The main stage is at the heart of the International Thespian Festival (ITF), showcasing some of high school theatre’s brightest stars. Joining that celebrated history this summer will be Thespian Troupe 648 from Arroyo Grande High School, with their performance of Silent Sky.
This poignant and captivating drama blends science, history, and human connection, bringing to life the journey of early 20th-century astronomer Henrietta Leavitt, who sought to understand the heavens in an era when women’s ideas were dismissed until men claimed credit for them.
Henrietta Leavitt joins a group of female “computers,” charting the stars for a renowned observatory, without being allowed to even touch a telescope. Despite these limitations, she made astonishing discoveries that influenced the way we understand the vast cosmos today. Silent Sky is a tribute to the unsung brilliance of a woman who broke through gender barriers and societal limitations, celebrating passion, curiosity, and the enduring quest to understand our universe and our place within it.
EdTA chatted with theatre director Sean Blauvelt to get a peek behind the curtain.
1. Why this show? What was the spark or idea behind choosing it?
I’m always looking for shows featuring a female character or a cast that’s at least 50% women. It amazes me how uncommon this is considering 50.8% of the US population is women.
The fact Silent Sky is a predominantly female cast and about a female scientist really struck a chord with me, since once upon a time I used to teach science. I always felt there wasn’t enough in the textbooks about women’s contributions to science, and really loved Lauren Gunderson’s script and how well she’s interwoven humor in this dramatic story.
2. Has your vision for the show evolved at all as you’ve gone through the process of preparing it for the ITF stage?
It’ll be very interesting performing at ITF. Our original production was staged in a small 100-seat black box. We chose simple and made it smaller than originally planned to feature the night sky since it’s almost another character in the play.
We’re excited to bring the production to a larger stage for two reasons, first it gives us the chance to make the night’s sky an even large feature, and second, it’ll also allow us to better isolate the lighting used for specific scenes happening on each side of the stage, giving us extra space to enhance the flow from one scene to another.
3. Got a fun rehearsal moment, practice, or activity that’s helping you prep?
This script is filled with laughter, and we laugh a lot during rehearsals. There’s a specific moment where a character throws a ball of paper, and it’s grown into one of the great moments in the show.
4. How do you balance the educational aspects with the artistic demands of directing a high school production?
I’m a firm believer in learning by doing, and theatre is the perfect laboratory for this. Whether it’s the tech students designing/constructing sets, costumes, or props, or the actors researching their characters and the history around the play, it’s very easy to intertwine educational aspects within the artistic demands of a high school production.
5. What is one piece of advice you'd share with troupes hoping to make the main stage next year?
To be honest, we were quite surprised to be selected, but you’re never going to know if you don’t try. Whether it’s a spectacular musical or a small intimate play, apply for adjudication, you might get the chance to share your special story at ITF.
6. What do you hope the audience takes away from your show, and why is this important to you?
I hope the audience walks away with an appreciation for the scientific discoveries made by Henrietta Leavitt and the hard choices she had to make in a time when women were not really allowed to explore their passions. I hope today’s young women recognize the importance of the sacrifice and determination women of the past had to go through to open doorways for the women of today. Above all, I hope that women appreciate the opportunities available to them now, continue to explore, and be leaders for the future.
