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the Reduced Shakespeare Company

The Complete History of America (abridged)

Adam Long, Reed Martin, Austin Tichenor

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PERFORMANCE RIGHTS

Note

This is the October 2025 revised edition of the play.

The recordings consist of four MP3 songs for rehearsal.

Description

600 years of history in 6000 seconds … history will never be the same! From Washington to Watergate, yea verily from the Bering Straits to Baghdad, from New World to New World Order – THE COMPLETE HISTORY OF AMERICA (ABRIDGED) is a ninety-minute rollercoaster ride through the glorious quagmire that is American History, reminding us that it's not the length of your history that matters — it's what you've done with it!

Production Info

Cast: 3 total (3 male, as written; gender-diverse and/or expanded casts welcome)
Full Length Comedy (about 90 minutes)
Minimal Set Requirements
Period Costumes
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Reviews

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)

About the Author

Author

  • Adam Long

    Adam Long is the co-creator, co-writer and director of the Reduced Shakespeare Company's THE COMPLETE WORKS OF WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE (ABRIDGED), which ran in London's West End for nine years and was nominated for an Olivier Award. THE COMPLETE WORKS also ran Off-Broadway twice and continues to enjoy numerous successful tours throughout the world. His feature-length film THE BARN won The Raindance Award at the British Independent Film Awards. Adam has written for Disney (DUDE THAT'S MY GHOST, HISTORY ON TOAST and LAST MINUTE BOOK REPORTS), PBS (THE COMPLETE WORKS OF WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE (ABRIDGED)), Channel Four UK (TRIGGER HAPPY TV and THE RING REDUCED), BBC Radio Four (THE HISTORY BOYS CONDENSED, CONDENSED HISTORIES OF THE BRITISH POLITICAL PARTIES and HOME TRUTHS) and Lucasfilm & BSkyB (STAR WARS SHORTENED). Other stage shows include DICKENS ABRIDGED (The Arts Theatre, London and UK Tour), SATAN SINGS MOSTLY SONDHEIM (Jermyn St. Theatre, London), THE BIBLE: THE COMPLETE WORD OF GOD (ABRIDGED) (Reduced Shakespeare), THE COMPLETE HISTORY OF AMERICA (ABRIDGED) (Reduced Shakespeare), and DECONSTRUCTING ALBERT (The Crucible Theatre, Sheffield). Adam also provides the voice of Mr. Small for the BAFTA and Emmy Award winning THE AMAZING WORLD OF GUMBALL(Cartoon Network).

  • Reed Martin

    Reed Martin is best-known for his work as a Writer/Performer/Director/Producer with the Reduced Shakespeare Company with whom he has toured the world since 1989 and co-created eleven stage shows. He has performed in forty-seven states and eleven countries, including shows at The White House, Madison Square Garden, London's West End, The Lincoln Center, and The Kennedy Center. He has written for the BBC, TBS, National Public Radio, Britain's Channel Four, RTE Ireland, Public Radio International, The Washington Post and Vogue magazine. Reed's work has been nominated for an Olivier Award in London, a Helen Hayes Award in Washington, DC, and a San Francisco Bay Area Theatre Critic's Circle Award. Along with his RSC partner Austin Tichenor, Reed was awarded the 2025 Berger Award by the international Shakespeare Theatre Association in recognition of outstanding talent and dedication to the works of William Shakespeare. He lives in Northern California with his wife, who is much funnier than he is.

