Silent Sky - Fall 2024
By Lauren Gunderson
Directed by Brian Sage
When Henrietta Leavitt begins work at the Harvard Observatory in the early 1900s, she isn’t allowed to touch a telescope or express an original idea. Instead, she joins a group of women “computers,” charting the stars for a renowned astronomer who calculates projects in “girl hours” and has no time for the women’s probing theories.
As Henrietta, in her free time, attempts to measure the light and distance of stars, she must also take measure of her life on Earth, trying to balance her dedication to science with family obligations and the possibility of love.
The true story of 19th-century astronomer Henrietta Leavitt explores a woman’s place in society during a time of immense scientific discoveries when women’s ideas were dismissed until men claimed credit for them. Social progress, like scientific progress, can be hard to see when one is trapped among earthly complications; Henrietta Leavitt and her female peers believe in both, and their dedication changed the way we understand both the heavens and Earth.
• Commissioned and first produced by South Coast Repertory with support from the Elizabeth George Foundation.
• Original Music by Jenny Giering.
“Silent Sky” by Lauren Gunderson is presented by arrangement with Broadway Licensing, LLC servicing the Dramatists Play Service collection.
Welcome!
This production runs approximately 1 hour and 45 minutes with one 10 minute intermission.
We hope that you enjoy the show!
Special Thanks
The Purple Rose Theatre Company
Dr. Jason Stumbo
The University of Toledo Department of Disability Studies
The University of Toledo Student Green Fund
The University of Toledo Department of Physics and Astronomy*
*Show your ticket to Silent Sky to get 1/2 off a program at the Ritter Planetarium
Cast
Henrietta Leavitt Isabella Herrera
Margaret Leavitt Lilian Schmid
Peter Shaw Gerardo Rosario
Annie Cannon Olivia Pentoney
Williamina Fleming Brooklyn Mitchell
Production Staff
Director Brian Sage
Producer Stephen Sakowski*
Theatre Manager Christopher Montpetit
Production Manager Stephen Sakowski*
Scenic Designer Daniel Thobias
Costume Designer Breeanne Stouffer
Lighting Designer Stephen Sakowski*
Sound Designer Micah Lawson
Stage Manager Abby Papenfus
Assistant Lighting Designer Tristen Turkopp
Assistant Stage Manager Tevy Dembski
Technical Director Nate White
Scene Shop Manager Nate White
Properties Head Daniel Thobias
Stage Construction The Students of THR1030 & THR2050
Stage/Properties Crew Oliver Marconi
Scene Shop Staff The Students of THR1030 & THR2050
Costume Shop Manager Kelly McBane
Costume Shop Staff Tevy Dembski, Marissa McCoy, Brooklyn Mitchell-Nelson, & the Students of THR1050 & THR2050
Head of Wardrobe Aaron Smith
Costumes/Hair Crew Nicole Dail
Lighting/ Sound Shop Supervisor Nate White
Master Electrician David Steffin
Lighting & Sound Shop Staff Tevy Dembski, Zach Montri, Aaron Smith, David Steffin, & the Students of THR1040 & THR2050
Light Board Operator Zach Montri
Sound Board Operator Jason Klotz
Captioning Operator Grey Bowlick
House Manager Seth Camiscione
Theatre Management Staff Tatyana Cardona, Jenise Curl, & London Toney
Poster Design Daniel Thobias
Marketing Staff Aabha Agarwal, & Cincere Temple
* Member of United Scenic Artists Local 829
Production Biographies
Cast
Isabella Herrera (She/Her/Hers) - Henrietta Leavitt - Isabella is a third year Theatre major with a minor in Women and Gender Studies. Previous credits include Ophelia in Hamlet, Anne in The Diary of Anne Frank, Viki/Joy in Neighborhood 3: Requisition of Doom, and various roles in the Festival of New Student Works. She has written a show for the upcoming 4th Annual Festival of New Student Works, and is incredibly excited to be apart of a show about such wonderful women!
