Fox Cities theater: 'Silent Sky' tells of Wisconsin woman who transformed understanding of space

What: Attic Theatre presents “Silent Sky”

When: 7 p.m. July 11 and 12; 2 p.m. July 13 and 14; 7 p.m. July 17, 18 and 19; and 2 p.m. July 20 and 21.

Where: UW-Oshkosh, Fox Cities Communication Arts Center, 1478 Midway Road, Menasha

Admission: $22 at attictheatreinc.com.

Background: “Silent Sky,” playwright Lauren Gunderson’s inspiring drama, tells the story of an exciting discovery and a woman ahead of her time. In the early 1900s, well over a decade before women gained the right to vote, Wisconsinite Henrietta Leavitt worked at Harvard University as a human “computer,” doing mathematical calculations for the resident astronomer but receiving no scientific credit. Her curiosity, hard work, and dedication broke new ground that transformed the field of astronomy and unlocked our understanding of the vastness of the universe.

What they’re saying: “Henrietta Leavitt is an unsung hero. I feel absolutely honored to play such a visionary who dedicated her life to the pursuit of her passions: astronomy and searching for truths of the universe,” said Madysen Schmidt, playing the lead role. “Her work was pivotal in understanding space and yet, she still feels like someone you could encounter in passing. Her story is an incredible one and I’m so grateful to be part of a group of individuals (on and off stage) that can bring her story to life.”

Take-home message: "We often overlook the awesome wonders of the universe,” said director Carol Jegen. “The recent eclipse and inspiring Northern Lights remind us the stars always have plenty of mysteries for us, if we just remember to look up. In 1908, as a woman she was not even allowed to use the telescope, but through the power of her imagination, astronomer Henrietta Leavitt and her sister ‘computers’ overcame narrow-minded resistance to women in science, and made remarkable contributions to astronomy. ... Our staging of the play concludes with breathtaking images from the Hubble Telescope, revealing the beauty and magnificence of far off stars, nebulas, and galaxies.”

Submitted by Pam Saulnier, Attic Theatre.