Men on Boats

Ten explorers. Four boats. The Grand Canyon.

Men on Boats is the mostly true story of John Wesley Powell’s expedition down the tumultuous Colorado River, navigating the Grand Canyon. Playwright Jaclyn Backhaus explores the concept of exploration and discovery through diverse casting of racially diverse actors who identify as female, trans, genderfluid, non-binary, and/or non-gender conforming in a story depicting mostly white male explorers. This play maps more than just the lay of the land, beckoning audiences to consider how roles are cast throughout history and today.