Proudly Presents
SILENT SKY
Written by
Lauren Gunderson
Original Music by Jenny Giering
Directed by Matt Hentges
ACT 1
1900-1908
Scene one
outside of the Leavitt family church in Wisconsin
Scene two
Harvard Observatory
Scene three
Harvard Observatory – 1 yr later
Scene four
Harvard Observatory (sometime later)
Scene five & six
Wisconsin home
There will be one 15 minute Intermission
ACT 2
Ocean Liner / Harvard Observatory
Scene two
Ocean Liner / Harvard Observatory
Scene three
Harvard Observatory – sometime later
Scene four
Henrietta’s apartment
Scene five
the universe
CAST
in order of appearance
Kim Hentges . . . . . . . . Henrietta Leavitt
Eunice Png . . . . . . . . . . Margaret Leavitt
Matt Sameck . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Peter Shaw
Laura Schwartz . . . . . . . . .Annie Cannon
Kendra Keller . . . . . Williamina Fleming
SWING ACTORS
Laura LaCour . . . . . Williamina & Annie
Courtney Klein . . . . The Leavitt Sisters
Dalton Pittinger . . . . . . . . . . Peter Shaw
Production Crew
Director
Matt Hentges
Stage Manager
Sara “Frog” Owen
Asst. Stage Manager
Minnie Washington
Props
Mindi Thompson
Sound Design & Operation
Christina Foltz
Lighting Design
Josh Austin
Costumes provided by Another Look
Other costumes provided by City Theatre of Independence & Olathe Civic Theatre
Costume Team
Kendra Keller, Karla Fennick & Shae Tate.
Scenic Painter
Dorothy Jefferey
Accompanist
Eunice Png
Board Liaison/Stage Hand
Paula Rohr Fry
Technical Consultant Lights
Mike Hadley
Technical Consultant Set
RJ Parish
Technical Consultant Projections
Keith Routh
DIRECTOR'S NOTES
My entire life I have been lucky enough to be surrounded by extremely talented, independent, caring, and intelligent women who have not only loved and cared for me, but have inspired me to be a better person. It is my absolute honor and pleasure to work with this amazing, cast and crew to bring you this beautiful story of feminism and family.
I’d like to dedicate this production to all of the amazing & inspiring women in my life.
Laura Schwartz
(Annie Jump Cannon)
Laura is thrilled to be joining Bell Road Barn Players for the first time! She has appeared in the area at OCTA, The White Theatre, The Barn, KCAT, The Coterie, and with HASF’s Shakespeare To Go. She lives in Mission, works as a project manager, and would like to thank her family for their support, especially Simon.
Kendra Keller
(Williamina Flemming)
Kendra is thrilled to be part of this production, which is her third with Bell Road Barn – and she offers her sincerest apologies to anyone who’s actually Scottish! Kendra has also performed with other area theatres like the Heart of America Shakespeare Festival, Kansas City Actors Theatre, The White Theatre, and OCTA.
Kim Hentges
(Henrietta Swan Leavitt)
Kim finds it a thrill, and a bracing excitement to be back onstage at Bell Road Barn, in this story that celebrates the life and legacy of an unsung American hero, who was remarkably born on the 4th of July. Kim was last onstage here as Christine in Bad Seed. She was previously not seen as Lala in the very much canceled production of The Last Night of Ballyhoo at The White Theatre (thanks 2020). Past favorite productions include Proof, Enchanted April, All My Sons, and The Mousetrap.
Silent Sky has been a dream show of Kim’s since she was given the script by a dear friend and favorite onstage sparring partner.
Massive thanks to this absolute dream of a cast and to Matt for his unwavering support and direction.
“All my love to my daughter Audrey, who literally and figuratively paints the stars in my world, my son Leo whose freckles are my favorite constellation, and to my sister Karen who is my north star, my constant, and my way back home”. Kim hopes audiences remember to always insist on the exceptional – just as Henrietta would’ve wanted.
Eunice Png
(Margaret Leavitt)
Eunice is delighted to be working with Bell Road Barn Players again! She had such a wonderful experience working on The Bad Seed with the theatre last year, that she now lives right in Parkville!
Since moving to Kansas City from Singapore a year ago, she has most notably portrayed Mitsuye Endo in The Coterie’s production of Justice at War. Eunice was first trained by Karen Allen, made famous for her role in Raiders of the Lost Ark. She also trained in Bard College at Simon’s Rock, Brown University, and at New York Stage and Film’s Summer Powerhouse acting program.
