‘Silent Sky’: An exciting true story of astronomy, discovery, and emotion
About the Production
“Silent Sky” is the second offering for the 2025-2026 theater season at Casper College. The drama, based on a true story, will be performed Nov. 18-22 in the Thomas H. Empey Studio Theatre.
Written by Lauren Gunderson with original music by Jenny Giering, “Silent Sky” tells the story of pioneering astronomer Henrietta Leavitt. Leavitt joined a group of women working at the Harvard Observatory in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Known as the “Harvard Computers,” these women worked from photographic plates cataloging and analyzing thousands of stars.
As Leavitt was cataloging both the positions and brightnesses of the Cepheid stars in the Magellanic Clouds, two small, irregular galaxies visible from the Southern Hemisphere orbiting the Milky Way, she discovered the key to measuring vast distances in the universe. That discovery led to what is still known as Leavitt’s Law, which provides a way to measure distances in space.
Critical Praise
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution wrote: “Vastly important yet little known, Leavitt is the subject of ‘Silent Sky.’… Lauren Gunderson’s luminously beautiful play (is) a lovingly crafted period piece that imagines Leavitt’s inner world against the backdrop of World War I, Einstein’s discoveries, and the suffragette movement. ‘Silent Sky’ is an intellectual epic told on an intimate scale. Bottom line: Heavenly.”
Opening Night Features
Opening night will feature a special “Afterglow Celebration” immediately following the performance as the theater department celebrates the opening of its second production with hors d’oeuvres and hot apple cider to toast the cast, crew, and creative team. As weather permits, the Casper College Astronomy Department will have telescopes in the theater parking lot, allowing theatergoers to stargaze after each performance. The astronomy department is also providing an interactive table in the lobby for all performances, featuring spectroscope demonstrations and free star maps.
The players behind “Silent Sky”
Mateah Archuleta as Henrietta Leavitt
Mateah Archuleta portrays lead character Henrietta Leavitt in the Casper College production of “Silent Sky.” (Casper College photo)
Mateah Archuleta plays Henrietta Leavitt and found that her favorite thing about portraying Leavitt was how passionate she is. “Her character is so full of genuine wonder for the stars, and it makes playing her a fun experience. My favorite scenes to act are ones where a character is incredibly passionate.”
Archuleta said that the most challenging part of portraying a person from a completely different time period than our own was finding the right balance between Leavitt’s modesty and pride. “Henrietta is very self-assured, but she is also a woman in the late 1800s. There were many things I wanted to do at first that were considered ‘not period,” noted Archuleta. “I had to find her confidence without being considered obnoxious by the standards of that time.”
Jokingly, Archuleta said that people should come see the show “… because it’s awesome, duh.” But for Archuleta, the play is a “deeply human story. It has witty lines that have earned more than enough chuckles from me and touching moments that have left me genuinely feeling sad. And it’s about astronomy, which is just super cool. … it was beyond engaging to play a woman who made such strides in the research that got us further into space.”
Archuleta, a freshman musical theater major, graduated in May 2025 from Brighton High School in Brighton, Colorado.
Danielle Johnston as Margaret Leavitt
Danielle Johnston portrays Margaret Leavitt, Henrietta Leavitt’s sister, in “Silent Sky.” (Casper College photo)
Playing Leavitt’s sister, Margaret Leavitt, is Danielle Johnston. According to Johnston, Margaret Leavitt is a dramatic, bossy and stubborn person. “She likes the simple things and is very selfless. It has been fun working to understand her character.”
Delving into the era in which the play takes place, Johnston discovered that she needed to be aware of the differences between then and now. “I had to do research on phrases and objects that aren’t around anymore. And for me, posture was a big thing I had to learn, including how I should carry myself,” she said.
According to Johnston, “Silent Sky” is not only an interesting production, but also inspirational. “The story is rather inspirational in the way the characters all fight for something. It’s about pushing through even when you feel like giving up.”
A psychology major at Casper College, Johnston is from Rawlins and is a 2025 graduate of Rawlins High School.
Ticket Information
Tickets for “Silent Sky” are on sale online, at the box office, or by phone at 307-268-2500. The play begins at 7 p.m. One matinee is scheduled for Nov. 22 at 2 p.m. The box office is open Monday-Friday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tickets for each performance are $12 for adults and $10 for seniors and students aged 5 to 18.
The Empey Theatre is located on the south side of the Gertrude Krampert Center for Theatre and Dance on the Casper College Campus.