Title

Men on Boats

Playwright

Jaclyn Backhaus

Director

Mary Beth Easley

Stage Manager

Meenakshi KN

Category

Mainstage, Thayer Theatre

First Rehearsal

September 25

Load In/Tech /Dress

October 27-November 2

Performances

November 3-5 & 8-11

Roles to be cast

Age (Presentation)

Gender (Presentation)

Description

JOHN WESLEY POWELL.

20s – 30s

any race

*See note regarding gender for all characters below

The one-armed leader of the expedition. Enjoys being in charge, making plans, making speeches and pursuing bold solutions. Optimistic, sometimes to a fault.

WILLIAM DUNN

20s – 30s

any race

Second in command. Practical, capable and strategic.
A tendency towards a glass-half-empty perspective.

O.G. HOWLAND

20s – 30s

any race

A printer and hunter. Has a dry sense of humor. Protective of his little brother. Little patience for nonsense. Overcame a dark and challenging upbringing. Likely will double with JOHNSON.

SENECA HOWLAND

20s – 30s

any race

O.G.’s quiet little brother. Has a scrappy energy. Looks up to his big brother. Overcame a dark and challenging upbringing. Jumps in to help where he's able. Likely will double with JUST JIM

JOHN COLTON SUMNER

20s – 30s

any race

The Bear Grylls of this expedition. Resourceful, observant and ready for any adventure. Natural leader with no need for the limelight. Could survive on bugs indefinitely if necessary.

HALL

20s – 30s

any race

A map-maker. An enthusiastic dork who values precision. Excited by simple pleasures and the splendor of the natural world. Has young, sidekick energy.

OLD SHADY

20s – 30s

any race

Powell’s older brother, a Civil War vet. The oldest member of the group. The definition of still waters running deep. A tree in the wind. A man of few words, so when he speaks it speaks volumes. Protective of his brother and the expedition.

HAWKINS

20s – 30s

any race

Caretaker with a big heart. Shows his love through food. A bit of a gossip, he likes having the inside scoop. Sassy.

GOODMAN

20s – 30s

any race

Super British. A wealthy, big-hearted adventurer who is captivated by the romance of the American West. A fish-out-of-water among the rest of the expeditioners, he tries hard but often finds his foot in his mouth. All of his gear is brand new. Likely will double with MR. ASA, a desert settler and self-appointed savior of the expedition.

BRADLEY

20s – 30s

any race

Manic with youth. He is the youngest member of the expedition. Optimistic, eager and excitable. Bubblegum and slingshots.

Synopsis

1869 - Four boats chart a course down the Colorado River toward the Grand Canyon. Led by John Wesley Powell, the eclectic and confident explorers face treacherous conditions, raging rapids, and ever-depleting rations. Jacklyn Backhaus’s comedy Men on Boats explores masculinity, bravery, and legacy in this atypical history play–all while in boats!

Notices

1. * A note from the playwright: The characters in MEN ON BOATS were historically cisgender white males. The cast should be made up entirely of people who are not. I'm talking about racially diverse actors who are female-identifying, trans-identifying, genderfluid, and/or non-gender-conforming.
2. Highly Physical show. Please let us know if you have any injuries or ailments at callbacks.
3. Please see the fight and intimacy breakdown below.
4. There will be a movement and voice call during callbacks.

Important Dates/Holidays

9/25 Yom Kippur*, 9/27 Mawlid al-Nabi*, 9/28 Anant Chaturdashi, 9/29-10/6 Sukkot*, 10/6-10/8 Sh’mini Atzeret *, 10/8 Simchat Torah*, 10/9 Indigenous Peoples' Day, 10/9 Columbus Day (Fed. Observed), 10/15-10/24 Navaratri, 10/24 Dasara/ Dussehra,​ 10/31 Halloween/ All Hallows Eve, 11/1 All Saints Day, 11/1 Dia de los Muertos, 11/1 Samhain-Beltane*

Date: 27 Aug 2023

Time: 10 am – 1:30 pm

Location: PAX 154

12:00 pm - Scenes

Please contact Meenakshi, stage manager, with any questions or concerns. Email: meenkn@uiowa.edu

CHARACTER

ACTOR

JOHN WESLEY POWELL

SARAH GAZDOWICZ

WILLIAM DUNN

KAT GUERRERO

O.G. HOWLAND

PIPER EAGLE

SENECA HOWLAND

MADELINE RODRIGUEZ

JOHN COLTON SUMNER

ASHA KELLER

HALL

AVA BURMAHL

OLD SHADY

HOLLAND LARNED

HAWKINS

EMMA SCHROEDER

GOODMAN

ABBY PAUL

BRADLEY

ALICE CONROY