Utah Tech Theater Presents – Men on Boats
September 22-24 & Sept 27 through October 1, 7:30 PM Eccles Mainstage Theatre
Imagine this… Ten explorers. Four boats. One Grand Canyon.
In 1869, ten explorers set off to chart the Green and Colorado Rivers, under the guidance of John Wesley Powell, a one-armed Civil War Veteran and personal friend of President Grant, a government-sanctioned journey following in the footsteps of the deserters, lone adventurers, and countless indigenous people who have previously braved the wild rapids leading through Colorado, Utah, and New Mexico, and through the most dangerous waterway of all: the Grand Canyon.
Along the way, they make friends, they get on each other’s nerves, they suffer the loss of boat and supplies, they doubt, struggle, and name mountains after themselves, they posture and pretend, they quit while they’re ahead, and they repeatedly brave dangerous rapids to reach the other side. As boats capsize and supplies are lost, belts tighten and nerves fray.
In “Men On Boats,” Jacklyn Backhaus’ original, hilarious, and delightful adventure dramedy, the conquering men, out to chronicle the land in service of America, God, and Manifest destiny, are given voice and movement by actors who are anything and everything but Caucasian and male, and the bravery, determination, foolishness, humanity, and true grit of the historical explorers is memorialized, while the historical moment of their journey is viewed with a critical lens.
Originally produced in 2015, the play has since grown in popularity. The nontraditional casting aspect moves the dialogue and characterizations into a different light. Backhaus’ piece examines gender roles throughout history and their influence on today’s society by requiring that the roles of the original white explorers be played by a 10-person cast made up of anyone other than white cisgender males.
Admission is free. There’s no need to secure tickets in advance. We want everyone to be able to come to see our students’ work! By attending one of our productions, you are actively participating in the growth and training of our students.
Visit theatre.utahtech.edu for more information.
“So, if you like adventures, if you like to laugh, and you like to be challenged, this show is for you.”
