Press Quotes
“… Just as the company’s members good-naturedly bash the Bard in THE COMPLETE WORKS OF WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE (ABRIDGED), so do they cheerfully run riot over five-hundred years of our country’s history. During the manic, ninety-minute program … [they] mine dozens of landmark events and trends for comic gold … Not only do they know how to give American history an irreverent boost, they actually turn it into something accessible and alive.” —Pamela Sommers, The Washington Post
“… THE COMPLETE HISTORY OF AMERICA interprets the past as a breathlessly paced sequence of silly vaudeville sketches, word-association games, puns and crude parodies of movie and television genres. Nothing is sacred, and many of the facts have been skewed to suggest the paranoid ravings of a particularly loony tabloid …” —Stephen Holden, The New York Times
“… In a series of sketches that move at breakneck speed, the Reduced Shakespeare Company scampers through American history … This HISTORY OF AMERICA should be a required course.” —Terry Byrne, The Boston Herald
“History has never been this much fun. Or as delightfully mutilated … Doubtless, reputable historians like Will and Ariel Durant would cringe at this slapstick telling of the American saga. But the rest of us can just giggle uncontrollably …” —Bill Brownstein, The Gazette (Montreal)
Special Notes
If original stage producers credits appear in bold below, all licensees are required to include them in the following form on the title page in all programs distributed in connection with performances of the Play and in all advertising in which the full cast appears in size of type not less than ten percent (10%) of the size of the title of the Play:
Originally produced by Reduced Shakespeare Company
In addition, the following must appear within all programs distributed in connection with performances of the Play:
The Complete History of America (abridged) is produced
by special arrangement with Broadway Play Publishing Inc, NYC
www.broadwayplaypublishing.com
Revisions
The following revisions are approved by the authors as a substitution for the passage in the play on Barack Obama:
“My fellow Americans — When I was elected your President I vowed to work with Republicans to get this country back on track. And I’ve succeeded. This is because I’ve been working with Republicans for a very long time. In my very first term in Congress I worked with a young Republican congressman from Illinois named Abraham Lincoln. I wonder whatever became of him.
Some folks say I’m too old to be your president. Too old? That’s just… that’s just… I’m sorry. What was I saying?
I’ve had some successes. I’ve had some failures. But on the bright side, at least I’m not Donald Trump. Thank you.”
Upcoming and Recent Productions
Professional
6/4/2022 – 7/3/2022
Fort Peck Fine Arts Council
Fort Peck, MT
6/20/2018 – 6/30/2018
Paul Bunyan Playhouse
Bemidji, MN
10/8/2017 – 10/8/2017
Theatre-Hikes
Lenexa, KS
10/7/2017 – 10/7/2017
Theatre-Hikes
Lenexa, KS
9/9/2017 – 9/24/2017
Theatre-Hikes
Lisle, IL
8/20/2017 – 8/20/2017
Theatre-Hikes
Chicago, IL
8/19/2017 – 8/19/2017
Theatre-Hikes
Chicago, IL
7/16/2017 – 7/16/2017
Endstation Theatre Company
Lexington, VA
7/13/2017 – 7/22/2017
Endstation Theatre Company
Forest, VA
Nonprofessional
7/7/2023 – 7/23/2023
Durango, CO
7/7/2023 – 7/23/2023
Martinez, CA
6/30/2023 – 7/9/2023
Springfield, MA
5/12/2023 – 5/13/2023
, New Hampton, NH
3/6/2023 – 3/6/2023
Meridian World School
Round Rock, TX
2/24/2023 – 3/5/2023
Williams County Community Theatre
Bryan, OH
2/16/2023 – 3/3/2023
Northeastern State University Playhouse
Tahlequah, OK
10/7/2022 – 10/9/2022
Clear Creek Isd
Friendswood, TX
9/13/2022 – 9/14/2022
La Jolla Country Day School
La Jolla, CA
8/26/2022 – 9/4/2022
Theatre Macon
Macon, GA
2/23/2022 – 2/25/2022
Minnesota State University Moorhead
Moorhead, MN
2/17/2022 – 2/27/2022
Germantown Community Theatre Inc
Germantown, TN
1/7/2022 – 1/8/2022
The Harker School
San Jose, CA
12/3/2021 – 12/19/2021
Laboratory Theater Of Fl
Fort myers, FL
11/13/2021 – 11/22/2021
Elkhart Civic Theatre
Bristol, IN
7/23/2021 – 7/25/2021
Downtown Commons
Clarksville, TN
7/7/2021 – 8/4/2021
Rio Grande Theatre
Las Cruces, NM
5/26/2021 – 5/29/2021
Mn State University, Mankato
Mankato, MN
5/21/2021 – 5/22/2021
Dubin Coffman High School (dublin City Schools)
Dublin, OH
3/19/2021 – 3/27/2021
Theatrikos Theatre Company
Flagstaff, AZ
10/22/2020 – 10/25/2020
Studio 124
Joplin, MO
10/15/2020 – 10/16/2020
Camden County High School
Kingsland, GA
9/25/2020 – 9/27/2020
Great Bend Community Theatre
Great Bend, KS
9/5/2020 – 9/6/2020
Lee's Summit West HS Theatre
Lees Summit, MO
4/3/2020 – 4/4/2020
University Of Dayton
Dayton, OH
2/17/2020 – 2/17/2020
Tba Theatre, Inc.
