Courtesy photo Alexander Czarnecki,left, and Baylee Lijewski rehearse for the Rogers City Community Theatre’s fall production of Silent Sky.

It’s time for Rogers City Community Theatre’s fall production! You don’t want to miss Silent Sky by Lauren Gunderson. The story of the woman who changed astronomy forever opens at the Rogers Theater, 257 N. Third St., Rogers City, on Oct.1, and runs for two weekends through Nov. 9.

Show time is 7:30 p.m. on Friday and Saturday, and 2 p.m. on Sunday. Tickets are $20 for adults and $10 for students. Advance tickets are available through https://rcct.ludus.com.

“When I found out Silent Sky was about astronomy and history (two of my favorite interests), I knew I wanted to direct it, even though I hadn’t read the script yet,” said the director, Donna Klein. “I was hooked by the time I finished reading it, and I’m so excited to be leading this production! Lauren Gunderson is an excellent writer and one of the most produced playwrights in the United States, and the soundtrack by Jenny Giering is like another character who shows up at just the right time.”

Silent Sky is the story of Henrietta Leavitt, a Radcliffe graduate who is invited to work as a ‘computer’ (like the women in the movie Hidden Figures) at the Harvard Observatory during the first two decades of the 20th century. Although she is not allowed to study the stars through the Great Refractor Telescope, she uses her free time to study an intriguing phenomenon that leads to a discovery that reverberates through astronomy to this day. The play also examines her dedication to science as she balances family obligations and the possibility of love!

This is a small cast play, with only five characters. The three women who work at the observatory are all historical figures who left a mark in the field of astronomy. Leading our cast as Henrietta Leavitt is Baylee Lijewski. Her sister, Margie (Margaret), is Carly Gleason. Henrietta’s female colleagues are Williamina Fleming, portrayed by Pennie Hoeft, and Annie Jump Cannon, portrayed by Kaitlyn Starnes. Peter Shaw, who also works at the observatory, is played by Alex Czarnecki.

“The audience will enjoy an immersive experience when they attend this play. We want everyone to feel like they, too, are among the heavens,” said Donna. “We’re also having a trivia contest each performance. Answers are in the play, and if you read The Advance, you’ve seen one every week in the classified ads section.”

The trivia contest is open to audience members 18 years and older. Each performance, we’ll give away one ticket to an RCCT production and a $10 gift certificate to the concession stand from PIDL ($30 value). Those who come in costume on Halloween can enter the contest without answering the questions!

If you are an astronomy enthusiast, history buff, love well-crafted stories, teach science, history, or the creative arts, are a student interested in these subjects, or just want to chuckle and feel the poignancy of the story, we invite you to experience Silent Sky. Thank you for supporting community theater, and we’ll see you at the show! Need more information? Contact Donna at 989-306-3951.

Silent Sky is licensed exclusively by Broadway Licensing, 440 Park Ave. S., New York, NY 1001.