I wrote a play! I wrote a play!

I wrote a play! And it is being performed THIS WEEK!!

And I just had to share this with my Vocal peeps because ... who better to be excited with me?

The play is called Per Aspera, and it is about the lives of astronauts and their families. Maybe I'll share more after the production. We'll see how it goes. But for now, here are my notes for the written interview I shared with Theatre Kansas.

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1. My writing journey

I write nonfiction professionall practical resources for churches and nonprofits to help them work toward the flourishing of their communities. My personal mission is: “to come alongside people and their good ideas, so good work can shine.” I do this also through Shine Writing Services as a developmental editor and writing coach.

In my professional life, I write nonfiction books and online resources for churches and nonprofits. While this work is meaningful to me, several years ago I realized that a piece of me was missing that could only be filled through creative writing. I crave stories. When I can, I write short fiction and poetry for an online platform (https://shopping-feedback.today/authors/sonia-heidi-unruh). Per Aspera is my first play.

2. Inspiration for Per Aspera

I have to credit my parents for making me a Star Trek fan and nurturing my life-long love of space. About 15 years ago, I read Buzz Aldrin’s picture book, Reaching for the Moon, to my young son. Aldrin depicts an incident in his childhood that exemplified some of the qualities that led him eventually to the lunar landing. And I remember thinking, “A play about astronauts when they were kids would be interesting...” In 2018 I heard astronaut Scott Kelly speak at Hutchinson Community College about his life journey, which relit the spark of this idea.

So I started doing research, exploring what experiences and influences have shaped the people who are capable and courageous enough to brave the dangers of space. I also got interested in what it’s like for an astronaut’s loved ones. I spent a lot of time at Hutchinson’s marvelous Cosmosphere, getting information and soaking up the spirit of space flight.

Behind our space program are countless amazing stories—uplifting, shocking, tragic, heroic, miraculous. Per Aspera weaves together key moments from the lives of astronauts and their families, with the Challenger space shuttle disaster as its center of gravity. The stories are all based on real people and historical events, though imaginatively presented. The goal of sharing these stories, and the lessons they have for us now, is what propelled me through the loooong (but fun!) process of crafting the play.

3. How this play came to be produced

Per Aspera is the second half of the Kansas state motto, Ad Astra Per Aspera – To the stars, through difficulties. And this play’s path to production has indeed been through difficulties.

I finished a first draft of the play in 2019, and shared it with the Family Community Theater. I actually wrote the play with FCT in the back of my mind, as I’ve really enjoyed being part of the cast (and watching my kids perform) in their productions. Craig Williams, President of FCT, sat down with me to review the play, offer feedback, and discuss the possibility of FCT taking this on. I was “over the moon” when the Board gave the green light!

Per Aspera was originally scheduled to be performed in April 2022 (to coincide with “Yuri’s Night”, the anniversary of the first human in space—since Yuri is one of the characters). But then Covid hit the nation, and our household. My daughter Elise’s health was devastated by Long Covid (from which she is still slowly recovering—here is a link to her story). At that time she needed full-time care. I hated to do it, but I reluctantly asked the FCT Board if they could postpone the play to a future season, which they graciously agreed to do. Instead of seeing my play performed that spring, we spent two weeks at a children’s hospital.

Elise’s health gradually improved to the point that we could talk about rescheduling the show to the 2024-25 season. I’m incredibly grateful to FCT, and in particular the play’s director Craig Williams, not only for putting on this premier performance, but also for all the support our family received from our “theater family.”

4. How I’ve been part of the process

From the start, Craig agreed that I could have an active role as creative consultant. I knew that Craig is a history buff who would feel a connection with the play’s content, and I trusted his directorial vision. And I’ve been grateful that he’s been open to my input throughout the production.

I also experienced a privilege not many playwrights have — to make changes in the script along the way! Based on what I was observing in rehearsals I was able to work with the director on improvements. These changes including sprucing up dialogue, trimming back some parts, and expanding the role of some characters. We even ended up replacing one scene early on with a wholly new scene, with different characters.

While I’m sure this caused some confusion and annoyance for the cast and crew, the end result is that I’m much happier with the play than when I first submitted it to FCT.

Another way I’m involved: I was pre-cast as Margaret Hamilton, director of software engineering for the Apollo program. I was talking with Craig before we started about what it would take to play Margaret, and he suggested, “You know this character so well, why don’t you do it?” And I’ve discovered that even though I wrote her lines, I still struggled to memorize them!

5. What it’s like to anticipate an audience, and what I hope they take with them from the show

Watching the actors and stage crew bring these stories out of my head and into life has been uniquely gratifying. Anticipating the actual performance is … all the emotions! Sometimes I pinch myself in awe that this dream of many years is really coming true.

One particular hope is that this play will encourage young people to “prepare and persevere” in pursuit of meaningful goals, and inspire adults to invest in them. After all, every child you encounter could become an astronaut … or a software engineer … or a guidance counselor who changes lives with their words. Space travel—like putting on a play—takes a village.

A plaque left by the Apollo 11 crew on the moon has the words, "We came in peace for all mankind." (Humankind, please! — a Per Aspera inside joke.) It was important to me that this play be multigenerational and multicultural. Recognizing the diverse giftings, cultures and life experiences represented in the space program—as well as in our community—brings us closer to the perspective of an astronaut, gazing out on our one, beautiful planet.

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P.S. I'm going out of my mind getting ready for the rapidly upcoming production ... So for those inclined to leave a comment, please know that I deeply appreciate your encouragement and feedback and thoughts on how cool space stuff is!! And I beg your patience with replies until I emerge on the other side of this experience. :-)