John Wesley Powell
Maia Perez (She/They)

William Dunn
Cornelia Hayes Reed (She/Her)

John Colton Sumner
Haley Johnson (She/Her)

Old Shady
Natalie Olson-Shank (She/Her)

George Young Bradley
Summer McDonald (She/Her)

William Robert Hawkins
Serenity Deida (She/Her)

Andrew Hall
Kylee Moore (She/Her)

Oramel (OG) Howland, Tsauwiat
Karinne Watkins (She/Her)

Seneca Howland, The Bishop
Kayla Hines (She/Her)

Frank Goodman, Mr. Asa
Aaliyah Lesure (She/Her)

Welcome to Men on Boats! I’m thrilled you’re here mapping these 900 miles with us.

One of the questions I became captivated by during our rehearsal process was who gets to write history, gets to conquer, and gets remembered? This sort of meta-quality forces us to look at the myth of the American West through a contemporary lens.

In our production, the audience is always aware of the friction between the historical figures and the bodies performing them on stage. We aimed to build this out further, by purposefully blending fully crafted moments with moments of witnessing actors read the playwright’s words directly. I hope this distance strips away the romanticized history, and exposes the absurdity.

With all this in mind, we have chosen to set our production in an attic space. An attic is an archive for forgotten things, old trunks, discarded histories, and childhood imaginations. By placing this huge outdoor river expedition inside a cramped, dusty attic, we embrace a distinct “let’s play” aesthetic. We use the junk around us, along with our vibrant imaginations, to build these boats and chart the maps. Looking at fragments of the past to piece together a future; one to be examined.

Wishing you the best journey down the river with us,
Thank you for coming,
Bethany

Dramaturgs represent the history, source material, and script, sharing their research and understanding with the production crew and cast in an open dialogue. Sometimes, dramaturgy feels intangible. In this production, I directly felt and saw the results of my work. I showed the cast and crew a photo of the real Emma Dean boat mentioned in the play, named after expedition leader John Wesley Powell’s wife. The Emma Dean stood out from the other boats, because it had a chair secured to the middle for Powell to sit on and look ahead. The actresses, director and I discussed how the chair solidified the hierarchy of the expedition and made perfect sense for representing Powell. The next time I attended a rehearsal, I saw that a chair had been added to the Emma Dean. That moment made me realize how much of a real impact that history and drawing from historical sources can have on our art.

Men on Boats follows the story of ten men on the 1869 expedition to explore the Green and Colorado rivers of the Grand Canyon. The journey started on May 24 and concluded on August 30. What we know about this journey, the crew and the issues that occurred all comes from the journals of the expedition leader, John Wesley Powell (1834-1902). He was an explorer, natural science researcher, and Union Civil War Major. Despite being known for his contributions to the exploration of the “Great American West”, he had strong ties to Illinois, growing up in Boone County, Illinois with his brother Walter H. “Old Shady” Powell, and taught geology at Illinois Wesleyan University, establishing contacts eventually leading to the expedition. The 1869 expedition was the first of its kind, funded by governmental institutions including the U.S. Congress, the Smithsonian Institution, the Illinois State Natural History Society, the Illinois Industrial University, and the Chicago Academy of Sciences. This is a story of exploration, about men on boats. However, this production does not have any men or any boats.

The playwright, Jaclyn Backhaus, wrote this production to challenge how history is told, and give non-male actors an opportunity to play swashbuckling roles in a harrowing, historic adventure. I connect with this production because I am a queer future museum curator, archaeologist, and theatre professional. I’ve daydreamed about being a well-respected field researcher and I know it’s a male-dominated space. In this production, non-male actors assume their spots on the luggage “boats” and set sail on an iconic adventure through the Colorado River. Come join us on this expedition!

Thank you,
Elizabeth Nowak
They/Them/Theirs

Maia Perez

John Wesley Powell

Maia Perez (she/they) is a sophomore B.F.A. major and is so excited to be back! You might have seen her in Julius Caesar! They are grateful to perform again and learn alongside their classmates. They would like to thank Bethany and the team for providing such a wonderful, safe space to create art. They would also like to thank their parents and boyfriend for all their love and support.

