Men On Boats by Jaclyn Backhaus

Name: Men On Boats by Jaclyn Backhaus
Start: 2025-09-13T11:00:00-07:00
End: 2025-09-13T14:00:00-07:00
Location: 2373 Rosstown Rd, Nanaimo, BC, Canada, British Columbia

Schedule

Sat Sep 13 2025 at 11:00 am to 02:00 pm

UTC-07:00

Location

2373 Rosstown Rd, Nanaimo, BC, Canada, British Columbia | Nanaimo, BC

Call to Audition
Men on Boats by Jaclyn Backhaus
Directed by Robert Atkinson
Produced by Sandee Phillips
Auditions are Saturday September 13th from 11:00 to 2:00, Wednesday September the 17th from 6:30 to 9:30
Callbacks on Saturday the 20th from 12:00 to 3:00 at The Bailey Studio, 2373 Rosstown Road, Nanaimo, B.C.

We require ten actors for full length Dramedy. All ten characters are were historically cisgender white males. Our cast will be made up entirely of people who are not. We are looking for actors who are female-identifying, trans-identifying, gender fluid and/or non-gender conforming. We also hope to find a racially diverse cast with some parts doubling as native Ute tribespeople. We will also be looking at a range of ages, adults of any age. This will be very much an ensemble production with each character having the opportunity to shine through various scenes and monologues.

For the following roles:
John Wesley Powell: trip organizer and leader; major in the Civil War; one armed geologist; crazy face with a fiery temper and an excitable soul; an optimist.
John Colton: hunter; trapper; soldier in the Civil War.
William H. Dunn: hunter; trapper from Colorado.
Walter H. Powell (aka 'Old Shady'): captain in the Civil War; John's brother; Old Shady is the oldest crew member on the mission and does not like people; from Wisconsin like Bradley; smoker; likes to sing.
George Y. Bradley: lieutenant in the Civil War; expedition chronicler. Bradley is 19 and genuinely loves people. His mother died so he moved away. Believes in God.
Oramel G. Howland: printer; editor; good hunter; smoker; believes in ghosts; brothers watched their dad die right in front of them.
Seneca Howland: soldier who was wounded in the Battle of Gettysburg; rides horses; the Howlands are tobacco-addled brothers; believes in omens; story teller at night time.
Frank Goodman: Englishman; adventurer; a red-faced British man; level headed; an adventure man by sport, not by livelihood.
W.R. (William Robert) Hawkins: cook; soldier in Civil War; smoker; suspicious of fellow crew.
Andrew Hall: Scotsman; the youngest of the expedition; smoker; mapmaker; old soul, not very social; focused on the work.
Other characters:
Tsauwiat - an Ute chief (doubles with O.G. Howland)
The Bishop - Tsauwiat's wife (doubles with Seneca Howland)
Mr. Asa - a desert settler (doubles with Goodman)

Sides will be provided to showcase each character and how each actor performs as part of the ensemble. Dress comfortably as we will be moving in groups as part of the audition. There will be some physically demanding scenes but we will strive to work within each actor’s abilities.
Please prepare a short story about an adventure you have had. It doesn’t have to be a personal story, but that would be nice. Something about a trip or experience you have had that you are willing to share with those present. Just a minute or two long. Happy, sad, whatever you would like to share.
Additional Dates and Times:
Rehearsals will be Tuesday and Thursday evenings from 7pm to 10pm, as well as a Sunday afternoon or evening based on availability. Rehearsals will start in mid November.

The show runs February 18 to March 8 with curtains at 7:30 Wednesday to Saturday, and Sundays at 2:00pm.

If you are unable to make these times but would still like to audition, please contact Robert at 250-937-1546 and we will try to make other arrangements to see your audition.