Brooklyn Mitchell (They/Them/Theirs) -Williamina Fleming - Brooklyn is a 3rd year Theatre major from Texas. Previous roles and credits include several roles in The 2nd Annual Festival of New Student Works in 2023 and Max Maxwell in The 3rd Annual Festival of New Student Works in 2024, costume crew for The Diary of Anne Frank and The 3rd Annual Festival of New Student Works. Leslie and Barbara in Neighborhood 3: Requisition of Doom. They will also be directing a play in the 4th Annual Festival of New Student Works this February
Olivia Pentoney (She/Her/Hers) - Annie Cannon -Olivia is a nursing major from Lambertville Michigan. This is her first production with UToledo. Previous productions include Murder On The Orient Express(Helen Hubbard), Bye Bye Birdie(Alice), Shakespeare In Love(Ralph), and Big Fish(Ensamble) with Concordia University and Music Man(Salesman, Townsperson) and Gypsy(Angie, Showgirl, Hollywood Blonde) with Horizon Performing Arts. Olivia would very much like to thank Brian for taking a chance on her, her family for supporting her on her journey, this amazing cast for making this an incredible experience, and the audience for hopefully enjoying the show
Gerardo Rosario (He/Him/His) - Peter Shaw -Gerardo is a Senior Theatre Major at the University of Toledo. He is from Puerto Rico. Previous credits include: Polonius in Hamlet, Dan Dad in The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, Mr. Dussel in The Diary of Anne Frank, Ryan/Blake in Neighborhood 3: Requisition of Doom and several roles in the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd Festivals of New Student Works. He also has written a piece in the upcoming 4th Annual Festival of New Student Works.
Lilian Schmid (She/Her/Hers) - Margaret Leavitt - Lilian is a second year Theatre Major from Blissfield, MI. This is her first production here at the University of Toledo. Previous roles include: Joyce Heath in Barnum and Aunt March in Little Women.
production staff
Tevy Dembski (They/Them/Theirs) - Assistant Stage Manager - Tevy is a senior theatre major with a concentration in theatre arts. They have worked behind the scenes in Elkshire (2022), The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee (2022), and Hamlet(2022), acted and assistant stage managed the 2nd Annual Festival of New Student Works (2023), and acted in Blood at the Root (2023). They acted, directed, and wrote for the 3rd Annual Festival of New Student Works (2024) and they were the assistant stage manager for Neighborhood 3: Requisition of Doom (2024).
Micah Lawson (He/Him/His) – Sound Designer – Micah is a composer and a music instructor at the University of Toledo. He specializes in media composition and music technology, focusing on these fields throughout his academic career at UT where he earned his bachelor's and master's degrees. Micah is currently the first-year theory instructor in the university's department of music.
Kelly McBane (She/Her/Hers) – Costume Design Mentor, Costume Shop Manager - Kelly is an Associate Lecturer at the University of Toledo and has been involved in one (or multiple) way or another for each production since she began working here. She has her BA from Slippery Rock University and her MFA from Ohio University. She is grateful for the wide variety of interesting and meaningful work that she has been a part of at the University of Toledo and is proud of all of her students and the work they have done
Christopher Montpetit (He/Him/His) Theatre Manager - Mr. Montpetit is originally from Niagara Falls, NY, where he received a Bachelors of Arts Degree in English/Theater from Niagara University. He continued his studies at Columbia University in New York City, where he earned a Masters of Fine Arts Degree in Theater Management. Professionally, Mr. Montpetit has worked at such companies and institutions as Macmillan/McGraw-Hill Publishing, The Kathryn Bache Miller Theatre, The Alma Schapiro Theatre, Artpark Theatre, ABC Television, Showtime Networks Inc., Genesee Community College Center for the Arts, SummerTide Theatre, and The University of Alabama. Academically, Mr. Montpetit is currently Senior Lecturer and Theatre Manager for the University of Toledo Department of Theatre and Film. Mr. Montpetit is the author of "What is Theatre? An Introduction to Theatre", published by Kendall Hunt Publishing in January 2016, with a revised edition published in August 2020.
Abby Papenfus (She/Her/Hers) Stage Manager - Abby is a third-year Theatre Arts major with a minor in Communication from Toledo, Ohio! Previous credits include Assistant Stage Manager for The 2nd Annual Festival of New Student Work (2023), Light Hang Crew & Costume Crew for Blood at the Root, Light Hang Crew and Assistant Stage Manager for The Diary of Anne Frank, Stage Manager for The 3rd Annual Festival of New Student Work (2024) and Stage Manager for Neighborhood 3: Requisition of Doom.
