROM THE DIRECTOR

With any work of art, interpretations and takeaways are myriad as the stars, limited only to — or by — the minds which do the interpreting. Our play is no different, and it’s hard to know what to say in a paragraph or two which will even begin to feel substantive alongside our story today. On its surface, the story of our play is evident, like our Milky Way: three women working in the Harvard Observatory at the turn of the 20th century, being told it is not their place to do the discovering yet discovering things anyway, unlocking along the way some of the most trajectory-changing secrets of the cosmos. While the characters in our play are not all historical, our three female scientists are, as is their science. Henrietta Leavitt, Annie Jump Cannon, and Williamina Fleming (among so many other women) had the creative minds, curiosity and inimitable drive to look beyond the static photographic plates handed to them and dare to ask why, how, what else, what more. We also are often handed plates in life, static representations of others’ views, and told our job is to log them while not looking through the telescope for ourselves. Henrietta encourages us to not stop there. She inspires us to engage more fully, to use our creative and inquiring minds to ask, explore, challenge. And, perhaps (hopefully) in doing so, our own silent sky will break open for us, and we too will understand more fully the music of the spheres. May all our minds enter in — to this theater space, our relationships, our faith, and every vast space where we only see dimly — with openness and curiosity and humility and eagerness. May we approach all our days with deep wonder: a willingness to recognize how much we do not yet know, in order to expand our hunger to learn. Happy Women’s History Month.

Norah Long, Director

SEE FOR YOURSELF

To see the digitized collection of over 500,000 original star plates and learn more about the pioneering women astronomical computers at the Harvard Observatory, visit: https://library.cfa.harvard.edu/plate-stacks

TIMELINE OF SELECTED HISTORICAL EVENTS

1876: Telephone invented.

1878: Phonograph invented.

1879: Incandescent lightbulb invented.

1882: U.S. House and Senate appoint committees on women’s suffrage; each report favorably.

1886: The suffrage amendment is defeated two to one in the U.S. Senate.

1888: The first successful roll-film hand camera, the Kodak, is launched.

1890: National Woman Suffrage Association and American Woman Suffrage Association merge to form the National American Woman Suffrage Association. Their focus turns to working at the state level.

1891: Thomas Edison develops an electric incandescent lamp. Nikola Tesla invents the Tesla Coil.

1893: Henrietta begins work at Harvard Observatory.

1894: Despite 600,000 signatures, a petition for woman suffrage is ignored in New York.

1895: The New York State Association Opposed to Woman Suffrage is founded.

1900: The flyswatter (“Fly-Killer”) is patented.

1901: President McKinley is assassinated and Teddy Roosevelt sworn in as President. First transatlantic radio transmission. Annie Cannon creates her O B A F G K M star classification. First Nobel Prizes awarded.

1902: First electric hearing aid is invented by Miller Reese Hutchison.

1903: Wright Brothers’ first powered flight.

1905: Einstein’s first articles about relativity are published.

1906: Harriot Stanton Blatch forms the Equality League of Self Supporting Women, with a membership based on professional and industrial working women; it initiates the practice of holding suffrage parades.

1908: Henrietta first publishes her data, noting a pattern in variable stars (cepheids). Henry Ford’s Model T hits the market. Hans Geiger and Ernest Rutherford devise a counter for alpha particles, work that leads to Rutherford’s nuclear theory of the atom, for which he wins the 1908 Nobel Prize in chemistry.

1909: NAACP founded by W.E.B. Du Bois.

1910: Williamina Fleming discovers the first white dwarf star. Women’s Political Union organizes America’s first large-scale suffrage parade, held in NYC, where 3,000 people march.

1912: The Titanic sinks. Henrietta publishes a full paper documenting her Period-Luminosity relationship.

1913: Ejnar Hertzsprung uses Henrietta’s finding to measure distance to cepheids within the Milky Way. The Senate votes on a women’s suffrage amendment, but it does not pass.

1914: Montana grants suffrage to women.

1915: Einstein publishes his work on general relativity, a decade-long effort. Black holes are discovered.

1916: First woman is elected to US Congress (Jeanette Rankin, Montana, a suffragist). Woodrow Wilson promises that the Democratic Party Platform will endorse women’s suffrage.

1917: The National Woman’s Party is the first group to picket the White House, beginning in January. In June, arrests begin. Nearly 500 women are arrested; 168 women serve jail time. The New York state constitution grants suffrage to women, the first Eastern state to fully enfranchise women.

