SEQUIM — Olympic Theatre Arts will conduct open auditions for “Silent Sky” by Lauren Gunderson and directed by Josh Sutcliffe at 6 p.m. Wednesday and 2 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 17.
“Silent Sky” is a story based on the life of astronomer Henrietta Leavitt and her fellow female “computers” who persisted in the scientific community of the early 1900s to make groundbreaking discoveries.
The play requires a number of parts, including:
• Henrietta Leavitt: brilliant, meticulous, excited — almost always wearing a period hearing-aid.
• Margaret Leavitt: homebody, creative, sweet, sister.
• Peter Shaw: the head astronomer’s apprentice and the man.
• Annie Cannon: the leader, terse and sure, grows into firebrand.
• Williamina Fleming: smart as a whip and fun, Scottish.
The play spans 20 years, so older actors will play younger in the beginning of the show; younger actors will play older toward the end.
Everyone is an adult, with Henrietta, Margaret and Peter being roughly the same age and younger than Annie and Williamina who are also roughly the same age.
The director said he is looking for actors and actresses with projection and diction, dedication and talent.
All auditioners will read “The Learn’d Astronomer” by Walt Whitman. Memorization is not required.
Auditioners should be familiar with the story; scripts are available at OTA. There will be cold readings.
There may be a call-back audition scheduled the next week depending on turnout.
“Silent Sky” will open Nov. 8 and close Nov. 24.
Rehearsals will start in the beginning of September.
OTA is also looking for creative people to fill out the production team.
Contact Olympic Theatre Arts at 360- 683-7326 for more information.
