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Almost History: that whole space time continuum thing by Treanor Baring play script cover

Almost History: that whole space time continuum thing

by Treanor Baring

In a hilarious series of time-travelling misadventures, a Reporter and a Sidekick livestream from great moments in American history.

Despite the über-scientist Sidekick’s best efforts to keep the clueless Reporter out of trouble, they change the course of history and return to a comically chaotic present. Even Einstein and Marie Curie cannot undo the disastrous effects of their mishaps.

Eventually, they are able to save democracy and technology by restoring order to the "whole space-time continuum thing."

Comedy Adventure

Average Producer Rating: 5.0 out of 5

Recommended for High Schools and Middle Schools

At a Glance

Running Time
About 60 minutes
Approximate; excludes intermissions and scene changes
Cast
13 Characters
13 Any Gender
Expandable to 37
Set
Simple set
Production Tips
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Free Excerpt
Classroom Study Guide
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Performance Royalty Fees

Royalty fees apply to all performances whether or not admission is charged. Any performance in front of an audience (e.g. an invited dress rehearsal) is considered a performance for royalty purposes.

Exemption details for scenes and monologues for competition.

13 Characters

  • 13 Any Gender
  • Expandable to 37

Characters in this play are currently identified as male or female. Directors are welcome to assign any gender (binary or non-binary) to any character and modify pronouns accordingly.

  • MEDIA MIKE Any gender 19 lines
    Larger-than-life celebrity talk show host. Flashy, loud and prone to exaggeration. Totally over the top.
  • SANDRA Any gender 103 lines
    Television investigative reporter interested in getting a scoop and having a hit show, excitable and energetic.
  • MELVIN Any gender 91 lines
    Total science nerd…I mean dude…introverted, but confident.
  • CODY Any gender 29 lines
    ypical teenagers, nonchalant and blasé, they don’t want to learn anything they don’t have to.
  • JESS Any gender 25 lines
    Typical teenagers, nonchalant and blasé, they don’t want to learn anything they don’t have to.
  • ASSISTANT PRODUCER Any gender 11 lines
    Ambitious, outgoing and hyper television assistant producer.
  • PRODUCER Any gender 33 lines
    Behind-the-scenes boss of the television production company. Matter-of-fact and efficient.
  • LA PINTA NAVIGATOR Any gender 27 lines
    The most important person on Columbus’s ship besides the captain. Of noble birth, well educated and proud, a snob.
  • THOMAS JEFFERSON Any gender 6 lines
    You all know who THOMAS JEFFERSON is, right? Proud, arrogant and a little childish.
  • BEN FRANKLIN Any gender 5 lines
    The oldest of the founding fathers, and won’t let anyone forget it.
  • JOHN ADAMS Any gender 6 lines
    Again, you probably know a lot about John Adams. Short, bald, ornery.
  • ALEXANDER GRAHAM BELL Any gender 3 lines
    The inventor himself.
  • THOMAS WATSON Any gender 4 lines
    Assistant to Bell. A perfect gentleman.
  • MICHAEL COLLINS Any gender 3 lines
    Astronaut from the 1960s. Never walked on the moon. Still important!
  • NEIL ARMSTRONG Any gender 10 lines
    First man on the moon.
  • BUZZ ALDRIN Any gender 2 lines
    Second man on the moon. Still quite the achievement!
  • COMMAND CONTROL Any gender 3 lines
    NASA engineer back on earth.
  • PYTHAGORAS Any gender 5 lines
    Mathematical genius with a theorem named after him.
  • EINSTEIN Any gender 4 lines
    Mathematical genius with a lot to say about general relativity.
  • MARIE CURIE Any gender 4 lines
    Scientist, two time Nobel winner. A glowing personality.
  • MARY SHELLEY Any gender 2 lines
    Author of Frankenstein. Knows better than anyone that Frankenstein was the scientist, not the monster.
  • MS. WOOD Any gender 8 lines
    The brilliant 8th grade history teacher who saves the day.
  • MS. SMETEK Any gender 3 lines
    The beautiful English teacher everyone adores.
  • HEAD OF IMPERIAL GUARDS Any gender 0 lines
    Soviet soldier
  • FANS 1,2,3 Any gender 4,3,3 lines
    Fawning middle school students. Aspiring rappers.
  • CHORUS (4-7)
    Media Mike audience, Television crew, La Pinta shipmates, Congressional congress, Imperial guards

Praise for Almost History: that whole space time continuum thing

5 out of 5 stars
Nicole McHale
St Joan of Arc
Great middle school production. Simple sets, flexible cast, very funny parts
5 out of 5 stars
Debra Blakely
Pine Crest School
The Middle School students had a blast with this performance.
5 out of 5 stars
Teresa Tarr
St. Joseph Regional Junior High School
This was a great play!

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