Anchorage, AK
1/31/2020 – 2/1/2020
Mitchell High School
Mitchell, SD
1/30/2020 – 2/2/2020
Big Walnut High School
Sunbury, OH
12/5/2019 – 12/7/2019
Township High School District 211
Palatine, IL
11/15/2019 – 11/24/2019
Vero Voce
Saint Charles, IL
11/8/2019 – 11/10/2019
Lyons Township High School
Western Springs, IL
10/24/2019 – 10/27/2019
Barry University
Miami Shores, FL
8/23/2019 – 9/1/2019
Brevard Little Theatre
Brevard, NC
8/23/2019 – 9/1/2019
Trunorth Theatre
Bismarck, ND
8/16/2019 – 8/30/2019
Cutler Brothers Productions
Deer Lodge, MT
7/5/2019 – 7/7/2019
Friends Of The Historic Masonic Temple
Bay City, MI
6/28/2019 – 7/7/2019
Elm Street Cultural Arts Village
Woodstock, GA
5/31/2019 – 6/9/2019
Trinity Theatre Company
San Diego, CA
5/23/2019 – 6/9/2019
Chino Community Theatre
Chino, CA
5/17/2019 – 5/17/2019
Homewood-Flossmoor High School
Flossmoor, IL
5/2/2019 – 5/3/2019
The Haverford School
Haverford, PA
4/18/2019 – 4/20/2019
No Refund Theatre
University Park, PA
4/12/2019 – 4/13/2019
St. Francis School District
St. Francis, WI
4/11/2019 – 4/14/2019
Piedmont College
Demorest, GA
3/15/2019 – 3/17/2019
Wisconsin Heights High School
Mazomanie, WI
2/26/2019 – 2/28/2019
Intimate Theater: ArtWorks
Big Rapids, MI
1/31/2019 – 2/2/2019
Community Hs District 128
Vernon Hills, IL
1/11/2019 – 1/12/2019
Illinois High School Theater Festival, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Lincoln Hall
Urbana, IL
11/16/2018 – 12/16/2018
Prince George's Community College
Largo, MD
11/10/2018 – 11/24/2018
Artists In Progress Theatre Company
San Antonio, TX
11/8/2018 – 11/10/2018
Little Falls High School
Little Falls, MN
11/2/2018 – 11/11/2018
Harlequins Community Theatre
Sandusky, OH
11/1/2018 – 11/3/2018
Saugus High School
Saugus, MA
10/12/2018 – 10/14/2018
Shakespeare Stage
Northampton, MA
10/11/2018 – 10/13/2018
Hinsdale Central High School (district 86)
Hinsdale, IL
10/4/2018 – 10/6/2018
Prairie Ridge High School
Crystal Lake, IL
8/9/2018 – 8/26/2018
Imagination Theater
Placerville, CA
7/29/2018 – 7/29/2018
Commonwealth Classic Theatre Company
West Chester, PA
7/26/2018 – 7/26/2018
Commonwealth Classic Theatre Company
Lansdale, PA
7/20/2018 – 7/20/2018
Commonwealth Classic Theatre Company
Brookhaven, PA
7/19/2018 – 7/19/2018
Commonwealth Classic Theatre Company
West Chester, PA
7/18/2018 – 7/18/2018
Commonwealth Classic Theatre Company
Philadelphia, PA
7/15/2018 – 7/15/2018
Commonwealth Classic Theatre Company
Green Lane, PA
7/14/2018 – 7/14/2018
Commonwealth Classic Theatre Company
West Chester, PA
7/13/2018 – 7/13/2018
Commonwealth Classic Theatre Company
Chester Springs, PA
7/12/2018 – 7/12/2018
Commonwealth Classic Theatre Company
Philadelphia, PA
7/5/2018 – 7/13/2018
Community Radio Project Inc.