Cornelia Hayes Reed

William Dunn

Haley Johnson

John Colton Summer

Haley Johnson (she/her) is a fourth-year B.F.A. acting candidate at NIU School of Theatre and Dance. Her past credits include NIU’s production of The Comedy of Errors (Luciana), for colored girls… (Lady in Yellow), Anon(ymous) (Naja), and Machinal (Woman/Woman at Bar). Other notable credits include Love/Sick, A Christmas Story, and the musical TV series Act Of Faith. She would like to thank her partner, friends, and family for the love and support!

Natalie Olson-Shank

Old Shady

Natalie Olson-Shank is a senior B.F.A. major and English minor. Natalie has played Adriana in The Comedy of Errors, ‘Inspector in the Sports Jacket’ and ‘Constable’ (which was double casted) in Accidental Death of an Anarchist, played Helen Laius, Bird, Cerza, Refugee, and Chorus in Anon(ymous), and News Reporter, Singer, and Jailer in Machinal. With her associate of arts degree already completed, she can focus completely on her craft and grow further in the work. She thanks you for coming and looks forward to the future.

Summer McDonald

George Young Bradley

Summer McDonald (she/her) is in her third year as a B.F.A. actor at Northern Illinois University. Her other roles she’s played were Antinous in Antígona Furiosa, Metellus Cimber and others in Julius Caesar, and Joe Keller in All My Sons. She’s so thankful to be working on a show as creative and fun as Men on Boats! She’s been so grateful to her cast and crew for such an amazing experience. She would also love to thank her friends Quinn, Sam, Gavin, and Stephanie for always giving her motivation to reach her goals. Her parents for always coming to her aid to support her. Her boyfriend, Gio, for being her backbone when times were tough. And, for the audience, thank you for coming out to support us. We hope you enjoy it as we sail off for this expedition! See you on the rapids!

Serenity Deida

William Robert Hawkins

Serenity Deida (she/her) is a fourth-year B.F.A. acting major here at Northern Illinois University. She most recently was seen in Antígona Furiosa as Antígona, for colored girls who have considered suicide/ when the rainbow is enuf as Lady Orange and Green, Macbeth as Donalbain/Macduff son, and Anon(ymous) as Calista/Ritu/Chorus. Serenity would like to thank everyone involved in creating this production especially the director, cast, and crew. Serenity also wants to thank her family, friends and professors who have been so supportive through this artistic journey as she closes this final chapter at NIU. Serenity hopes you enjoy the show of NIU SoTD production of Men on Boats.

Kylee Moore

Andrew Hall

Kylee Moore (she/her) is from Rockford and is playing Andrew Hall. Kylee is so thankful to work with such a fun cast and crew. She previously has been involved in Holler River, Macbeth, and Accidental Death of an Anarchist. She wants to thank her wonderful family and friends and enjoy the show!

Karinne Watkins

Oramel (OG), Howland, Tsauwiat

Karinne Watkins (she/her) is a second year B.F.A. acting major. Some of her previous roles include Officer Lockstock in Urinetown, the Wicked Witch in The Wizard of Oz, and Wendy in Pan. Each production has challenged her in different ways and given her the opportunity to explore new characters, stories, and sides of herself as a performer. She is so excited to be making her NIU theatre debut in Men on Boats! Although this is her first production at NIU, she has had the opportunity to be a part of many productions outside of school, playing a variety of characters that have helped her grow and discover herself as an actor. Playing both O.G and Tsauwiat has been especially exciting because they allow her to explore two very different perspectives within the same story and challenge her to find distinct physicalities, personalities, and ways of communicating for each role.  She would like to thank God, her family, friends, castmates, directors, the managers, tech crew and everyone who continues to support. She hopes you all enjoy!

