October Sky -- How a Musical Tells the True Story of Scientific Achievement Half a Century Ago.

 

Capturing a compelling slice of American history, October Sky has travelled from best-selling autobiography to acclaimed 1999 film to now a lovely musical. This is the story of Homer Hickham, a teenager in a West Virginia coal mining town who overcomes traditional expectations of going down in the mines in favor of building the rockets that go in the opposite direction.
For several generations, Hickham’s family followed tradition and used high school as a last stop before heading into the coal mines.
The launch of Sputnik by the USSR in October 1957 triggered massive changes on the global stage, but Hickham’s story telescopes the implications in a compelling way. Sparked by the mystery of what the satellite means and how it works trigger Hickham to gather a few friends to experiment.
With little formal guidance, the experiments start. The limitations of materials and knowledge are not deterrents, rather these obstacles are indeed the way. A machinist working at the mine provides some rudimentary tubes, which become fuselages. Many failures to launch echo Edison’s quotation that “I’ve just found 10,000 ways that don’t work.”
A teacher plays a key role in supporting Hickham and his nascent rocketry club, which reflects the recurring American story about supporting STEM education.
Although the town of Coalwood is first amused by Hickham’s skyward efforts, the citizens grow to respect his efforts. The narrative tension is built on the fact that Hickham’s father firmly rejects such pie in the sky dreams, favoring the practical and seemingly noble vocation of working the mines.
The ‘rocket boys’ press forward, fine tuning designs, altering fuel composition and soon discover keys to success.  A series of science fairs bring “The Big Creek Missile Agency” to broader attention.

With Hickham’s only hope for college a scholarship, winning the state science fair is critical.
Although the play does not explicitly reveal the eventual arc of Hickham’s career, he went on to study at Virginia Tech, serve in Vietnam and become an engineer at NASA.
For October Sky’s West Coast premiere at the venerable Old Globe Theatre in San Diego, a very strong cast is given strong direction by Rachel Rockwell. The sturdy book (Brian Hill and Aaron Thielen) has a head start with a great story of individualism, innovation and an entrepreneurial spirit.
Kyle Selig plays the main character, and his father is played by Ron Bohmer. Both play well off each other, building the tension underscored by love for each other. The music and lyrics (by Michael Mahler) draw from Americana and bluegrass flavors, but could have confidently drawn more deeply.

(from left) Ron Bohmer as John Hickam and Kyle Selig as Homer Hickam

The versatile stage design by Kevin Depinet evokes both the railroad tracks in a coal mine as well as the vast, inspiring and occasionally cloudy sky of West Virginia. The role of women in the late 1950s is handled well by Hickham’s mother Elise (Kerry O’Malley), girlfriend Dorothy (Eliza Palasz) and teacher Miss Riley (Sandra DeNise). In each their own way, they are limited in options and mostly reliant on the men in their lives. The second act opens with “The Last Kiss Goodbye,” where the three lead women harmonize ably about what they feel and fear before the men head into the mines.

The musical stands on its own as a very pleasing production. But it has deep staying power when considered through the lens of education, perseverance and innovation.
Photos by Jim Cox.

Share on Google Plus

About Unknown

This is a short description in the author block about the author. You edit it by entering text in the "Biographical Info" field in the user admin panel.