Men on Boats is coming to the Rozsa to help ease the earlier nights and the cloudier days.
Men on Boats, a 90-minute play by Jaclyn Backhaus, is a comedy/satire about the real story of John Wesley Powell’s 1869 expedition with 10 men down the Colorado River and through the Grand Canyon. However, Men on Boats is made up of a cast of women and non-binary actors to depict the male crew in a twist on the original story. Directed by Nich Radcliffe, an Assistant Teaching Professor and Visual & Performing Arts Director here at Michigan Tech, Men on Boats will show in the McArdle Theatre at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday through Friday, starting on Nov. 18 and going until Nov. 21. Tickets are available in advance or walk-up, with Tech students getting free tickets with a student ID. Tickets start at $20 for general admission and work on a pay-as-you-are-able model, allowing people on tighter budgets to enjoy a good time at the Rozsa.
Discussing their experience acting in Men on Boats, Alyssa Johnson, who plays the character Hawkins, said, “Men on Boats has meant a lot of things to me. It has truly opened my eyes to the hardships faced by everyone who is not a cisgender white man. There have been many things that I’ve been conditioned to do as a woman, and just by forming connections with the people involved in this production, I have realized that I do not have to conform to the expectations put onto me by society… If you want to leave the theatre with tired cheeks from smiling, a sore stomach from laughing, and a new perspective on the history of the United States of America, then you should come see Men on Boats.”
Come out and support our fellow students as they enjoy a relaxed, fun environment while telling the brave story of John Wesley Powell through a comedic lens. If you would like to learn more about Men on Boats or where to get tickets, visit events.mtu.edu/event/mtt-men-on-boats. Or follow them @mtu_theatreperformanceprogram.
