Men On Boats
Directed by Theresa McCarthy
Photography by Dillon Burke
Men on Boats tells the true-ish story of John Wesley Powell, his crew, and their journey down the Green River and Colorado River into the Grand Canyon. The tale was taken straight from the real journal entries of Powell and re-adapted by Jaclyn Backhaus into the three act adventure story we know now. Throughout the play we witness the Emma Dean, The Kitty Clyde’s Sister, The No-Name, and The Maid of the Canyon endeavour crashes, swells, whirlpools, waterfalls. The strength of the crew is constantly being tested through decreasing rations and a struggle for power. The production overall is a true testament to the perseverance of these explorers. Through celebration of camaraderie and a little bit of whiskey
Progress Photos…
• We created the boulders and rocks out of acting cubes wrapped in foam. We added an armature allowing the rocks to have a different shape. Then we wrapped them in cheesecloth and joint compound and painted them.
• Our Boats were made out of 1x10 lumber, sanded, and painted.
• The Stage and platforms had a canyon wall paint elevation. The platform was constructed in by the Technical director and painted by the scenic charge.
• The Cyc light “houses” were made out of 1/4” lauan and foam with a fabric hinge for easy accessibility. We then drilled it into the front edge of the stage.
Scenic Design Packet & Inspiration