Kayla Hines

Seneca Howland, The Bishop

Aaliyah Lesure

Frank Goodman, Mr. Asa

Bethany Mangum-Oles

Director

Bethany Mangum-Oles (she/her) is a Designated Meisner Teacher through the Meisner Institute and holds an M.F.A. in acting from Northern Illinois University and a B.F.A. in acting from California State University, Fullerton. Bethany is a Certified Intimacy Captain and Grief Coach and is also trauma-informed yoga and yoga nidra certified. She has made her artistic home at NIU as Performance Area Faculty where she teaches all levels in the Meisner-based acting sequence and all levels of both voice and movement tracks, as well as directs in the official production season.

Select directing credits for the school include The Comedy of Errors, Mary Stuart, Melancholy Play, Twelfth Night, Big Love, Bird in the Hand, Our Town, and A Song for Coretta. She also serves as Head of B.F.A. Acting Recruitment. Bethany is the artistic director at Kane Repertory Theatre where she oversees the daily workings of the company, season selection, and casting. She also works as rotating faculty at the renowned Gately-Poole Acting Conservatory and Marquee Youth Stage. Chicago acting credits include projects with The Organic Theater Company, MUSE Theatre Collective, Along the Way Productions, The Outer Loop Theatre Experience, Unnecessary Nowledge, and Kane Repertory Theatre. Favorite acting roles include Masha in Three Sisters, Lady Capulet in BCC: Romeo and Juliet, and Viola in the U.S. premiere of Out of the Blue. Internationally, Bethany has an acting certificate from the Moscow Art Theater School in Moscow, Russia, and has performed and facilitated workshops at the Adana International Theatre Festival in Adana, Turkey. 

Alice Duncan-Abushalback

Choreographer

Alice Duncan-Abushalback (senior) is a dance major at NIU, graduating in Fall 2026. She has performed in numerous ballets with Plainfield Dance Academy, and worked with talented guest choreographers at NIU such as K.C. Bevis (Chicago Dance Crash) and Vershawn Sanders Ward (Red Clay). Alice has choreographed and performed in multiple pieces for the school’s student-run showcases, and hopes to pursue her passion for dance in a traveling company.

Kylee Fruin

Assistant Director

Kylee Fruin (she/her) is a third-year B.F.A. acting major at Northern Illinois University. She was just Dromio of Syracuse in The Comedy of Errors directed by Bethany Mangum-Oles. Last fall, she was Portia/Clitus in Julius Caesar directed by Kay Martinovich. Other works include: Lady Capulet in Romeo and Juliet, Sweetheart in Exit Pursued By A Bear, Callie/B in Lost Girl, and more. She is so excited to be a part of Men on Boats!! She would like to thank her family, friends and girlfriend, Madie, for always supporting her in everything she does. Enjoy the show!! Xx

Jamarre Porter

Assistant Director

Sasha Norman

Production Consultant

Max Garcia

Lighting Designer

Max Garcia (he/him) is a fourth-year B.F.A. design and technology major, with an emphasis in lighting and scenic design. Max is a multidisciplinary artist with a background in fine arts and carpentry. Previous credits include: lighting designer for Monty Python’s Spamalot at Crystal Lake South High School, directed by Ben Stoner, and Dulcci at Rivendell Theater, directed by Mark Litwicki with Colectivo El Poz. Assistant lighting designer for Angels in America Part One: Millennium Approaches and Part Two: Perestroika at The Invictus Theater Company, directed by Charles Askenaizer. At NIU, lighting designer for The Comedy of Errors directed by Bethany Mangum-Oles, Co-scenic designer for Julius Caesar directed by Kay Martinovich.  Lighting designer for M.F.A./B.F.A. Actor Showcase directed by Kay Martinovich, co-lighting designer for the Spring Dance Concert as well as the Spring Choreography Showcase and Art for Life by the NIU School of Dance. Assistant lighting designer for Macbeth directed by Peter Andersen. Find more of his work here!  The creation of Men on Boats at NIU has a journey like traversing the river, terrifying and thrilling all at the same time. Max would like to thank his partner, family and friends for supporting him and inspiring him to keep creating through every trial or tribulation along the way.

