Playhouse presents rollicking American history comedy

MEREDITH — The Fourth of July holiday will be a lot funnier this year when the Winnipesaukee Playhouse welcomes "The Complete History of America (Abridged)," a rollicking comedy presented in honor of the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence. This three-person play is like a mash-up of "SNL" and "The Daily Show" if they featured the "Three Stooges." With plenty of bipartisan humor that lampoons everything from Washington to Watergate and Alexander Hamilton to "Hamilton" the musical.

The plot follows a mostly linear timeline starting from the events leading up to the formation of our great nation all the way to the present day, making time along the way for scandals, conspiracy theories, songs, sketch comedy, musical instruments, slapstick, vaudeville and a bucketload of one-liners. Covering all 600 years of American history in 6,000 seconds, the play reminds us: it’s not the length of your history, it’s what you’ve done with it.

Director Lawrence Lesher is at the helm of a talented cast that includes local performer Amanda Wagner (seen at the Playhouse in last summer’s production of "POTUS") along with Travis Tingvall and Owen Minor who are both making their Playhouse debuts. The creative team includes scenic designer Inseung Park, lighting designer Meredith C. Brown, costume designer Andrew Burns, sound designer Elizabeth Atkinson, and stage manager Ash Boze.

"The Complete History of America (Abridged)" is the second production in the Playhouse’s 2026 professional season which is sponsored by R&D Paving and Lakes Region Community College.

The production is further sponsored by Birch Hill Bookkeeping and Consulting and Misiaszek Turpin Architects. It runs from July 3-11. Tickets are available at winnipesaukeeplayhouse.org.