The School of Drama invites you to experience MEN ON BOATS by Jaclyn Backhaus, directed by Ka-Ling Cheung, The School of Drama faculty member and BFA Program Director.

Performance Details

Thursday, April 9 at 7:30pm
Friday, April 10 at 7:30pm
Saturday, April 11 at 2:00pm
Saturday, April 11 at 7:30pm

Synopsis 

Ten explorers. Four boats. On Grand Canyon. MEN ON BOATS is the true(ish) history of an 1869 expedition, when a one-armed captain and a crew of insane yet loyal volunteers set out to chart the course of the Colorado River.

Catherine Herridge: When history looks back on this decision (pardoning Michael Flynn), how do you think it will be written?

Bill Barr: Well, history is written by the winners. So it largely depends on who’s writing the history.

"When I was asked to direct for the main stage, I knew immediately that I wanted to explore a piece that challenges the validity of “winners”. Jaclyn Backhaus’s MEN ON BOATS was the perfect piece for this quest. MEN ON BOATS examines the myth of American exploration by revealing history as something shaped by race, privilege, survival, and one’s biased memory rather than objective truth. Jaclyn Backhaus instructs us to tell MEN ON BOATS with specific voices. Voices that weren’t considered as “winners” back in 1869. Or dare I say even now. I want to celebrate these voices and bring them to the forefront. I am excited to go on this expedition with an amazing cast and find our voice and make our history with this production." — Ka-Ling Cheung, Director.

Featuring 

Claudia Mayo | Goodman
Elena Hollenbeak | Hawkins
Emma Lyndell | Powell
Holiday Raimond Jones | Old Shady
Janiya Woodard | Sumner
Luna Murphy | Dunn
Rainah-Joi Taylor | OG Howland
Sanaa Sweeting | Seneca Howland
Viwe Sikali | Hall
Aurelia Weber Wiggins | Bradley
Amanda Acevedo | Swing (Dunn, OG, Hall)
Madison Elliott | Swing (Bradley, Goodman)
Kari Ergmann | Swing (Powell, Old Shady)
Val Cruz | Swing (Sumner, Seneca, Hawkins)

Creative Team

Ka-Ling Cheung | Director 

Aneesha Kudtarkar | Associate Director

Lily James Roberts | Student Assistant Director

Mars Juno Bartolome Neri | Production Stage Manager

Danielle De La Fuente | Scenic Designer

Marcella Barbeau | Lighting Designer

Ariana Cardoza | Sound Designer

Skyler Glaser | Costume Designer

Mark Alberto McKnight | Projection Designer

Holly Collis Handford | Composer

Production Team 

MK Blazek | Associate Dean of Performance Operations & Executive Producer

Dylan Friedman | Director of Performance Technology, Technical Supervisor

Chantel King | Producer of Theater and Opera

Olivia Ragan | Production Manager

Patrick Surillo | Production Manager

Ellis Durand | Assistant Production Manager

Christopher Collier | Student, Assistant Production Specialist

Sadie Redmond | Student, Assistant Production Specialist

Steven Brenman | Interim Productions Shops Manager

Lola Buncher | Props Supervisor

Tierney Brennan | Props Overhire

Fletcher McCune | Master Electrician

Matthew Craig | Audio/Video Supervisor

Joshua Northcutt | Assistant Audio/Video Supervisor

Madison Cagle | Costume Shop Manager

Hannah Mattingly | Assistant Costume Shop Manager