  • Austin Tichenor

    "A man of letters in the theatre" (Peter Marks, Washington Post), Austin Tichenor's "intellectual vaudevilles" (Stephen Holden, New York Times) have been produced Off-Broadway, in London’s West End, at the Kennedy Center, Lincoln Center, and in theaters across America and around the world, including American Repertory Theatre, Pittsburgh Public Theater, Seattle Rep, Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park, Utah Shakespeare Festival, Atlanta Shakespeare Company, San Francisco's Marines Memorial Theater, Princeton’s McCarter Theatre, Bath Theater Royal, Gielgud Theatre, Criterion Theatre, Jerusalem Theatre, Montreal's Just For Laughs Festival, and the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, to name a few. He's the co-artistic director of the Reduced Shakespeare Company, for whom he's co-written ten stage comedies (all published and licensed by Broadway Play Publishing), the short film The Ring Reduced (for UK's Channel 4), a 6-part BBC World Service radio series, two TV pilots and several unproduced others, and the illustrated children's book Pop-Up Shakespeare. An alum of the BMI Musical Theatre Workshop, Austin's also written over 25 plays and musicals for young audiences, two published adaptations (FRANKENSTEIN and DANCING ON THE CEILING), and stage versions of Jasper Fforde's novel The Eyre Affair and Christopher Moore's New York Times bestseller Fool; co-created the illustrated children's book Daisy The Littlest Zombie; worked in story development for Disney Feature Animation; and is a monthly contributor to the Folger Shakespeare Library's culture blog "Shakespeare & Beyond." Austin is also an actor, director, and the producer and host of the Reduced Shakespeare Company Podcast, the world's longest-running (since 2006!) theater podcast. His script THE BIBLE: THE COMPLETE WORD OF GOD (abridged) received a Helen Hayes Award nomination for Best New Play, and you can find him on the socials or his website TheShakespeareance.com.

About the Book

Book Information

Publisher BPPI
Publication Date 7/1/1999
Pages 102
ISBN 9780881453331

Special Notes

Special Notes

Licensees are required to include the original stage producers credits 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

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

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.”

Productions

Upcoming and Recent Productions

Professional


7/3/2026 – 7/11/2026
The Winnipesaukee Playhouse
Meredith, NH

6/7/2026 – 6/21/2026
Custer, SD

8/13/2025 – 8/13/2025
Theatre Three Norma Young Arena Stage
Dallas, TX

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

Nonprofessional


4/23/2027 – 5/1/2027
Fort Thomas, KY

10/16/2026 – 10/17/2026
Overland Park, KS

10/8/2026 – 10/11/2026
Terre Haute, IN

8/28/2026 – 8/30/2026
Henderson, NC

5/2/2026 – 5/11/2026
Glenwood, IA

4/17/2026 – 5/3/2026
Lancaster, PA

4/4/2026 – 4/6/2026
Spotlight Theatre Company
Staten Island, NY

2/6/2026 – 2/7/2026
Geneva High School
Geneva, IL

11/21/2025 – 11/25/2025
Maysville School District
Maysville, MO

10/22/2025 – 10/24/2025
Lone Star College-Tomball
Tomball, TX

6/27/2025 – 7/27/2025
Vortex Theatre
Albuquerque, NM

3/21/2025 – 3/23/2025
The Salem Community Theatre
Salem, OH

3/7/2025 – 3/9/2025
FSA of WCC, Inc.
Valhalla, NY

2/13/2025 – 2/23/2025
Marshall Paddon's Super Secret Syndicate
Tampa, FL

10/11/2024 – 10/13/2024
Sandhills Community College
Pinehurst, NC

9/27/2024 – 9/28/2024
Creative 360
Midland, MI

8/3/2024 – 8/31/2024
IO Chicago
Chicago, IL

6/29/2024 – 6/29/2024
Over The River Theatre Company
Southport, NC

4/12/2024 – 4/14/2024
Marshal Paddon's Super Secret Syndicate
Tampa, FL

4/5/2024 – 4/21/2024
Wheat Ridge Theatre Company
Wheat Ridge, CO

3/8/2024 – 3/17/2024
Wilton Fine Arts & Theatre Guild
Wilton, IA

2/28/2024 – 3/2/2024
Riverbend High School
Fredericksburg, VA

2/14/2024 – 3/3/2024
Hill Country Arts Foundation
Ingram, TX

2/8/2024 – 2/17/2024
Free Reign Theatre
Rock Hill, SC

2/1/2024 – 2/5/2024
Dreamwrights Center For Community Arts
York, PA

11/16/2023 – 11/18/2023
Bloomfield High School
Bloomfield, NJ

10/26/2023 – 10/29/2023
East Texas Baptist University
Marshall, TX

10/19/2023 – 10/22/2023
Shelby High School
Shelby, NC

7/7/2023 – 7/23/2023
Durango Arts Center
Durango, CO

5/12/2023 – 5/13/2023
New Hampton School
New Hampton, NH

3/6/2023 – 3/6/2023
Meridian World School
Round Rock, TX

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