Annie Cannon News

At the dawn of modern astronomy, Henrietta Leavitt leaves her home and beloved sister to work in Harvard's male-driven observatory and map the night sky. She forms a new sisterhood with her fellow star "computers," Annie and Williamina, and begins to fall in love with her supervisor, Peter Shaw. As Henrietta makes a revolutionary discovery about where the Earth is in time and space, she must fight to be heard in a world where women's ideas are dismissed until men take credit for them. A celestial romance and a true story of determination, Silent Sky invites you to revel in the magic of the universe on this historic journey of love, family, feminism and science.

SILENT SKY, the entrancing play by Lauren Gunderson, based on the real-life story of pioneering female astronomer Henrietta Leavitt, shows through December 6 on the Main Street Theater stage.

Main Street Theater (MST) is extending the run of SILENT SKY by Lauren Gunderson through December 6. This production marks the Houston premiere of any of Gunderson's works and the Texas premiere of this play. Scroll down for a look at the cast onstage!

In the early 20th century, women were barred from many fields of study - even pondering the wonders of the night sky. But that did not stop Leavitt from making discoveries that lead to establishing a measurement standard for astronomers all over the world. She left behind the familiar world of her father's pulpit in Wisconsin, ventured off to Harvard, and uncovered a way to use the brightness of stars to determine their distance from one another.

Theatrical Outfit continues its 'Season of Compassion' with the awe-inspiring regional premiere of Lauren Gunderson's Silent Sky, which reveals the astonishing personal and professional discoveries awaiting real-life female American astronomer Henrietta Swan Leavitt (1868-1921).

Theatrical Outfit continues its "Season of Compassion" with the awe-inspiring regional premiere of Lauren Gunderson's Silent Sky, which reveals the astonishing personal and professional discoveries awaiting real-life female American astronomer Henrietta Swan Leavitt (1868-1921).