MHCC Theatre to Elevate Lesser Known Piece of History with 'They Promised Her the Moon'

For this season at the Mt. Hood Community College Theatre Department, the sky is the limit. 

In keeping with their theme of “elevate,” the department will produce Laurel Ollstein’s “They Promised Her the Moon,” highlighting the story of lesser-known aviator and trailblazer Jerrie Cobb. 

Cobb was trained and meant to be the first female astronaut on the moon, but that dream was never actualized. 

“The theme is obvious in the idea of someone wanting to go to space,” said Director Zach Hartley. “It’s about flying and the freedom of that, and also Jerrie going after what she wanted to do her whole life. We’re elevating a tale — an important piece of history — that I think deserves to be better known.”

Cobb started flying planes at 12 and she was teaching men to fly by 19. She excelled when testing for the NASA program, but was kept from going to space by discriminatory practices. She went on to testify before Congress several times, on behalf of women’s inclusion in the space program, and, together with fellow would-be female astronaut Janey Hart, paved the way for Sally Ride to become the first American woman in space. 

In the process of training for space, Cobb underwent an exceptional number of hours in a sensory deprivation tank. With that in mind, “They Promised Her the Moon” is composed of vignettes of memory hallucinations Cobb had in isolation. 

“The story is really important, and about someone who not everyone knows,” said Hartley. “These kinds of stories… there’s just something really special about getting to play someone who actually exists or existed (as opposed to a fictional character left open for interpretation).” 

This setting makes the show very technically interesting, with the visual aspect relying heavily on the lighting crew making the MHCC Studio Theatre stage look like the inside of a sensory deprivation tank. 

“We have all students or recent graduates as designers for this,” Hartley explained. “The technicians will get a chance to shine.” 

The cast will be comprised of six to 10 actors of varying ages and backgrounds. 

“Our community program here is really expanding,” Hartley said. “I’m excited to have a diverse range of ages and experience in this cast.”

While the auditions for the show are open to community members as well as students, Hartley thinks the message of the show is especially important for his students. 

“Jerrie Cobb is proof that someone can go to community college and go out and be successful,” Hartley said, explaining that success is determined more by ambition than by origins. “Nothing was put into Jerrie’s hands. She went out and grabbed it. It’s inspiring.” 

The production will run from May 8-17, with shows at 7 p.m. May 8, 9, 15 and 16, and at 2 p.m. May 10 and 17. 

Tickets are $10 for general admission and $5 for students, staff, and seniors, and can be purchased online at tinyurl.com/mhcctheatre.