Brian Sage (He/Him/His) – Director – Brian is the Artistic Director of Tibbits Summer Theatre at the historic Tibbits Opera House in Coldwater, MI and also serves as the company manager for Tipping Point Theatre in Northville, MI. He is also a freelance actor and director. Brian is a graduate of Wayne State University where he earned his MFA in Acting while performing as a member of the Hilberry Repertory Theatre Company. He earned his BA in Theatre Performance from Western Michigan University. Brian also had the honor of studying with the Moscow Art Theatre School. He is a certified and associate teacher of the Michael Chekhov acting technique with the Great Lakes Michael Chekhov Consortium. Brian has taught at a number of universities including Wayne State University, Eastern Michigan University, Jackson College, and Ohio Northern University where he was an associate professor, producer, and director of the School of Visual and Performing Arts. Brian has directed a wide range of projects that include classic plays, contemporary musical theatre, and new works. His Detroit Public Theatre production of From Broadway to Obscurity was recorded for PBS in summer of 2020 as an initiative to bring theatre to a home audience during the Covid-19 pandemic. That production has garnered multiple awards including a Wilde Award for “Best One-Person Show” and a Michigan Association of Broadcaster’s Broadcast Excellence Award for the PBS version. Some recent favorites include Rent for Tibbits Summer Theatre and Ugly Lies the Bone for Ohio Northern University. Projects this fall include Lauren Gunderson’s Silent Sky here at the University of Toledo and a 60-minute touring production of A Midsummer Nights Dream for Eastern Michigan University.
Stephen Sakowski (He/Him/His) Producer, Production Manager, Lighting Designer - Stephen is a Professor of Theatre: Lighting & Sound Design here at the University of Toledo and has been happy to collaborate on many productions since starting in the Department of Theatre & Film in 2015. He has his BFA from Otterbein University and his MFA from the University of California San Diego. His lighting design of All Quiet on the Western Front received the 2020 Jeff Award (Chicago's Top Theatre Prize) His work can be seen as a part of various live television events, and regionally at The Purple Rose Theatre Company where he is a Resident Artist. Congratulations to everyone involved with the production on a project well done!
Aaron Smith (She/They/He )- Head of Wardrobe - Aaron is a third year Theatre major. Previous credits include stagehand for Blood at the Root, Danny and Manny and Assistant Stage Manager for the 3rd Annual Festival of New Student Works, and Voice of Game for Neighborhood 3: Requisition of Doom. Aaron is excited to Direct and Light Design for the upcoming 4th Annual Festival of New Student Works.
David Steffin ( He/Him/His) – Master Electrician- David is a third year theater student at the University of Toledo. This will be his fifth show here at UToledo. He has worked on Hamlet as the sound board opperator, Blood at the Root as the light board opperator, Neighborhood 3: Requisition of Doom as the assistant lighting designer, and The Haunting of Spoonriver as the lighting designer/ light board opperator.
Bree Stouffer (She/Her/Hers) Costume Designer - Bree is a third year Theatre Major, with a concentration in Design and Technology. Previous credits include: Disney’s The Little Mermaid, Jesus Christ Superstar, and Wait Until Dark as a stitcher, The Diary of Anne Frank as an assistant costume designer, and The Haunting of Spoonriver as co-director and costume designer. Bree will be graduating in the spring after directing a show in the upcoming 4th Annual Festival of New Student Works.
Daniel Thobias (He/Him/His) Scenic Designer, – Daniel joined The University of Toledo Department of Theatre & Film faculty in 2012. He received his MFA in Scene Design from North Carolina School of the Arts, 2005. He has a wealth of experience with summer stock and festival theaters including Mount Washington Valley Theatre, Festival Stage of Winston Salem, North Carolina Shakespeare Festival, Opera Santa Barbara, and the Cuttingball Theater. He has an impressive portfolio of work which can be viewed on his web site: www.scenedesign.org.
Tristen Turkopp (He/Him/His) – Assistant Lighting Designer – Tristen is from Toledo, OH and is in his second year as a Theatre major, with a concentration in Theatre Arts. This is his first show as an assistant lighting designer. Other credits include Light Board Operator for The Diary of Anne Frank, Sound Board Operator for The Night of the Living Dead, and as an ensemble member for 20,000 Leagues Under The Sea and Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street and will be the lighting designer on one of the pieces in this year's upcoming 4th Annual Festival of New Student Works..
Nate White (He/Him/His) Technical Director – Nate joined the University of Toledo as the Technical Director in 2016. He received his MFA in Technical Production from the University of Alabama and his BA in Design and Technical Theater from the University of Nebraska at Kearny.
• THE VIDEOTAPING OR MAKING OF ELECTRONIC OR OTHER AUDIO AND/OR VISUAL RECORDINGS OF THIS PRODUCTION AND DISTRIBUTING RECORDINGS OR STREAMS IN ANY MEDIUM, INCLUDING THE INTERNET, IS STRICTLY PROHIBITED.
