Carmel Community Players, and director Samantha Kelly, proudly announce the auditions for MEN ON BOATS, a play by Jaclyn Backhaus. Please read character descriptions and audition details below, as the title might be misleading to some.
"The characters in MEN ON BOATS were historically cisgender white males. The cast should be made up of entirely people who are NOT." - Jaclyn Backhaus, playwright of MEN ON BOATS
SYNOPSIS:
Ten explorers. Four boats. One Grand Canyon. In this true(ish) history, one-armed captain John Wesley Powell, and a crew of insane yet loyal volunteers, set out to chart the course of the Colorado River. A gender-bending* retelling of the 1869 expedition, this delightful adventure dramedy celebrates the bravery, determination, and true grit of the historical explorers, in addition to the general foolishness of humanity.
CHARACTER DETAILS:
*Auditions are open to female-identifying, trans-identifying, gender-fluid, and/or non-gender conforming actors. POC Actors strongly encouraged to audition. Actors must be 18 years or older.
JOHN WESLEY POWELL – One armed leader of the expedition
WILLIAM DUNN – Hunter and Trapper
JOHN COLTON SUMNER – former soldier, current explorer
OLD SHADY – Powell’s older brother, civil war veteran
BRADLEY – Lieutenant, manic with youth.
O.G. HOWLAND – Printer and Hunter
SENECA HOWLAND – O.G’s Quiet little brother
FRANK GOODMAN – British, so excited.
HALL – Mapmaker, old soul
HAWKINS – the cook
JOHNSON – Settler Staying with the Ute Tribe (doubles as O.G Howland)
JUST JIM – Settler staying with the Ute Tribe (Doubles as Seneca Howland)
MR. ASA – a desert settler (doubles as Goodman)
WHEN:
Sunday, February 8, 2026 at 7:00pm
Monday, February 9, 2026 at 7:00pm
WHERE:
CCP Warehouse
510 3rd Ave SW, Carmel, IN 46032
WHAT TO PREPARE:
Auditions will consist of cold reading from the script and slight movement choreography. Both audition days are for all roles in the production. You may attend one or both audition days. Callbacks will be held February 10th, 2026 at 7:00pm
Please bring your completed audition form and include schedule conflicts from February 16 – April 9. Headshots and resumes are welcome but not mandatory.
Rehearsals will be Monday through Thursday, from 7:00pm - 9:30, from February 16 to April 9. No Conflicts accepted April 13-16.
Contact Samantha Kelly with questions.
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PERFORMANCES:
Friday, April 17, 2026 at 7:30pm
Saturday, April 18, 2026 at 7:30pm
Sunday, April 19, 2026 at 2:30pm
Thursday, April 23, 2026 at 7:30pm
Friday, April 24, 2026 at 7:30pm
Saturday, April 25, 2026 at 2:30pm
Sunday, April 26, 2026 at 2:30pm
The Cat (254 Veterans Wy, Carmel, IN 46032)
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