Skip to main content

Secrets of the Universe and Other Songs

Award-winning playwright and librettist, Marc Acito, is best known for his novel, “How I Paid for College,” and his collaboration with George Takei on the Broadway musical Allegiance. In Aurora, Colorado, Acito’s latest piece, "Secrets of the Universe and Other Songs," will have its world premiere at the Aurora Fox Arts Center.

Mary Louise Lee
In 1937, internationally acclaimed classical singer, Marian Anderson, performed a concert at Princeton University’s McCarter Theatre. But because she was African-American and racism ruled the day, Anderson was denied a hotel room. Instead, she accepted an invitation to stay at a Princeton professor’s home. That professor was Albert Einstein. And that invitation serves as the jumping off point for this breathtaking new play, featuring gorgeous music from Anderson's songbook.

"Secrets of the Universe and Other Songs" explores the connection between science and religion; physics and music; and those rare, unlikely friendships that are very often also the best friendships this universe can offer.

Mary Louise Lee and Jordan Leigh star as Marian Anderson and Albert Einstein, respectively. Joining Lee and Leigh onstage are Mark Rubald as Anderson’s accompanist, Kosti Vehanen, and former President Franklin Delano Roosevelt; Sharon Kay White as Einstein’s maid, Helen Dukas, and former First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt; and the multi-talented Andrew Fischer pulling double duty as the show’s music director and fifth actor.

Jordan Leigh
The Fox’s Executive Producer, Helen R. Murray, directed the world premiere of Acito’s non-musical version of this show and teams up with him, again, to direct the premiere of this latest, version - a breathtaking play with music featuring some of Colorado’s most beloved performers.

Playwright Marc Acito will be at opening night of the world premiere. The play runs from Feb. 21 through March 15. For tickets, visit Aurora Fox Theatre online, or call our box office at 303.739.1970.

Popular posts from this blog

Slow Down: The Degrowth Manifesto

In "Slow Down: The Degrowth Manifesto," renowned Marxian scholar and philosopher Kohei Saito offers a compelling argument against the relentless pursuit of economic growth that permeates contemporary capitalism. Saito’s thesis focuses on the concept of degrowth—a radical reduction in production and consumption that aligns with sustainable ecological limits rather than constant expansion. Pictured above is Kohei Saito Saito makes a significant and timely contribution to the ongoing conversation about sustainable living. Slow Down adopts an interdisciplinary approach, drawing insights from environmental science, economics, and social theory to present a clear and urgent depiction of the current ecological crisis. Saito critiques the widely accepted belief that economic growth equates to progress and questions the sustainability of existing global consumption patterns. He advocates for a fundamental reshaping of our economic systems to prioritize human well-being and ecologica...
Read more

Enlighten Me

Editor's Note: This review was originally published in Los Angeles Book Review . Author Minh Lê Standing up for oneself seems like doing the right thing. Binh did just that in the face of a racist school bully who was poking fun at his Asian heritage. But physically assaulting another student goes against school policy, and it was Binh who got in trouble. Binh shares a silent retreat with his family and younger siblings. Along with other children, he learns about stories from the previous lives of the Buddha. The stories are interesting, but for Binh, it is difficult to sit still and clear his mind when he misses his Gameboy. While he struggles with silence, he learns important lessons about friendship, community, and being present. In the graphic novel "Enlighten Me," award-winning author Minh Lê and bestselling illustrator Chan Chau tell the story of a boy who gains a better understanding of himself as he works on quieting the mind and reflecting on dharma. Lê and Ch...
Read more

Minding the Wealth Gap

As a Black investor and startup founder, Cliff Goins IV brings firsthand experience and sharp insight to one of America’s most urgent issues: the racial wealth gap. Having navigated the worlds of finance and entrepreneurship, Goins has seen up close the systemic disparities in wealth creation, access to capital, and asset management. From unequal opportunities in homeownership and education to persistent challenges in business funding and employment, the historical gaps are perpetuated in present-day practices. In "Minding the Wealth Gap," Goins skillfully blends data, lived experience, and the insights of experts to illuminate the deep-rooted economic disparities facing Black Americans. More importantly, he highlights the power of collective uplift. Through the voices of nine dynamic “gap closers,” Goins shows how real change happens when Black investors and leaders open doors for others. Each success “play” or strategy underscores the ripple effect of support. Selena Cu...
Read more