Eunice also has a degree in Contemporary Vocal Performance and has released several indie-pop albums and award-winning singles in English and Mandarin. When she’s not on stage, she enjoys writing songs and hanging out with her 2 dogs, 2 cats, and 1 husband.
Matt Sameck
(Peter Shaw)
Matt is excited to be returning to the Bell Road Barn Players. Matt previously appeared in Bell Road’s productions of The Foreigner and Hollywood Holidays and was in Corbin Theatre’s production of Suite Surrender last year in Liberty. He was a member of the improv company Comedy City for over 10 years and has appeared in several film and commercial projects around KC, including two Tech N9ne music videos. His theatrical credits include Deathtrap with Pacifica Spindrift Players (Pacifica, CA), The Miss Firecracker Contest with PTD Productions (Ypsilanti, MI), and other productions in the San Francisco Bay area and southeastern Michigan. He’s eternally grateful to his wife and son for their support.
Dalton Pittenger
(Swing for Peter Shaw)
Dalton is excited to be working with Bell Road Barn Players, after previously directing for last December’s Radio Plays for the Holidays, serving as the rehearsal AD/SM for The Foreigner, playing the role of Robert Lambert in Boeing Boeing, Patrick Simmons in A Murder is Announced, and participating in several of the Christmas plays over the years. When Dalton isn’t doing theatre with BRB he is… teaching theatre and running the co-curricular program at Smithville High School. Dalton is thankful for his family, friends, and the KC metro theatre community!
Laura LaCour
(Swing for
Annie & Williamina)
Laura is grateful to have been a teeny tiny part of this beautiful show, as it is a script she has adored since reading it with the Season Selection Committee for Bell Road Barn. She has very much enjoyed lurking amidst this talented and dedicated group of people, and hopes you fall in love with this story and these characters.
Laura has been involved in various shows in various capacities with several community theatres. She likes stuff and does things. She is currently directing The Miss Firecracker Contest for River City Community Players in Leavenworth, and is eager to direct Bell Road Barn’s upcoming production of Ripcord this summer.
Courtney Klein
(Swing for
Margaret & Henrietta)
Courtney is a local theatre artist with a passion for acting and storytelling. She currently works for KCRep and she has previously worked for the Heart of America Shakespeare Festival and The Barn Players Community Theatre.
This is her third production with the Bell Road Barn Players, having previously appeared as Luciana in The Comedy of Errors and Catherine in The Foreigner. Courtney has also been seen in local productions as Ruth in the City of Independence Theatre’s production of Miracle on South Division Street and as Annie Lou in Independence Square’s staged reading of Waiting for MacArthur.
Matt Hentges - Director
Matt has been doing theater for over 20 years now throughout Kansas City. His very first production was on this very stage in Bell road 2002 production of “Tribute.”
Although he considers Bell Road to be his home theater he is very much looking forward to some time with his three dogs, Bruno, Sonny, and Zelda. He would like to thank his parents and family for their continued support, his wife, who is his inspiration and his Compass. And his children, Audrey and Leo, who are the brightest stars in his universe.
SPECIAL THANKS
Park University, Park Campus Safety, Bobbi Shaw, RJ Parish, Ted
Collins, Nancy Robinson, David & Diane Hentges, Karla Fennick,
Dalton Pittenger, Theatre Lawrence, James Diemer, Brandon
Stevens, Mike Hadley, Patrick Peterson, Emerson Rapp, Bill Wright,
Audrey Hentges, Leo Hentges, City Theatre of Independence,
Olathe Civic Theater Association, Kansas City Actors’ Theatre
OUR THEATRE PARTNERS
Special Thanks to our Season Partners and Sponsors
The Newburger Foundation
and
Park University
Thank you for your support of local community theatre.
To continue your support, so that we can continue to bring you quality productions, please consider making a financial contribution to our organization. Bell Road Barn Players is 501(c)3 Non-Profit organization.
UPCOMING AUDITIONS
Auditions for An Ideal Husband by Oscar Wilde April 7-8
visit bellroadbarn.org to sign up for an appointment
Auditions for Ripcord by David Lindsay-Abaire May 4-5
Performances of An Ideal Husband June 7-16
Performances of Ripcord July 19-20
