| Hilarious Comedy Opens July 30 to celebrate America’s 250th at William & Mary’s Phi Beta Kappa Memorial Hall |
| Richmond Shakespeare continues its summer Shakespeare Fest with The Complete History of America (abridged) by Adam Long, Reed Martin, and Austin Tichenor, directed by Dr. Laurie Wolf, playing July 30 – August 2, 2026 in the Lab Theatre at Phi Beta Kappa Memorial Hall on the campus of William & Mary. Presented in partnership with William & Mary’s Arts Quarter, this fast-paced comedy races through more than six centuries of American history in just ninety minutes. From Columbus to the Constitution, the Wild West to Watergate, and beyond, The Complete History of America (abridged) delivers a whirlwind of outrageous characters, clever satire, and laugh-out-loud comedy. Featuring Jimmy Weinstein, Bridget Wolf, and Murphy Scherer, the production embraces the signature style that has made the Reduced Shakespeare Company an international favorite—celebrating history while gleefully poking fun at it. “It’s not the length of your history that matters—it’s what you’ve done with it!” Richmond Shakespeare’s production marks an exciting continuation of its growing partnership with William & Mary and the Arts Quarter, expanding opportunities to bring professional theatre to Williamsburg while creating meaningful artistic collaborations with one of Virginia’s premier educational institutions. “William & Mary has a long and distinguished history of supporting the arts,” said Jase Sullivan, Managing Director of Richmond Shakespeare. “We’re thrilled to partner with the Arts Quarter to present this hilarious production in the Lab Theatre and continue building a vibrant future for professional classical theatre in Williamsburg.” Directed by Dr. Laurie Wolf, The Complete History of America (abridged) transforms the sweeping story of the United States into an energetic theatrical event filled with rapid-fire costume changes, physical comedy, improvisation, and irreverent wit. Whether you’re a history buff or simply looking for an evening of laughter, this production offers something for everyone. Tickets and additional information are available at www.richmondshakespeare.org FAST FACTS WHO: Richmond Shakespeare WHAT: The Complete History of America (abridged) by Adam Long, Reed Martin, and Austin Tichenor WHEN: July 30 – August 2 (Thursday – Saturday at 7:30p, Saturday and Sunday at 2p) WHERE: Lab Theatre at Phi Beta Kappa Memorial Hall, 601 Jamestown Rd, Williamsburg, VA 23185 HOW: Purchase tickets at www.richmondshakespeare.org Photos by Terence Sullivan:  Jimmy Weinstein, Bridget Wolf, and Murphy Scherer in The Complete History of America (abridged)  Bridget Wolf, Murphy Scherer and Jimmy Weinstein in The Complete History of America (abridged) About Richmond Shakespeare Richmond Shakespeare produces vital works of classical and contemporary theatre, with Shakespeare as our foundation. We approach this work boldly with a resolve to ignite spirits, educate minds and defy expectation. We also like to work with exciting new plays that resonate with our reverence for language, our commitment to sharing ideas and bold staging that ignites the heart and mind. Richmond Shakespeare is committed to the principles of access, equity, inclusion, and diversity in our board of directors, staff, and programming. To make our work accessible to as wide of an audience as possible, we keep our ticket prices amongst the lowest in the region. To bring the classics to all, we offer all our education programs at or below cost because we believe everyone should have the chance to experience live theatre. |