This February, Merely Players will present Silent Sky, a luminous and moving play by Lauren Gunderson that brings the true story of astronomer Henrietta Leavitt to the stage.
When Henrietta is hired to chart the stars at the Harvard Observatory in the early 1900s, she is relegated to clerical work and denied access to the very telescope she studies on paper. Yet through tireless dedication—measuring the light of distant stars—her work leads to a discovery that fundamentally changes how we understand the universe.
Silent Sky traces Henrietta’s quiet rise alongside the deeply human questions that shape her life. As her scientific contributions expand the known cosmos, she must also navigate the pull of home, family, friendship, and the possibility of love—choices made within the confines of a world that placed firm limits on women’s ambitions.
It will be especially compelling to see how Merely Players brings this story to life on their stage, balancing scientific wonder with the intimate moments that define a life devoted to asking big questions. The company’s close-to-the-audience approach invites viewers to sit with both the brilliance of discovery and the personal costs that often accompany it.
At its core, Silent Sky is a story about persistence, visibility, and reaching beyond the boundaries of one’s time. Gunderson’s play offers warmth, wit, and insight, making complex ideas accessible while grounding them in relationships that feel timeless.
Silent Sky will be performed at Merely Underground in Durango, with performances running mid-February through late February 2026, including evening and matinee shows. The production is appropriate for all ages.
For tickets, details, and showtimes, visit https://merelyplayers.org/.
