Entertainment

There is a particularly fitting connection behind the next production at The Players Theatre Company in downtown Conroe: a play about a woman who changed humanity’s understanding of the stars will be followed, during one special performance weekend, by a conversation with people helping NASA prepare for humanity’s next journeys into space.

Silent Sky, Lauren Gunderson’s acclaimed drama inspired by the life of astronomer Henrietta Leavitt, opens Friday, September 18, at The Owen Theatre and runs through Sunday, October 4. The production blends astronomy, history and a deeply human story about perseverance, discovery and what it meant for women to pursue scientific work at a time when their contributions were often overlooked. 

For Conroe-area theatre audiences, educators, students and families interested in science, the production offers something beyond a traditional night at the theatre. On September 27, the story will continue after the curtain falls with “Encore Conversations: From Silent Sky to NASA,” connecting Leavitt’s early astronomical discoveries with the work happening in human space exploration today.

The Woman Behind Silent Sky

Set in the early 20th century, Silent Sky follows Henrietta Leavitt as she works at the Harvard Observatory, studying and cataloging stars while navigating the limitations placed on women in science.

Her research ultimately helped astronomers determine distances across the universe, making her work an important piece of the foundation upon which modern astronomy was built.

Rather than approaching that history as a science lesson alone, Gunderson’s play focuses on the person behind the discovery — her ambition, relationships, frustrations and determination to continue looking upward even when the scientific establishment did not give women the same opportunities afforded to their male colleagues.

That combination is part of what gives Silent Sky broad appeal. The Players Theatre Company describes the production as suited for drama lovers, educators and science fans, with historical and inspirational themes at its center. 

From Henrietta Leavitt’s Stars to NASA’s Artemis Era

The local connection becomes especially poignant on Sunday, September 27, when The Players Theatre Company hosts its special Encore Conversations: From Silent Sky to NASA panel following the 2 p.m. matinee.

The discussion will feature three professionals whose careers span spacecraft imagery, testing, mission planning and operations: David Melendrez, Megan Sip and Jennifer Clevenger.

Melendrez serves as Lead for Orion Imagery Integration and chairs the Orion Imagery Working Group. His NASA career has included International Space Station operations planning, robotics flight control, the post-Columbia Space Shuttle return-to-flight effort, spacecraft architecture work and leadership within the Orion program.

Megan Sip, the Orion Test & Verification Lead, is responsible for developing the overall strategy used to test and verify the Orion vehicle, including its hardware, software and the way those systems work together. Her background includes aerospace engineering, systems engineering, rendezvous design and operations as well as work resolving field failures in the oil and gas industry.

Jennifer Clevenger, NASA’s Flight Activities Officer Group Lead, oversees mission-operations integration and the team that develops the flight plans followed by astronauts and Mission Control during Artemis missions. A Texas A&M University bioengineering graduate, Clevenger began her NASA career in 1998, worked on Space Shuttle missions, contributed to commercial spaceflight operations and later supported Artemis I and International Space Station operations. She also has an unusually direct connection to the production: Clevenger is an active member of The Players Theatre Company, where she performs in musicals and serves on its Board of Directors.

The September 27 matinee begins at 2 p.m., with the NASA discussion expected to begin around 3:30 p.m. Those attending only the panel should plan to arrive by that time. A ticket to any performance of Silent Sky also provides admission to the special conversation.

For an area closely connected to the Houston region’s aerospace community and NASA’s Johnson Space Center, the event creates a natural bridge between the history depicted onstage and the scientists and engineers carrying space exploration forward today.

A Conroe Theatre Tradition Dating Back Nearly 60 Years

Silent Sky also arrives during a milestone period for The Players Theatre Company, which traces its roots in Conroe back to 1967.

The organization began as The Little Theatre of Conroe, initially staging productions at Conroe High School before moving into a former plumbing supply store at Galveston and Roberson streets. In 1979, members of the organization cleaned and restored the historic Crighton Theatre and spent nearly three decades performing there as The Crighton Players.

The company moved into its current home at The Owen Theatre, 225 Metcalf Street in downtown Conroe, in 2008. Today, the 501(c)(3) nonprofit produces multiple shows each year with a substantial base of local volunteer talent while also supporting theatre education and community outreach. 

Its broader mission centers on enrichment, education and entertainment while building an inclusive community among audiences, volunteers, performers and visitors. That community component extends beyond the main stage through youth theatre education and other programs designed to introduce new generations to performing arts. 

Silent Sky is part of the company's Season 60, a season built around stories involving legacy and revelation. 

Silent Sky Performance Dates at The Owen Theatre

Performances are scheduled for:

• Friday, September 18 — 7:30 p.m.
• Saturday, September 19 — 7:30 p.m.
• Sunday, September 20 — 2 p.m.
• Friday, September 25 — 7:30 p.m.
• Saturday, September 26 — 7:30 p.m.
• Sunday, September 27 — 2 p.m.
• Friday, October 2 — 7:30 p.m.
• Saturday, October 3 — 7:30 p.m.
• Sunday, October 4 — 2 p.m.

The production is sponsored by GuadalaHarry’s Bar and Grill. The Players Theatre Company lists tickets as currently available for the scheduled performances. 

Tickets and additional production information are available through The Players Theatre Company: Silent Sky Tickets and Production Information

For longtime supporters of community theatre in Conroe, Silent Sky carries forward a tradition The Players Theatre Company has been building for nearly six decades. For newcomers, it offers another reason to discover the Owen Theatre — this time through a story that begins with one woman quietly studying the stars and reaches all the way to the spacecraft being prepared for humanity’s next chapter in space.

Stay tuned to My Neighborhood News for more Conroe events, local arts coverage and community news.

By Tiffany Krenek, My Neighborhood News 

Tiffany Krenek has been on the My Neighborhood News team since August 2021. She is passionate about curating and sharing content that enriches the lives of our readers in a personal, meaningful way. A loving mother and wife, Tiffany and her family live in the West Houston/Cypress region.

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