Silent Sky: How One Astronomer Changed Science

October 14th, 2025

The universe is such a vast and incomprehensible place and yet it evokes the greatest sense of wonder. The wonder to look beyond, and the drive to comprehend the infinite. These are the motifs echoed throughout UNO Theatre’s upcoming show, Silent Sky. This show follows the life of the astronomer Henrietta Levitt, who through her work, managed to map out the universe. Director Maire Creegan speaks about the life of Henrietta stating, ““What we see is that so many people who are geniuses they can see things that people simply can’t, and they have to keep going even though everyone is telling them no.”

This production marks a departure for UNO Theatre, as this performance has moved beyond their conventional theatre space into the Mallory Kountze Planetarium on UNO’s Dodge Campus. This production utilizes space to transport audiences into nebulas, stars and the show goes back in time and shows the very night sky that Henrietta would’ve seen during her time. Creegan says, “And the opportunity to bring in the actual stars that Henrietta talks about is incredible, and not only that we are able to use stars from Henrietta’s time. We can locate where we were in relation to those stars in 1905.”

Silent Sky, being in a non-traditional space, has allowed the cast and the stars shining above to invite audiences into its intimate space. Comprised of actors Kenya Leon, Sam Bergman, Ali Gardner, Zoë Euteneuer, and Maiya Timm, the cast of Silent Sky crafts a story that makes audiences contemplate their place in the widest of worlds. ““Just being together and watching something is so essential. Humans have been storytellers since the dawn of time,” Creegan finishes.

Silent Sky will be performing until October 19^th in the Mallory Kountze Planetarium. More information can be found at UNO Theatre on Instagram.