Men on Boats Playbill

As theatre artists we are constantly involved in the analysis and creation of community.  Theatre is not only a reflexive art that allows us to look at history, but also allows us to critique it. Men On Boats is a show that looks at a portion of history dominated by straight, white, cis men, and asks why were these men in charge. It highlights a change in leadership by casting people that are not cis men. As a cast we have had deep discussions about what the casting note of this show means in terms of our relationship to gender, and how that affects the perseverance of these characters. As a cast of non-men the news of the Supreme Court overturning Roe v. Wade is concerning to us. We as a cast fully support a person’s right to choose and believe all people should have access to safe reproductive healthcare. We recognize that while we may be privileged enough to live in a state where abortion rights are unable to be overturned, our friends and neighbors in other states do not have such protections. We also recognize that legislation to outlaw abortion will disproportionately affect poor people, people of color, and queer people, and that we must do our best to uplift those voices. We would like to extend our support to those most affected by anti-choice legislation. Please join us in donating to the Northwest Abortion Action Fund and please review the resources listed in case you or a friend ever need reproductive assistance. Bodily autonomy, and the fight for it, is relevant every single day of our lives. Everyday in which we live is a day in which we own the right to our bodies. Men On Boats is relevant to bodily autonomy through its commentary on gender and the mistreatment of indigenous peoples and their land but also relevant because this is a fight we approach every day on and off the stage. As the characters of Men On Boats state; “we save each other,” our strength and resilience lies within the relationships we form, and the community we create. We hope you join our community in uplifting those who most need it.