University of Iowa’s ‘Men On Boats’ is Must See Theatre

This past weekend my wife and I were invited to go see a play that was being put on by the University of Iowa's Department of Theatre Arts. We hadn't been out to see a play at the University since moving here a year and a half ago so it was a great opportunity to explore the school a little bit and check out the production.

Not only that, but it was a fabulous excuse to go visit my sister-in-law. Not only is she a Hawkeye student, but she's also one of the many stars of the play!

That girl in the middle is Piper and she was cast as O.G Howland in "Men on Boats." She is an Undergraduate student at the university and it was so much fun to watch her take the stage! When she told my wife about the play, I was curious if she would have a part with a lot of lines or if it was more of a secondary role, and after watching the performance, I have no idea how anyone remembers all of those lines.

Men On Boats

Men on Boats is a story about 4 boats that chart a course down the Colorado River toward the Grand Canyon in 1869. John Wesley Powell leads this group of "eclectic and confident" explorers. During their expedition, they face challenges, treacherous conditions, raging rapids, and depleting rations.

Men on Boats was written by Jaclyn Backhaus and directed by Mary Beth Easley. This story explores masculinity, bravery, and legacy, according to Theatre UIowa. This play is loosely based on the true-ish story of John Wesley Powell, his crew, and their journey. Some of the lines during the performance were taken directly from journal entries made by Powell.

I would highly recommend anyone who wants to support the University of Iowa Theatre program or wants to take in a funny, clever, and historical tale, to go and watch a performance of Men on Boats. I might be a little bit biased but we had a really good time and loved the show. It's a fantastic story and the cast/crew do an incredible job. The play does contain strong language, gunshots, and theatrical weapons so viewer discretion is advised.

Every single cast member in this performance has their "moment" during the play and every single lady cast has a ton of lines. There was a huge sense of pride watching my sister-in-law and I hope she knows how proud Kori and I are of her. Way to go Piper!

Men on Boats has various performances running until November 11th.

In this video, you can learn more about Theatre at the University of Iowa and all of the work these students put into the performances!