Silent Sky

Thu 8pm, Fri 8pm, Sat 8pm; through 12/16; $22 general, $16 students/seniors, $12 on Thursdays; Big Idea Theatre, 1616 Del Paso Boulevard; (916) 960-3036; www.bigideatheatre.org.

Rated 5.0

Big Idea Theatre shines a bright light on astronomer Henrietta Swan Leavitt, who reached for the sky in the early 1900s at a time when women were not recognized in academia. This production skillfully brings out powerful, joyful and humorous performances by the cast, all within a lovely backdrop of twinkling constellations.