1918: The jailed suffragists are released from prison; appellate court rules all the arrests were illegal. The 19th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, which eventually granted women suffrage, passes the U.S. House with exactly a two-thirds vote, but loses by two votes in the Senate.

1919: First transatlantic flight.

1920: 19th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution is ratified, stating, “The right of citizens of the United States to vote shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any State on account of sex.” League of Women Voters created. Henrietta is made head of Stellar Photometry at Harvard Observatory.

1921: Henrietta dies of ovarian cancer.

1923-24: Edwin Hubble measures Cepheids in the Andromeda Galaxy, proving that the universe is far bigger than the Milky Way.

1926: Unaware of her death four years prior, Swedish mathematician Gosta Mittag-Leffler writes to Henrietta, saying he is considering nominating her for the 1926 Nobel Prize in Physics. Harlow Shapley, the new director of the observatory, suggested in his reply to Mittag-Leffler that the real credit belonged to him, Shapley, for his interpretation of her findings.

ABOUT THE HISTORICAL CHARACTERS

HENRIETTA LEAVITT (Born: July 4th 1868, Lancaster, Massachusetts; Died: December 12, 1921, Cambridge, Massachusetts)

During the course of her work under Pickering, Henrietta studied variable stars, which are stars that show different levels of brightness at different times, discovering about 2,400 variable stars between 1907 and 1921 (when she died). In 1912 she published a paper entitled, “Periods of 25 Variable Stars in the Small Magellanic Clouds.” The findings presented in this paper provided the foundational work necessary for later astronomers to determine the distance between objects in space, and her discovery became known as Leavitt’s Law (also known as the Period-Luminosity Relation) which states that there is a straight line relation between a Cepheid variable star’s intrinsic luminosity (true brightness) and the log of its period. Although she went uncredited for several decades and was unable to contribute to follow-up research, her discoveries went on to influence the work of Edwin Hubble, precipitated space travel, and contributed to numerous other means of scientific discovery. Mathematician Gösta Mittag-Leffler, a member of the Swedish Academy of Sciences, tried to nominate her for the Nobel Prize in 1925, only to learn that she had died of cancer three years earlier. (The Nobel Prize is not awarded posthumously.) Cepheid variables allow astronomers to measure distances up to about 60 million light years.

ANNIE CANNON (Born: December 11, 1863, Dover, Delaware; Died: April 13, 1941, Cambridge, Massachusetts) While working for Pickering, Cannon published several articles on Stellar Spectra in numerous journals, worked on the Henry Draper Catalogue, received the Draper Gold Medal, and was the recipient of numerous grants. Cannon developed the system of spectral classification which organized stars by color. Later into her work, the O B A F G K M categories were discovered. They did not just relate to color, but also temperature and size, as these three characteristics of a star are intrinsically connected. To this day, the classification system she developed is one of the foundational concepts in astronomy education. And yes, they still use “Oh Be A Fine Girl, Kiss Me” to remember the star classification categories. After publishing her first paper in 1901, Cannon was made Head of Photometry, the department responsible for analyzing star plates, at Harvard and became one of the first women to receive an honorary doctorate from a European University. She still holds the record for most stars classified in a lifetime at over 500,000; at the peak of her career she could classify three stars a minute. Every year the American Astronomers’ Society hands out the Annie Jump Cannon Award to that year’s most prominent female astronomer. Though Cannon retired in 1940, she continued her work until a few weeks prior to her death in 1944.

WILLIAMINA FLEMING (Born: May 15, 1857, Dundee, Scotland; Died: May 21, 1911, Boston, Massachusetts)

While having no formal higher education, in her 30-year career working for Pickering and later Harlow Shapley, Fleming personally classified some 10,000 stars and discovered 10 novae, 310 variable stars, and 59 gaseous nebulae — including the iconic Horsehead Nebula (though her work here went uncredited.) She also recognized the existence of earth-sized stars later named white dwarfs. Despite having made massive contributions to the Draper Catalogue, Fleming’s name along with all the names of her female peers were omitted in favor of a simple “Pickering” citation. In 1893, she published an article in the journal Astronomy & Astrophysics called “A Field for Women’s Work in Astronomy,” advocating for more women to work in the sciences. Fleming was placed in charge of the computing department after Annie Cannon’s promotion to Head of Photometry in 1899, after almost 20 years at the Observatory, before being promoted to Curator of Astronomical Photographs, making her the first woman ever to hold a Harvard University title. In this role, Fleming became the supervisor of about 15 other women and used her new position to protest the unequal pay the women received, though she was unable to convince Pickering that they should receive higher pay. In 1906 she was made an honorary member of the Royal Astronomical Society and named an honorary fellow in astronomy at Wellesley College, and in 1910 she was awarded the gold medal of the Mexican Academy of Sciences. As a single mother, she also put her son through the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

