A Fresh Adaptation of a 19th Century Adventure, BYU Theatre’s Female-led Cast Take the Stage this October in “Men on Boats”
With neither men nor boats, but with plenty of wit and imagination, ten BYU actresses will set forth on an expedition this October in BYU Theatre’s “Men on Boats,” a humorous and historical tale of exploration and adventure.
Megan Sanborn Jones, chair of the Department of Theatre and Media Arts (TMA), was first introduced to “Men on Boats” when searching for plays for women to perform in the BYU Theatre season. “It’s a surprising title to be considered one of the best contemporary plays for female actresses, and I was instantly interested,” said Jones. “The amazing story told with humor and hijinks had me coming back again and again as a possibility for our stage.”
“Men on Boats” was written by Jaclyn Backhaus, an American playwright whose work explores contemporary issues through lenses of satire, realism, identity and gender. Inspired by the first official expedition of the Grand Canyon by way of the Colorado River in 1869, the play premiered at the Clubbed Thumb in 2015 and has since received praise for its commentary on the mythical aspects of American exploration as well as its innovative approach to casting.
“As a creative team, we have been on our own journey of discovery; we hope we have found a balance between challenging the original narrative with our stylized, theatrical approach, and honoring the bravery and passion of these ten adventurers,” said the production’s dramaturgs Shelley Graham and Alyssa Call.
The cast of characters includes a motley crew of volunteers led by the one-armed Colonel John Wesley Powell, for whom Utah’s Lake Powell was named.
“The action-packed play does what theatre does best—creating worlds out of imagination,” said Jones. “So it is no surprise that ‘Men on Boats’ features neither men nor boats, but instead ten of the very best actresses at BYU using their creativity, physical comedy and high spirits to tell us an unbelievable true story.”
Tickets and Show Details
Date and Time:
- October 18-19, 22-26, 29–November 2 at 7:30 p.m.
- October 19, 26, November 2 at 2:00 p.m.
- Post-show discussions: October 24, 31
- ASL interpretation: October 24
Location: West Campus Studio Theatre
Price: $17-20
Tickets: Available online at BYU Tickets