When Henrietta Leavitt began work at the Harvard Observatory in the early 1900s, she wasn’t allowed to touch a telescope or express an original idea. Instead, she joined a group of female “computers,” charting the stars for a renowned astronomer who calculated projects in “girl hours” and had no time for the women’s probing theories. As Henrietta, in her free time, attempted to measure the light and distance of stars, she also took measure of her life on Earth, trying to balance her dedication to science with family obligations and the possibility of love. This true story of 19th-century astronomer Henrietta Leavitt was written by the Bay Area’s Lauren Gunderson, who has become America’s most produced playwright. It explores 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.
“Silent Sky” opens April 21st and runs through May 7th. Thursday evenings begin at 7:00pm, Friday and Saturday evenings at 8:00pm, and Sunday matinees at 2:00pm.
“ Lucky Penny’s production is among the best of several that this critic has seen...Adroitly directed by Dyan McBride, Lucky Penny’s Silent Sky is a lovely heart-warming production. Once you’ve seen it, you’ll never regard the stars the same way again.”
“The temptation is great to call The Silent Sky stellar. The play, which opened at Lucky Penny in Napa last Friday is as full of wonders as the night sky...OK, I will go ahead and call Lucky Penny’s new play “stellar.””