Silent Sky Auditions

Silent Sky tells  the true story of Henrietta Leavitt, a pioneering astronomer ahead of her time.  In 1900, she has the opportunity to work at Harvard University as a human computer, one of Dr. Edward Pickering’s “harem,” mapping the stars but receiving no scientific credit. When Henrietta arrives, she is eager to use Harvard’s telescope - the Great Refractor - but is told that she will not be able to do any sort of astronomical discovery as she will only log the stars photographed by the men of the department. However, Henrietta will not be dissuaded and begins the process of recording the changes in Cepheid stars - a scientific discovery that  had a profound and lasting impact on the field of astronomy. During her inquiry, Henrietta’s relationships strain under her obsessive work ethic; her sister Margaret, her love interest Peter Shaw, and her colleagues Annie Cannon and Williamina Fleming all find themselves pushed aside in favor of a great cosmic mystery. Silent Sky is the poignant tale of a woman’s dedication to the stars, and the human touch that makes life under the vast sky beautiful and timeless.

Character Sketches:

This play is rich in strong female roles and one for a male:

Henrietta Leavitt:  30’s Brilliant, meticulous, and practically minded,  deeply passionate about science. Ultimately discovers the method to measure the distance to stars that fundamentally changes our view of the Universe.

Margaret Leavitt: 30’s Henrietta’s younger sister. She is a talented musician, family-oriented, and a traditional homebody who balances Henrietta’s astronomical ambition with support from back home in Wisconsin. Must be able to sing. Facility with piano would be an asset, but not critical.

Peter Shaw: 30’s The head astronomer's apprentice and the women's supervisor at the observatory. He is awkward but well-meaning, originally harboring acting aspirations, and eventually falls in love with Henrietta. 

Annie Jump Cannon: 40’s Henrietta's terse, commanding, and fierce co-worker. She is a dedicated suffragette who makes significant scientific discoveries and acts as the leader of the women.

Williamina Fleming: 50’s Smart, witty, and fun, she is a Scottish astronomer who paved the way for female researchers at the observatory and acts as a mentor figure. 

Auditions will be held Wednesday, September 9th and Friday, September 11th from 7 to 9  PM at Backstage,  9350 Markham Road, next to the Markham Museum (Markham Rd/16th Avenue). Call backs if needed will be Sunday, September 13th from 10 to Noon. 

Rehearsals will begin in early to mid November. 

Tech Week - February 6-9

Performance Run - February 10-13 (2 shows on Saturday)

 Please contact the Director, Carl Gambacort at cgambacort@yahoo.com to reserve a spot and for further information.

Willow Quartet Auditions - Coming Soon

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ASSOCIATION OF COMMUNITY THEATRES - CENTRAL ONTARIO (ACT-CO)

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