Valley Players Men on Boats opens this Friday at the Yountville Community Center. The production brings to life the story of John Wesley Powell and his journey through the Grand Canyon through a new lens: an all-female cast.
Ten explorers, four boats, and one mission: to map the Colorado River through the Grand Canyon. In 1869, Major John Wesley Powell and his crew set off on an adventure, and now in 2022, you can see it onstage at Men on Boats by Jaclyn Backhaus at The Contemporary Theater Company in Wakefield from August 12 – September 10.
The Crazy True Story Of The 1869 Expedition Of The Grand Canyon
By Francesca Coppola/Feb. 1, 2021 10:43 am EDT
In May 1869, scientist and war veteran John Wesley Powell, together with nine men and four rowboats, began the journey down the Colorado River, with the intent of mapping the then-unknown territory. For the first time recorded in history, a group of white men attempted to traverse the whole length of the Grand Canyon. With very little knowledge of the area, antiquated instruments, and minimal safety precautions, the party embarked on what many considered to be a hopeless and suicidal expedition.
The crew departed from Green River, Wyoming, on May 24, traveling for 99 days and covering over 1,000 miles through high-walled and narrow passages, raging currents, and steep river rapids. During the trip, they lost a boat, as well as most of their equipment and food supplies. They endured heat, rain, and hunger, exposed to the elements and dangers of an unforgiving landscape