posted 05-10-2012 02:23 PM               

According to the play's director, Bette Howard, the play "more or less covers Jemison's life story from the age of 8 or 9 until whatever age she is now -- close to 60." Jemison, born in 1956, currently resides in Houston, Texas.

In addition to flying into space in 1992 aboard the Space Shuttle Endeavour, Jemison has also worked as a physician, scientist, chemical engineer and teacher, and even found time for a stint in the Peace Corps. She is also fluent in several languages.

Howard said she was drawn to this play because "it's very exciting. We staged it so you feel she's in the ship. We try to give the feeling of the take-off."

The members of the cast all play "not under three roles each," she explained. "There is constant changing of costumes and wigs. They have a different delivery for each character."

Though several of the actors are new to the latest incarnation, Clay (Carl Clay, the theater's executive producer) said that "not much has changed since last year. The show has maintained its integrity."