“Men on Boats is a brilliant reimagining of the mapping of the Grand Canyon,” said actor Sunny Richardson, who plays John Wessley Powell. “The show has direct quotes from Powell’s field journals, adding another layer of authenticity to the play.”
Photos from last night’s preview performance.
“Men on Boats is said to be a ‘true-ish’ story, based on the journal writings and accounts of John Wesley Powell and the crew that survived. Audiences will learn many rafting terms and how to work together out in the wilderness and on the water as a team to get through challenging situations,” said Theatrikos Board Member Lisa Coe, who plays trapper/hunter William Dunn in the play. Dunn was one of those who tragically left the expedition just moments before the successful conclusion. “Men on Boats is based on local history with a connection to the Grand Canyon and river running.”
“Audience members will get sucked into the adventure and laugh at the love/hate the characters feel for the river. The bond is real,” said actor Jacquelyn Hire, who plays cartographer Andew Hall, who was responsible for the mapping of the expedition.
Contrary to the show’s title, there are no men in Men on Boats. “I think that the cast being made of women or non-binary actors is incredible. I cannot think of the last time I saw a piece of media that featured anyone like me in a story like this outside of sci-fi/fantasy. It’s thrilling to be the representation that I didn’t realize I was missing. I hope that the audience will see the opportunity shows like this bring, and that they begin to think outside the box of what a strong leader and adventurer looks like,” said Richardson.
“Boys smell so I’m glad that there are no men in the play, just smelly girls which is so much better because we smell like flowers and whisky,” joked Hire. The nontraditional casting, following the playwright’s vision, “shows that women are strong enough to do what men did, and maybe one of the explorers was secretly a woman, you never know. Plus, we’re not really playing the role as tough men, just as confident people who get sad when we lose the whisky barrel.”
Men on Boats runs May 17 to June 2 in Flagstaff and June 9 in Cottonwood.
