Under the Dome: “Silent Sky” by Laura Gunderson

When Henrietta Leavitt begins work at the Harvard Observatory in the early 1900s, she isn’t allowed to touch a telescope or express an original idea. Instead, she joins a group of women “computers,” charting the stars for a renowned astronomer who calculates projects in “girl hours” and has no time for the women’s probing theories. As Henrietta attempts to measure the light and distance of stars in her free time, she must also take measure of her life on Earth, trying to balance her dedication to science with family obligations and the possibility of love.

In Silent Sky, playwright Laura Gunderson portrays the true story of early-twentieth-century astronomer Henrietta Leavitt, exploring a woman’s place in society during a time of immense scientific discoveries, when women’s ideas were dismissed until men claimed credit for them. Social progress, like scientific progress, can be hard to see when one is trapped among earthly complications; Henrietta Leavitt and her female peers believe in both, and their dedication changed the way we understand both the heavens and Earth.

Westchester’s River’s Edge Theatre Company was founded in 2019 with the mission to reflect the human experience, spark conversation, and inspire social change. In this reading, staged in the HRM Planetarium, they invite theatergoers to step to the outer limits of their comfort zone as they shed light on some of society’s most pressing issues.

Recommended for ages 12+. Capacity is limited.

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Photo: Tiffany Hagler-Geard