Science Museum Oklahoma To Host Play Inclusive For Hearing Impaired

It’s called “Silent Sky,” a play about a Harvard astronomer, so it just makes sense that the two worlds of science and theater meet at Science Museum Oklahoma.

“Serious and delicate, and romantic show, that is “Silent Sky” by Lauren Gunderson,” said Show Director Cameron King.

It is the story of Henrietta Leavitt, the inventor of Leavitt’s law.

“Henrietta Leavitt was a female astronomer in the early nineteen hundreds, and the fact that she was actually hard of hearing,” said King.

Southern Plains productions approached Science Museum Oklahoma to host the play about the galaxy and planets, they added a special twist.

“We are also doing it with supertitles and with ASL,” said King.

Which added a challenge for the actors.

“Sign language, I did not know beforehand, and learning it has been truly incredible, I really genuinely want to learn this language,” said Zack Palomo who plays Peter Shaw in the production.  

“So, I had to learn very quickly on the spot, which has been both beneficial and really exciting and challenging to re-learn all of that coming into this production,” said Camron Hamlin, an understudy and intimacy designer for the play.

The play attracted cast and crew from places like New York and Atlanta.

“Everyone is so welcoming here. So, yeah, I think the environment is more calming, it’s more relaxing,” said Palomo.

Though the show comes across as very natural, there were some challenges.

“We haven’t done any theatrical performances, and musical performances, or anything of the kind in our planetarium,” said Waylon Troyer with Science Museum Oklahoma.

But the challenges were actually positive.

“Whenever I got the call from the director, asking me if I wanted to do the design in a planetarium, I immediately said yes,” said Video and Media Designer Bahaar Esfahani.

As the August 11th through 13th showtimes approach, things are already emotional for the cast.

I’ve cried almost every single time we have run the show because it is so beautiful.

For ticket information visit www.southernplainsproductions.org.