The Department of Theatre & Dance will present “Men On Boats” Oct. 25-29 in the Black Box Theatre in the Center for the Arts.

Performance times are 7:30 p.m. Wednesday through Saturday and 2 p.m. on Sunday.

Tickets are $20 for general admission and $10 for all students and seniors.
“Men On Boats, by Jacyln Backhaus, chronicles the 1869 expedition led by John Wesley Powell to chart the Green River and Colorado River through the Grand Canyon. Through satire and contemporary style, Backhaus recounts and retells history from a modern perspective, comically highlighting the American mythos of western “exploration.”

Full of witty, sardonic and tongue-in-cheek moments, the play both celebrates and parodies one of the most illustrious exploration stories in U.S. history.

Eero Laine, assistant professor of theatre and director of the UB production, notes that “Men On Boats” is similar to “Hamilton” in presenting well-known histories in a theatrical, perception-altering way.

Under Laine’s direction, “Men on Boats” promises to be a lively, highly entertaining account of the expedition that uses a contemporary lens to complement the heroic tale and expose new perspectives on how historic events are interpreted.

Tickets are available at the Center for the Arts Box Office and online at Ticketfly.