ABOUT THE ACTORS

Julianna Crandall (Henrietta) is thrilled to be returning to the North Central stage! She is a junior studying Creative Writing and Theatre. She has previously appeared at NCU in The Trip as Vicki, Almost, Maine as Gayle, and Pride and Prejudice as Charlotte. Her future plans involve going wherever the Lord wants her to and having fun. She would like to thank her parents and siblings for being her constant supporters and companions, as well as Jesus for being the truest friend. All glory to God!

Sydney Heitzman (Margaret) is a senior Global Studies major with a Theatre track. Her past shows at NCU include The Wizard of Oz, Almost, Maine, Pride & Prejudice, Godspell, and NCU’s Traveling Acting Ensemble. Sydney would like to thank Norah Long and the production team for making her last show at North Central a great experience; Wayne Matthews for the memories made in NCU Theatre over the past 4 years; her family and fianceé for supporting her faithfully; and God for being good through it all.

Zechariah Ciske (Peter) is a Freshman at North Central University. Zech is newer to the acting scene. He started acting in 4th grade with some small roles in community theater in the small town of St. James, Minnesota. After that, he took a break until his senior year of high school, when he played the role of Wadsworth in the play Clue. Zech likes all kinds of sports and music and is able to talk to have a conversation with anyone.

Olivia Voerster (Annie). Some of Olivia’s favorite roles have been Mrs. Bennet in Pride and Prejudice and Jan in Grease!. She would like to shout out Norah Long for being an amazing director and all of the cast for being so kind and awesome during the rehearsal process!

Sarah Graham (Williamina) is a Vocal Music Education major who’s heart lies with children and theatre. She grew up in the spotlight being in her first show at the age of 4. Some of her favorite roles have included Mrs. Paroo in The Music Man, Disciple in Godspell, Hope in Almost, Maine, and Aunt Em/ Glinda in The Wizard of Oz. She would like to thank her family and her voice and theatre professor, Norah Long, for always supporting her and pushing her into greater things. Sarah hopes you enjoy the show and that you can understand her accent. Thank you for coming out.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Lauren Gunderson (Playwright) is a playwright, screenwriter, and short story author from Atlanta, Georgia. She received her BA in English/ Creative Writing at Emory University, and her MFA in Dramatic Writing at NYU Tisch. She was named the most produced living playwright in America by American Theatre Magazine in 2016 and was awarded the 2016 Lanford Wilson Award from the Dramatist Guild. Her work has received national praise and awards including being a Steinberg/ATCA New Play Award winner, a Susan Smith Blackburn finalist, a Jane Chambers Award finalist, and winner of the Berrilla Kerr Award for American Theatre, Global Age Project, Young Playwrights Award, Eric Bentley New Play Award and Essential Theatre Prize. She received a Sloan Science & Film Award (2008) for her screenplay Grand Unification, and her short story “The Ascending Life” won the Norumbega Fiction Award and was published in the anthology The Shape of Content. She has spoken nationally and internationally on the intersection of science and theatre and Arts Activism, and teaches playwriting in San Francisco. Find her on X @LalaTellsAStory.

ABOUT THE PRODUCTION TEAM

Norah Long (Director/Production Coordinator) has spent the majority of her 30-year professional arts career on stage, performing well over 100 leading roles across many genres for theaters including the Guthrie, Ordway Center, Chanhassen Dinner Theatres, Paper Mill Playhouse, Penumbra, History Theater, Jungle, Ten Thousand Things, Theatre de la Jeune Lune, Opera America, Arvada Center, Riverside Theatre, Opera Roanoke, Children’s Theater Company, Nautilus Music-Theater, Skylark Opera, Florida Stage, and many others. Her concert credits as a soloist span the US, Europe, Asia, and Latin America and include world premieres with MN Orchestra, St. Paul Chamber Orchestra, and Cuba’s National Symphony. Among her other professional arts hats, Norah has enjoyed directing, music directing, composing, writing, and scenic painting. She is a founding member and taught for 10 years with Upstream Arts, a local non-profit dedicated to fostering social skills in the disability community through arts curriculum. Norah has led worship and a variety of music programming for St. Philip the Deacon ELCA Church since 1994 and has been an Adjunct Professor of Voice and Theater for the College of Fine Arts at North Central University since 2015, where she teaches private voice and theater lessons, classroom courses, and has previously directed Doubt and Into the Woods. Watch for her this summer in the world premiere of Johnny Skeeky at Theater Latté Da. For more information, visit www.norahlong.com.