Luke Cahill

Assistant Lighting Designer

Gemma Baines

Technical Director

Kayleena Lopez

Properties Designer

Kayleena Lopez (she/her) is currently in her third year as a B.F.A. theatre arts design and technology student here at NIU. She has been a part of the fine arts since she was little. This is her ninth show that at NIU. Kayleena is grateful for the opportunities that she gets while being here and working in the shops that help the plays here come to life. She would also like to express her gratitude for working on this show with such an amazing team and friends who encouraged her to do more. Kayleena would also like to give her deepest thanks to her mother Linda Ort, younger brother Crisantos Lopez II, and grandparents Bob and Brenda Baxter, and close friends and professors for believing in her. Along with them, her father Crisantos Lopez, and great grandmother Willie Johnson, even though they aren’t here anymore they will always brighten her nights with the other stars in the night sky. She hopes that you all enjoy the show as much as she did with designing it! Thank you, Bethany! for letting me help your vision come to life!

Elizabeth Nowak

Dramaturg

Elizabeth Nowak (they/them/theirs) is a fourth-year anthropology and theatre studies student. Their passions include dramaturgy, caring for museum collections, playwriting, crafting, advocating for mindful storytelling, and conducting research. Credits include dramaturgy and exhibit design for NIU’s spring 2025 production of Anon(ymous), dramaturgy for NIU’s fall 2024 production of Macbeth, dramaturgy and exhibit curation for NIU’s spring 2024 production of Witch, and flight crew for NIU’s fall 2023 production of A Midsummer Night’s Dream. Elizabeth wishes you a safe and memorable journey into the world of Men on Boats.

Gabriel Ford

Stage Manager

Gabriel Ford (she/her) is a B.F.A. design and technology major. She was previously assistant stage manager for Mary Stuart, directed by Bethany Mangum-Oles, and Anon(ymous), directed by Miranda Gonzalez, and she was most recently the stage manager for Accidental Death of an Anarchist, directed by Alexander Gelman. Additionally, last semester she was the scenic charge artist for The Comedy of Errors, directed by Bethany Mangum-Oles. This is her final semester at NIU. She has been delighted to work on this show and she hopes that you enjoy it as much as she has!

Maggie Kanapilly

Assistant Stage Manager

Maggie Kanapilly (she/her) is in her third year as a B.F.A. design and technology major. She was the assistant stage manager and assistant director for NIU School of Music’s production of Die Fleidermaus in 2024, stage manager and lighting designer for NIU Opera Scenes 2024, stage manager for NIU School of Music’s Nina! in 2025, stage manager for NIU Student Choreographic Showcase both in 2025 and 2026, as well as Art for Life 2025. Men on Boats is her first standard play she’s ever worked on and is so grateful and excited for this opportunity. She would like to extend her gratitude to her friends at NIU for helping her journey switching from music to theater, as well as her family back home for supporting her college career. She especially thanks her mother, April, for being here biggest support all throughout her time here at NIU. Finally, she thanks the director, Bethany, as well as the entire cast and production team for welcoming her into their crazy fun world as they navigate this show.

NIU School of Music

Richard Arnold (Emeritus)
Logan Blake
S. Alan Chelser (Emeritus)
Judith Chitwood (Emerita)
Gibson Cima
Roxanna Conner
Stanton Davis
David Doherty
Lila H. Dole (Emerita)
Jasmine Eleazar
Elias Dennis
Jeremy W. Floyd
Paula Frasz (Emerita)
Kent Gallagher (Emeritus)
Kathryn Gately (Emerita)
Alexander Gelman
Audrey Geysbeek/Yang
Richard Grund
Lori Hartenhoff (Emerita)
Cornelia Hayes Reed
Jennifer Ingle-Grund
Chris Kurszewski
Paige Larkowski
Marc Macaranas
Bethany Mangum-Oles
Kay Martinovich
Terrence McClellan (Emeritus)
Angela A. Miller
Randall Newsom (Emeritus)
Tracy Nunnally
Richard Poole (Emeritus)
Adam Rager
Patricia Ridge (Emerita)
Deborah Robertson (Emerita)
Michel Rodriguez Cintra
Sahin Sahinoglu
Stephanie Sailer
Taryn Sarto
Robert Schneider (Emeritus)
Sarita Smith Childs
Michael Stanfill
Blair Vaudelle