Silent Sky
by Lauren Gunderson
Directed by Karin Bowersock


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​Bristol Valley Theatre
151 S Main St. Naples, NY 14512
August 25th, 2017 - September 3rd, 2017

Scenic Design: Justin and Christopher Swader
Costume Design: Pam Freicht
Lighting Design: Mary Ellen Stebbins
Sound Design and Original Music: Brandon Reed
 ​Photos taken courtesy of Rich Miller.

About The Play

Silent Sky tells the true story of Henrietta Leavitt, the astronomer ahead of her time. It is 1900, and Henrietta has the opportunity to work at Harvard University as a human computer, one of Dr. Edward Pickering’s “harem,” mapping the stars but receiving no scientific credit. When Henrietta arrives, she is eager to use Harvard’s telescope - the Great Refractor - but is told that she will not be able to do any sort of astronomical discovery as she will only log the stars photographed by the men of the department. However, Henrietta will not be dissuaded, and begins the process of recording the changes in Cepheid stars - a scientific discovery that has profound and lasting impact on the field of astronomy. During her inquiry, Henrietta’s relationships strain under her obsessive work ethic; her sister Margaret, her love interest Peter Shaw, and her colleagues Annie Cannon and Williamina Fleming all find themselves pushed aside in favor of a great cosmic mystery. Silent Sky is the poignant tale of a woman’s dedication to the stars, and the human touch that makes life under the vast sky beautiful and timeless.

The goal of the sound design and music for this show was to highlight the mystical and ethereal journey that Henrietta goes on, but also explore the complex feelings she goes through in life. I used a predominately piano based score to focus on the emotional impact of the show, but I also layered in synths and aural textures to fill out the score, but also provide that space quality that's reflected in the show. The soundscapes helped us connect to the location of where the scenes took place, but also provide passage of time. Often I layered the music with the sound design to create a more meaningful journey for both the story and the audience.

The Sound Design


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​​Prologue

Top of the play, I wanted to bring the audience into the world immersed and give a sense of magic and wonder. As Henrietta enters the stage, she is in the middle of a field in the evening. With her first reference of stars, she removes her hearing aid, taking us into silence as we hear single piano notes representing the stars coming alive. Lights and a rural Wisconsin environment come up as her sister emerges.


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​Her Research Begins

As Henrietta begins her research measuring the distance of lights and stars, she does so after work hours. Time flows from day, to night, into the next morning. Here we can hear the passage of time as a beautiful piano piece helps convey a sense of determination.



Dancing On An Ocean Liner

Henrietta during her time at the Harvard Observatory begins to fall for a man in charge of overseeing her work named Peter. One night during her after hours research, Peter and her's relationship begins to blossom. They day dream of dancing on an ocean liner together abandoning their work life, before returning back to reality.


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​Stargasm Symphony

By the end of Act 1, Henrietta makes a break through in her research, thanks to her sister's music. As she is demonstrating to her sister the relationship between the brightness of stars equating to the distance of low and high notes in music. The stage around her begins to glow with stars as a piano symphony by Amy Beach takes us into Intermission.


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​More Out There Than Us

The middle of Act 2, Henrietta finally reaches her goal of traveling the world and discussing her work with other scholars. Throughout her journey she is given letters from her family and Peter calling for her to come home. She delivers a powerful monologue on top of a beautiful soundscape and underscore.


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​On Top of a Hill...

By the end of the play, Henrietta has been overcome with cancer. As she passes, she delivers a final monologue of how her work would eventually be recognized. Her family, friends, and Peter pass away joining her in the afterlife thanks to war and disease. She recalls her sister's symphony from earlier finally on the radio. We are then sucked into the true sound of space before a resolving piano chord takes us into blackout.