Men on Boats

Directed by: Anita Dashiell-Sparks

Sound Design by: M Glenn Schuster

Scenic Design by: Eliot Ohlemeyer

Lighting Design by: G. Austin Allen

Costume Design by: Wendell Carmichael

Spinning historical, theatrical and gender conventions on their heads, this subversive tale of 10 men, four boats and two rivers contains none of the above. Backhaus’ deliciously original play 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.

All of Men on Boats takes place on or around the Colorado River, and the soundscape reflects this. With speakers placed under and around the audience, the full space is transported on the river with the explorers. No part of the ensemble leaves the stage and this is reflected with a lush soundscape of both the natural world and the indigenous people in the area, creating a world in which the men are never alone.