Gather Repertory Opens “Men on Boats” This Weekend

The Gather Repertory Theater is producing its second show on May 19 – 21 and May 26 – 28 at the North Valley Friends Church at 4020 N College St. in Newberg: Men on Boats, a comedy written by Jaclyn Backhaus.

Men on Boats is a “true-ish history of an 1869 expedition, when a one-armed captain and crew of insane yet loyal volunteers set out to chart the course of the Colorado River,” according to the play’s description. It was originally produced in 2015 with no men in the cast portraying the 10 male figures in the story.

“Men on Boats is no antic drag show, though it definitely has its antic side,” wrote Ben Brantley for the New York Times in 2015. “Nor is it a work of sexual politics, in any obvious sense. Ms. Backhaus’s lively script and Will Davis’s highly ingenious direction leave no room for nudging references to any gender gap between cast and characters.”

Gather Repertory Artistic Director JeanneAnn Comiskey said Men on Boats Director Sarah Aldrich is staying true to the original showing, which has become the production’s hallmark: no cisgendered male cast playing an entirely male character sheet.

“Our mission from the start was to present purposeful stories that feel relevant to the community,” said Comiskey. “There has been a lot of local and national discussion around gender and gender equality lately. Men on Boats is a comedic and poignant take, so we felt it was a perfect fit.”

Founded in 2022 by George Fox University alumni, The Gather Repertory Theater is a local non-profit theater production company “committed to bringing the community together through purposeful stories to foster equity, develop curiosity, and celebrate life,” according to the Gather Repertory website.

“I had been doing shows up in the Portland-area” said Comiskey. “I appreciated the freelancing experience, but we wanted to get more involved with the community. This was a good opportunity to do that.”

Men on Boats is the second production by the Gather Repertory Theater, which featured Thornton Wilder’s Our Town in July and August of 2022.

“Our Town is pretty well known and had people interested from the start,” Comiskey said. “Men on Boats is less known. But it’s an amazing comedy that’s a lot of fun.”

Shows produced by Gather Repertory are “pay what you will” with a suggested donation of $15. You can order tickets for Men on Boats here: https://www.tickettailor.com/events/gatherrepertorytheatre/895491