Silent Sky is inspired by the true story of Henrietta Leavitt, the astronomer ahead of her time and the women who worked along with her. It is 1900, and Henrietta 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 has 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.
Auditions: Sunday, December 2 (2pm to 3:30p) and Monday, December 3 (7pm to 8:30pm) These are good chunks of time to start with, but are you prepared to add more time to either of these days? There is a lot of interest for this one!
Callbacks (by invitation only): Wednesday, December 5, 2018 (7pm to 10pm)
Location: Edmonds Driftwood Players Rehearsal Annex – 200 Dayton Street, Edmonds
Director: Eric Bischoff Asst. Director: Olivia Ochoa
Requirements: Please come prepared with a 1 to 2-minute contemporary? monologue. Bring an updated headshot and resume.
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This production plays at The Wade James Theatre, home of Edmonds Driftwood Players from February 8-24, 2019. Performances are scheduled for Thursday – Saturday at 8pm and Sundays at 2pm.
*Special Note: Edmonds Driftwood Players’ production of Silent Sky will be competing at Kaleidoscope 2019 in Prosser, WA February 27-March 3, 2019 (specific date and time to be determined). Please include these dates when listing your conflicts on your audition survey. (Would you like to add anything else here?)
Rehearsal schedule will be finalized after casting, but will include Sunday-Thursday evenings (7 to 10pm).
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Time: 1900 to 1920
Cast of Characters:
Henrietta Leavitt: 30s, brilliant, meticulous, and passionate about her work at the Harvard Observatory. A bit awkward around people, she is focused and driven.
Margaret Leavitt: 30s, Henrietta’s sister. A nurturing homebody and exceptional composer of works for the piano, she loves Henrietta but has trouble comprehending her sister’s passionate dedication to her work as a computer.
Peter Shaw: 30s, the head astronomer’s assistant. At first dismissive of the contribution of the women computers, he comes to understand, appreciate and admire them for their work. He becomes Henrietta’s love interest.
Annie Cannon: 40s, terse and sure of herself. The leader of the group who becomes stronger and more dynamic over the span of 20 years. Grows to be what we might see as the modern woman.
Williamina Fleming: 50s/60s, smart and funny with a hint of a Scottish accent. A former housekeeper, she started the women’s division at the Observatory and is a mother figure to the group.
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Please visit: https://edmondsdriftwoodplayers.org/participate/auditions/ for more information and to schedule an audition appointment.
Edmonds Driftwood Players is an inclusive community that is committed to providing opportunities for actors from culturally diverse backgrounds.
Call the office at 425.774.9600 Tuesday – Friday from noon until 5pm, if you have questions.
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