Wesley Cone (Lighting Designer) is based in the Twin Cities and current 3rd year MFA at the University of Minnesota. Credits include Millbrook Playhouse: Escape to Margaritaville, Double Trouble, The Roommate, Boeing Boeing; UMN: Silent Sky, Troilus & Cressida, Pride and Prejudice, The Mother - A Rock Musical, Medea, Alchemy of Desire/Dead Man’s Blues.

Corry Hammett (Scenic Designer) is a graduate of North Central (class of 2014) and is a freelance stage manager and designer around the Twin Cities. Over the last decade, she has continued to support students of the NCU Theatre Department as a production manager and design consultant on numerous productions, including The Sound of Music, Yours Anne, A Raisin in the Sun, Steel Magnolias, Little Women – the Musical, The Secret Garden, A Man for All Seasons, Doubt, Anne of Green Gables, The Importance of Being Earnest, and The Wizard of Oz. Outside of NCU, Corry has worked as a designer with Chaska Valley Family Theatre (Oklahoma), Holy Family Catholic High School (The Little Mermaid, Willy Wonka) and Faith Community Theatre (Harvey). She is incredibly grateful for the artistic home and community that the NCU Theatre Department has provided since arriving as a transfer student back in 2011 and is honored to collaborate with Norah and NCU theatre students on this final, beautiful production, Silent Sky. (PS! I would like to thank my husband, Kenny, for his incredible support of my artistic passion- even if it means weird dinner schedules).

Kathy Kohl (Costume Designer) has designed costumes for most of the Twin Cities theatres for well over four decades. 2023-24 season credits include Alive & Kickin’ (REnaissance), Skylark Opera (Three Decembers), Shakespearean Youth Theatre (King Lear), Open Eye Theatre (Loch Mess, Scrooge in Rouge), Frank Theatre (Fetal), Commonweal Theatre (She Loves Me), Fox and Beggar Theatre (Vanaheimr). Currently she is mentoring costume design students at Macalester College’s Theatre/Dance Department, as well as designing two dance showpieces there. Kathy retired from Norcostco in 2018 after 20 years as Head Costumer, and has now turned her attention to Nordeast Minneapolis, where she is co-founder of The Costume Collective, the Twin Cities’ newest and largest costume rental business.

Annie Enneking (Intimacy Consultant) is a stage violence and intimacy choreographer, as well as an actor, musician, songwriter, dancer, and director. Her work in these capacities has been seen on nearly every stage in the Twin Cities including the Guthrie, Park Square, Frank Theatre, Dark and Stormy Productions, Theatre Latte Da, Ten Thousand Things Theater, The Jungle Theater, and The Children’s Theatre. She is a full instructor with Dueling Arts International, and teaches the art of stage combat at the University of Minnesota in the BA and BFA Guthrie Training Program. A 2010 Playwright’s Center McKnight Theater Artist Fellow, Annie has also received funding for her theatrical music performance events through the Jerome Foundation and the Minnesota State Arts Board. She is the front woman and founder of the rock band Annie and the Bang Bang.

Keely Wolter (Dialect Consultant) is a Voice and Speech Coach based in Minneapolis with nearly 15 years of professional experience. She works primarily with actors on stage and in film coaching accents/dialects, vocal production, text, and speech work. She has taught voice and speech at the University level, and coaches voice-over and accent modification for non-actors. Additionally, she is a mom of two and Founder of The Talk Toolbox.

Noelle Preston (Production Stage Manager) is a junior at NCU studying psychology with a minor in theatre. She is excited to stage manage at NCU for Silent Sky. She had previously directed a short scene at NCU and is excited to take the next step in theatre tech. She would like to thank you all for taking time to come see this show.

Ryan Knight (Assistant Stage Manager) is a recent graduate from North Central University and was heavily involved in the theatre program throughout his time there. This is his first time as part of a tech team and he is thankful for the opportunity to help at NCU one last time. Ryan would like to thank his fiancée Sydney and all the people he met through theatre at North Central for giving him joy and helping him find out who he is.