Silent Sky

 There's a new theatre company in town and its inaugural production is not to be missed. Summit Performance Indianapolis, co-founded by Lauren Briggeman and Georgeanna Smith Wade, opened Silent Sky at the Phoenix Theatre this past weekend. The play by Lauren Gunderson tells the true story of the astronomer Henrietta Leavitt who worked at the Harvard Observatory in the early 1900s. It is an astonishing piece of theatre. 

Carrie Schlatter plays Henrietta Leavitt, the driving force in the powerful production. With each breath she takes she exudes curiosity and a fierce drive. Her passion for her work is infectious. In her new role Henrietta has two female co-workers. Molly Garner is the no nonsense Annie Cannon. She is the straight woman to Gigi Jennewein's Williamina who fills her scenes, and their small work space, with a delightful sense of levity. Adam Tran is their colleague Peter Shaw, who finds himself just as fascinated with Henrietta as the audience is. 

 Devan Mathias provides a priceless point of view as Henrietta's long-suffering sister. She stays home as her sister turns her eyes towards the skies at Harvard. Yet she retains a warmth and depth that balances Henrietta's laser focus. Mathias reminds us that family is forever and if we let them, they will be our greatest champions, even if they don't shares our same interests. Her strength should not be ignored. Sometimes taking the conventional path, though less admired, is just as difficult as forging a new one.  

Lori Wolter Hudson directs this talented cast beautifully. There are moments of quiet reflection and others of boundless joy as life unfolds for these women. The costumes, designed by Brittany Kugler, are spot on down to the smallest cameo. The set is simple, with seating on three sides and a gorgeous painted floor which brings the swirls of the night sky into every scene. There is a tiny stage with a door and window and a versatile desk which cleverly transitions into a piano in one scene.

In this production, Summit has done something completely new. The cast, the crew, the director, the producer, and the playwright are almost exclusively women. It's truly an achievement, but at the same time this show is not the victim of a gimmick, it is one of the best performances I've seen. It achieves its goal of highlighting and employing the talented women in this town while also making great theatre. If this show is any indication of the caliber of work we can expect from Summit Performance Indianapolis we should all be excited. I see a future full of limitless stars for the company.

Don't Miss the Show

For more information about the Summit Performance Indy, visit SummitPerformanceIndy.com. Silent Sky is being performed at the Phoenix Theatre, located at 705 N Illinois St, Indianapolis, IN 46204. 

Performances: The show runs until July 22 and offers four performances a week. Thursday, Friday and Saturday shows begin at 7:30 p.m., and Sunday matinees are at 2:30 p.m.
Tickets: To purchase tickets visit tinyurl.com/y9a4fsxh. Prices range from $20 to $25.

Photos courtesy of Summit Performance.