Sci-fi comedy celebrates inquiry as a superpower

The School of Performing Arts will produce “Annie Jump and the Library of Heaven” by Reina Hardy, a fast-paced, science fiction coming-of-age story, from Sept. 30-Oct. 5 in Squires Studio Theatre.

Thirteen-year-old Annie Jump is a science genius living with her brilliant-but-kooky father in small-town Strawberry, Kansas. Balancing the opposing forces of fitting in and academic exceptionalism, the trajectory of her life changes forever when an omniscient intergalactic librarian appears with a mission to save humanity. The appearance is coincidentally timed with the arrival of a cute new boy at school and her father’s latest scheme to connect with aliens. The story uses comedy and science fiction to speak about our relationship to science, belief, and belonging.

“I'm fundamentally interested in doing theatre that speaks to something in the current moment,” said director Susanna Rinehart, associate dean for academic and faculty affairs for the College of Architecture, Arts, and Design. “Often, this might mean sociopolitical commentary, but the world feels like enough of a challenge in that territory right now, so I found myself interested in finding a kind of counterforce.”

That outlook prompted Rinehart to search for plays about kindness, hope, exploration, and most importantly, truth-seeking, all of which are found in the fantastical world of this play.

For Rinehart and the production’s designers, the process of creating that world together highlighted the power of inquiry and the magic of collaborating with like-minded creators. “Since this play lives in a child-like state but also incorporates magical elements, there are a ton of opportunities for theatricality that necessitate production-wide collaboration,” said Rinehart.

Leading the charge on much of the production’s magical and celestial elements is guest scenic designer  Derek Smith. Currently the resident scenic designer at the Barter Theatre in Abingdon, Smith’s involvement with the production was a cosmic gift, as this production requires a strong relationship between the scenic and projection designs to build the universe of the play.

“I was thrilled to be given the opportunity to guest design at Virginia Tech,” Smith said. “Collaborating with Susanna throughout the design process has been such a pleasure, and David Utley’s collaboration with props has been immeasurable. It’s always so nice to work with folks who speak the same unspoken language as you.”

The play offers a reminder that leading with inquiry can transform lives, said Rinehart. “While there might not be any straight lines to headline news, this story is incredibly relevant to this moment,” said Rinehart. “Like most great plays, it poses questions bigger than one person: What do we cultivate? How do we educate our kids? What is the value of science? Why do we want to belong? And how can we?”

Tickets, parking, and other details

Performances are Sept. 30-Oct. 3 at 7:30 p.m. and Oct. 5 at 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. in Squires Studio Theatre.

Tickets are $15 for the general public and $12 for seniors and students and may be purchased through the Center for the Arts at Virginia Tech ticket office in person, online, or by calling 540-231-5300. All seating is general admission. Tickets will be available at the door in the Squires Student Center beginning one hour prior to the performance. For online purchase, find ticket links online.

All university community members and visitors will need to display a parking permit, use the ParkMobile app, pay a fee, or pay using an hourly meter to park on the Blacksburg campus unless otherwise noted by signage. Find additional parking information online.

If you are an individual with a disability and/or desire an accommodation, please contact Susan Sanders at least 10 days prior to the event.

Next on the Squires Studio Theatre stage is "The Mousetrap" by Agatha Christie, directed by Amanda J. Nelson, running Nov. 11-15.

Written by Ashley Cooper, a graduate student in arts leadership