Washington Evening Journal
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Indian Hills to host ‘They Promised Her the Moon’ performance
Courtesy of IHCC
Nov. 19, 2023 12:54 pm, Updated: Nov. 19, 2023 5:05 pm
Between 1959 and 1963, thirteen women trained for the Mercury 13 space program, undergoing the same training that male astronauts were subjected to, and sometime surpassing the abilities of their male counterparts, but the program was still cut due to the prejudices of the time, and the Soviet Union sent the first woman into space in 1963. They Promised Her the Moon tells the story of one of these brave women pilots, Jerrie Cobb, from her childhood in rural Oklahoma to her brief moment of fame meeting Vice President Lyndon B. Johnson and testifying in front of Congress.
Iowa’s debut performance of They Promised Her the Moon, will be Thursday, November 30th at 7:00 p.m., Friday, December 1st at 7:00 p.m., and Saturday, December 2nd at 2:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m. in Warrior Junction in the Advanced Technology Building in Ottumwa. Audience capacity is limited to 100 seats per performance, so make sure you get your tickets ahead of time and arrive early. Performances are free to the public, and tickets may be reserved ahead of time at: https://ihcc.edu/tickets
According to Director Dr. Jennifer Boyenga, “This historic show about one brave woman in the Mercury 13 program emphasizes the strength and passion of the women who ran into the glass ceiling as they strove for greater heights in the U.S. space program.”
Technical Director Dr. Ray Slavens says, “Our students have had a great opportunity to perform in a different kind of space this term, broadening their perspective of what theatre is and where it can be performed.”
The play begins in the laboratory of Dr. Randy Lovelace, played by Diego Solorio of Irvine California, as pilot Jerrie Cobb, played by Grace Haring of Cambria, undergoes gruelling tests in preparation for the Mercury 13 space program, funded in large part by famed pilot Jackie Cochran,.played by Kaidyn Dencklau of Panora. Inside an isolation tank, Cobb experiences hallucinations in which she relives portions of her life, from her childhood in Oklahoma, leading to her present situation. Along the way we meet her supportive father Harvey, played by Flora Wilcox of Sigourney, and her not-so-supportive mother Helena, played by Samantha Zuel of Chariton, pilot Jack Ford, played by Aiden Conrad of Keota, who also plays astronaut John Glenn, Jerrie’s elementary school teacher Mrs. White, played by Kati Williams of Ottuwma, Circus Bob, played by Josh Jones of Eddyville, who also plays Congressman Waggoner, a small town mayor, played by Ollie Shields of Fort Madison, and Congressman Anfuso, played by Trey Thomas of Monroe. Rounding out the ensemble are T.J. Lada of Marshalltown, Ashlynn Hamilton of Centerville, Libby Burton of Bloomfield, and Rosa Gorskikh of Knoxville.
Technical support for the show is provided by McKenna Baskett of Albia on the light board, Sophia Stiles of Geneseo, Illinois on the sound board, and River Hibma, Haylee Hollander, Lizzi Hootman, Tina McCoy, Trenton Patton, Micah Smith, and Avery Tallman on the tech crew.
Written by Laurel Ollstein, They Promised Her the Moon is produced by special arrangement with Playscripts, Inc., www.playscripts.com.