Photos by Mae Koo
Men on Boats
(2019) Choreographer
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Ten explorers. Four boats. One Grand Canyon. MEN ON BOATS is the true(ish) history of an 1869 expedition, during which a one-armed captain and a crew of insane yet loyal volunteers set out to chart the course of the Colorado River. These historical explorers, upon whom the characters are based, were all cisgender white males. In this action-packed and heartfelt comedy, these cis-male characters are performed by a diverse cast of female-identifying and gender-nonbinary actors. Seeing individuals whose voices and bodies have historically been excluded from the “founding narrative” of America perform the journey of what is known as The Powell Geographical Expedition of 1869 challenges us to look at history through a new lens.
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Presentations
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November 7-10, 2019
Keck Theater, Occidental College, Los Angeles, CA
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Credits
Jaclyn Backhaus, playwright
Deena Selenow, director
Diana Wyenn, choreographer
Adam Roy, lighting design
Jenny Foldenauer, costume design
Zoe Speer, scenic design
John Zalewski, sound design
Mitchell Carswell, stage manager
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