Cortez, CO
6/29/2018 – 7/8/2018
Central Florida Community Arts
Orlando, FL
5/11/2018 – 5/26/2018
Boerne Community Theatre
Boerne, TX
5/10/2018 – 5/12/2018
Claremont HS Theatre
Claremont, CA
4/6/2018 – 4/22/2018
University Of Detroit Mercy
Detroit, MI
2/9/2018 – 2/18/2018
Titusville Playhouse, Inc
Titusville, FL
2/1/2018 – 2/3/2018
Waterford High School
Waterford, CT
12/14/2017 – 12/17/2017
Cornell College Theatre And Dance
Mount Vernon, IA
12/7/2017 – 12/9/2017
Orange Preparatory Academy
Orange, NJ
12/5/2017 – 12/6/2017
Penn Players
York, PA
12/1/2017 – 12/2/2017
Blessed Sacrament Huguenot Catholic School
Powhatan, VA
11/30/2017 – 12/2/2017
Boise State University
Boise, ID
11/16/2017 – 11/18/2017
Township High School
Schaumburg, IL
10/20/2017 – 10/28/2017
Lasa High School
Austin, TX
10/13/2017 – 10/28/2017
The Barntheater
Porterville, CA
9/8/2017 – 9/24/2017
Nova Center For The Performing Arts
Billings, MT
8/28/2017 – 10/1/2017
Foothills Performing Arts
Lenoir, NC
8/18/2017 – 8/18/2017
Way Out West Theare
Sidney, NE
8/17/2017 – 8/19/2017
Stagedoor Manor
Loch Sheldrake, NY
8/2/2017 – 8/2/2017
The Delights
Knoxville, TN
5/12/2017 – 5/14/2017
Clifton High School
Clifton, NJ
5/6/2017 – 5/8/2017
Floyd County High School
Floyd, VA
5/5/2017 – 5/7/2017
Kings Mountain High School
Kings Mountain, NC
5/5/2017 – 5/14/2017
City Of Gallup
Gallup, NM
4/20/2017 – 4/23/2017
Cypress Fairbanks Isd
Houston, TX
2/23/2017 – 2/26/2017
Greensboro College
Greensboro, NC
2/10/2017 – 2/26/2017
The Theatre Factory
Trafford, PA
1/6/2017 – 2/5/2017
Vagabond Players, Inc.
Baltimore, MD
11/20/2016 – 11/20/2016
Macalester College
St Paul, MN
11/16/2016 – 11/16/2016
St. John's School
Houston, TX
10/21/2016 – 10/30/2016
The Mighty Corson Art Players
Brandon, SD
10/6/2016 – 10/8/2016
Howard W. Blake School Of The Arts
Tampa, FL
10/5/2016 – 10/8/2016
Penn State Berks
Reading, PA
9/24/2016 – 9/25/2016
Pewter Plough Players
Cambria, CA
9/22/2016 – 9/26/2016
Tomball Hs Theatre
Tomball, TX
9/15/2016 – 9/18/2016
Dulles High School
Sugar Land, TX
9/15/2016 – 9/17/2016
Tupelo High School Theatre Company
Tupelo, MS
8/26/2016 – 8/28/2016
Osceola Arts
Kissimmee, FL
8/26/2016 – 9/3/2016
Blue Moon Productions
Lawton, OK
7/29/2016 – 8/21/2016
Be Theatre
San Angelo, TX
5/27/2016 – 5/28/2016
Forrest City Little Theatre
Forrest City, AR
5/19/2016 – 5/21/2016
Mckinney Isd- Cockrill Middle School Drama
McKinney, TX
5/6/2016 – 5/21/2016
Presbyterian Education Center
Baldwinsville, NY
4/14/2016 – 4/17/2016
V.J, And Angela Skutt Catholic High School
Omaha, NE
4/1/2016 – 4/2/2016
Theater-By-The-Grove
Indiana, PA
3/18/2016 – 3/26/2016
Riverside Poly High School
Riverside, CA
3/10/2016 – 3/11/2016
Round Lake Senior High School
Round Lake Beach, IL
3/7/2016 – 3/8/2016
Bullis School
Potomac, MD
3/3/2016 – 3/12/2016
Havens For The Arts
Temecula, CA
1/21/2016 – 1/23/2016
Riverbend High School
Fredericksburg, MD
11/20/2015 – 11/20/2015
Christ School
Greensboro, NC
11/13/2015 – 11/15/2015
St. Francis High School
Wheaton, IL
11/7/2015 – 11/7/2015
Christ School
Boone, NC
10/23/2015 – 10/25/2015
Christ School
Arden, NC
10/22/2015 – 10/24/2015
Victor J Andrew High School
Tinley Park, IL
10/16/2015 – 10/18/2015
Mercersburg Academy
Mercersburg, PA
10/1/2015 – 10/3/2015
Rancho Bernardo High School Theatre Arts
San Diego, CA
9/25/2015 – 10/4/2015
Jacksonville Theatre Guild
Jacksonville, IL