Paired with our production of Silent Sky, Perisphere invites you to join a lively, three-part book club centered on Margot Lee Shetterly’s Hidden Figures! Gather with fellow members of the Perisphere community to read, reflect, and dive into meaningful conversations about women in STEM, history, and the powerful ideas that connect the book to the world of the play.
You’re welcome to attend one, two, or all three meetings—each session is a stand-alone discussion focused on a specific theme from the novel and how it echoes the circumstances, characters, and questions raised in Silent Sky.
📚 Book Club Schedule
January 27, 2026 | 6:30–8:00 PM | ZOOM (Virtual)
🔹 Race and Segregation in STEM
Explore the barriers, breakthroughs, and resilience of Black mathematicians at NASA—and how these realities resonate with the scientific world of Silent Sky.
February 2, 2026 | 6:30–8:00 PM | ZOOM (Virtual)
🔹 Women in STEM
A conversation about ambition, recognition, and the fight to be heard in male-dominated spaces—then and now.
February 8, 2026 | 11:00 AM–12:30 PM | The Writer’s Center, Bethesda, MD (In-Person)
🎬 Film Viewing & Discussion
Watch the Hidden Figures movie adaptation together and wrap up the series with a group discussion.
📖 What You’ll Need
Participants are responsible for obtaining a copy of Hidden Figures. Copies are available through Amazon or your local library.
⭐ Bonus Fun!
After the February 8 meeting, stick around for the ultimate Perisphere afternoon: attend the show and stay for a post-show talkback with the cast of Silent Sky. Make a day of it!
Come for the book, stay for the conversation—and deepen your experience of Silent Sky along the way!
*Note: Tickets purchased in person at the box office will incur an additional $2 service fee added to the prices listed online.
Shana Laski, Perisphere Resident Dramaturg
The club will be led and moderated by Perisphere’s Resident Dramaturg, Shana Laski. Shana Laski was brought into the Perisphere family this year as the Resident Dramaturg for the season. “Given Perisphere’s commitment to interrogating history,” said co-artistic director Gerrad Alex Taylor, “We are thrilled to introduce a dedicated member of the team who can bring historical context and further clarity to both the audience and the artistic team.” Shana will play an essential role in contextualizing the work for the community, leading the development of a book club, and facilitating a new play development reading to expand Perisphere’s satellite engagement offerings. Shana is a director, actor, choreographer, and dramaturg. Her dramaturgy has been featured by Round House Theatre, Theatre J, Mosaic Theatre Company, and others. She is so excited to be working with Perisphere for the 2026 season as the Resident Dramaturg and looks forward to more community programming!