LAFPI

Son of Semele Ensemble announces its upcoming production of Men On Boats by Jaclyn Backhaus. Ten intrepid pioneers plunge into uncharted waters in a dramatic tale that’s both heroic and comic.

Jaclyn Backhaus’ acclaimed play reenacts the legendary 1869 Powell Expedition to map the Colorado River– but with a twist. The rugged white men are all played by a diverse cast of female and non­binary actors. The ironic, often comic result explores both the West’s mighty river and the imagined new world as created by our legends. The result triggers the question, “Who and what has our ‘America’ left out?”

Men On Boats will be directed by company member Barbara Kallir and will feature performances by Melissa Coleman­ Reed, Shelby Corley, Taylor Hawthorne, Liz Lanier, Cindy Lin, Tiana Randall­Quant, Thea Rodgers, Jinny Ryann, Ashley Steed and Elspeth Weingarten.

The production team includes Carlo Maghirang (set), Allen Clark (lighting), David Marling (sound), Wyndell C. Carmichael (costumes), Caribay Franke (movement) and Ben Kutner (music). Dramaturgy is by Flor San Roman, and the production stage manager is Edward Khris Fernandez, assisted by Jimin Kang.

Jaclyn Backhaus, an Arizona native of German and Punjabi descent, teaches at NYU’s Tisch School (where she earned a BFA). She is also a resident playwright at the Lincoln Center. Backhaus’ other plays include INDIA PALE ALE (2018 Horton Foote Prize), YOU ON THE MOORS NOW, and the book and lyrics for the musical FOLK WANDERING.

Performances Fridays & Saturdays @ 8pm, Sundays @ 5pm and Tuesdays @ 7pm

More Info: www.sonofsemele.org or [email protected]
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