Whitworth University Theatre Presents
CAST John Wesley Powell......................................................................................Kenna McIlraith William Dunn....................................................................................................Morgan Beitey John Colton Sumner......................................................................................... Fiona Beattie Old Shady............................................................................................................Hope Cornett Bradley................................................................................................................ Britney Botez O.G. Howard; Tsauwait................................................................................... Rachel Wilson The Bishop........................................................................................................... Elissa Wheat Frank Goodman/Mr. Asa.........................................................................Johanna Caudron Hall...............................................................................................................................Dani Wolf Hawkins.......................................................................................................Sydney Anderson Seneca Howland.................................................................................................Sierra Pauley
CREW Director..............................................................................Naphtali Leyland Fields-Forbes Scenic & Costume Designer...................................................................... Aaron Dyszelski Assistant Costume Designer..........................................................................Jess Bernardi In fulfillment of senior project
Lighting Designer & Technical Director......................................................... Maria Sorce Stage Manager.................................................................................................. Kaylee Unwin Composer........................................................................................................... Nathan Heath Props Manager.................................................................................................. Britney Botez Hair & Makeup Designer........................................................................................ Sarah Hull Assistant Stage Manager..............................................................................Lynzie Kenney Scenic Carpenter.............................................................................................Lynzie Kenney Scenic Charge....................................................................................................Izzy Spangler Scenic Crew............................................... Jessica Chase, Josiah Clifton, Rab Greenup, Jonah Hill, Sarah Hull, Lynzie Kenney, Adrianna Loomis, Jared McDougall, Alyssa Sorce and Kaylee Unwin Wardrobe Manager...........................................................................................Kendall Cavin Costume Shop Assistant............................................................................ Emily Van Vleet Assistant Lighting Designer & Light Board Operator ���������������������� Seanan Appleby Projection Designer......................................................................................... Jessica Chase Sound Designer & Board Operator.....................................................................Jonah Hill House Manager...............................................................................................Olivia Housden Box Office Manager............................................................................................ Paige Meyer Graphic Designer........................................................................................... Emily Lyonnais Audience Advisory: This show contains adult language that may not be appropriate for all children, prop weapons and a gunshot sound effect.
MCDONALD OPPORTUNITY SCHOLARS Lighting Designer Assistant – Seanan Appleby Properties Designer – Britney Botez Wardrobe Manager – Kendall Cavin Projection Designer – Jessica Chase Director, Featured Firsts – Josiah Clifton Community Engagement Director – Joseph Henson Sound Designer – Jonah Hill Makeup Designer – Sarah Hull House Manager – Olivia Housden Scenic Carpenter – Lynzie Kenney Scenic Charge – Izzy Spangler Technical Director for Stage II – Kaylee Unwin Costume Assistant – Emily Van Vleet
DIRECTOR’S NOTE Like many of us, I grew up on the mythologies of the wild American West. From movies like True Grit to books about the Pony Express, there was something about the West that captured my imagination. I’d make up stories to act out with my brothers about horse wrangling and bank robbing and imagined showdowns on dusty streets with tumbleweeds spinning. Men On Boats tells a real life story of the American West. Back in 1869 when the country was still reeling from a terrible Civil War, the government sanctioned John Wesley Powell and his crew to explore the Green and Colorado Rivers into the Grand Canyon. They discounted the Indigenous peoples (including the Ute Tribe mentioned in the play) that had inhabited that land (and traveled those rivers) for centuries. Powell’s explorers named and claimed the landmarks they passed, officially paving the way for continued U.S. western expansion. As far as we know, Powell’s 1869 crew was comprised of straight, white men. Our cast is multiracial, multinational and multi-ethnic, and includes actors that are female identifying, gender-nonconforming, neurodivergent, able-bodied and (dis)abled. None of us would have been eligible to join the original Powell expedition. Through the play, we can both experience the adventures of that epic river journey and consider the consequences of Manifest Destiny on our communities and nation. This play both celebrates and complicates the mythology and allure of the American West. Welcome aboard! Special thanks to: Bert Emerson, Ph.D. Ute costume pieces were constructed in consultation with the Southern Ute Indian Tribal Council.
WHITWORTH THEATRE Whitworth Theatre is dedicated to cultivating artistic integrity by making theatre that engages both mind and heart with honesty, compassion and hope. Students in Whitworth Theatre reach beyond their personal experiences to portray stories from all walks of life in an ongoing dialogue with the audience about the human experience. Our academic theatre program stimulates creativity and discipline through classes in performance, directing, dance, design, history and literature. We offer two annual main-stage productions, a festival of short plays, an improvisation troupe, and our annual spring and dance performance showcase. The core production offerings are complemented with senior projects, community-based works, tours, visiting artists and stage readings. For more information about Whitworth Theatre, or to be added to our mailing list, please contact the theatre office at 509.777.3707 or email kdawson@whitworth.edu.
UPCOMING EVENTS MAIN STAGE Something Rotten
March 11, 12, 18 and 19, 2022, at 7:30 p.m. March 13 and 20, 2022, at 2 p.m.
Dance Showcase
May 6, 2022, at 7:30 p.m.
STAGE II Premiere Staged Reading
May 13 and 14, 2022, at 7:30 p.m. and May 15, 2022, at 2 p.m.
SENIOR PROJECTS Rachel Wilson
The Soul of Time Stage II Dec. 3 at 7:30 p.m.
Cole Peterson
An original adaptation or Georg Büchner’s fragmentary play, Woyzeck. Stage II April 7, 2022, at 7:30 p.m.
Daniel Dolan-Dirks
Growing Up/Going Out Stage II April 7, 2022, at 7:30 p.m.