ELMIRA, NY (WENY) -- Elmira College’s Theatre Program is kicking off the 2024-2025 season with a blast to the past in an 1869 expedition.
Written by playwright Jacklyn Backhaus, Men on Boats tells the story of Powell’s famous exploration through the American West.
“You should be expecting a comedy, of course. It's a satirical take on the Powell Expedition through the Grand Canyon, through the Colorado River,” says Ash Indelicato, who will be playing “William Dunn” in the production.
“It's great for new people to theater, for seasoned theatergoers. Just be prepared to laugh really.”
Directed by Sarah K. Chalmers, the new program director for Elmira College Theatre, students have been working on the production since September and since then have been working tirelessly learning about the historical context to connect with their characters'.
“We've had to go through some history learning to actually learn about our characters, because they're all real people, and we had to go through trying to take our play to the next level to be more satirical, because at the end of the day, it is just a comedy. And so we have to go through the levels of being, ‘Well, here's where it's serious. Here's where it's funny.’ And it's taken us up until today to figure that out. And it's gotten really good.”
Indelicato says her character was on the same boat as the leader of the expedition, John Powell.
“There's not much known about him in history. We have tried to find it, but he was 24 at the time, and he was, or at least in the play, a little bossy. He keeps trying to be in charge; he's not the nicest, but it is what it is.”
There will be three opportunities to catch the show on stage: 7:30 p.m., Nov. 8; 2:30 p.m., Nov. 9; and 7:30 p.m., Nov.
Tickets cost $5; however, Elmira College community members (students, staff, and faculty) are free. Those 17 and under are also admitted free entrance.
Performances will take place in the Gibson Theatre and Emerson Hall on campus. Parking is also free in any lot on campus.
Tickets information can also be found here.