A commedia-like troupe shifts cubes to represent various scenes in A*B*C* (America Before
Columbus), which can be presented as a musical or a non-musical. The play begins with two
children stepping across the frozen Bering Strait 20,000 years ago. We see the first Americans
learn to survive, to hunt, to fish, to farm, to continue to progress until that day in 1492 when
those strange sails appeared on the horizon. An outline of American pre-history, it is full of
humor and action to keep young audiences entertained. Simple modern casual attire is
recommended with additions to suggest various characters and animals since the play is symbolic,
not realistic. Very little scenery (a few cubes or boxes), makes touring easy. Actors may be
children or adults, or some of each.
A*B*C* was well tested before publication by
several professional companies including a Maryland group that toured 75 Baltimore area schools,
and non-professional productions at high schools and colleges, including the Universtiy of
Wisconsin-Whitewater. Joseph Robinette received his second national award when The Children's
Theatre Foundation of America named him 2006 Recipient of its Medallion for "career achievement
with more than several dozen stage works to his credit." He received the 1976 Chorpenning Cup,
awarded annually by the American Theatre Asso. to an outstanding nationally known writer of
children's plays.
"Always exciting, often moving...a totally unique script."—Rita
Keller, Delaware County Community College. The script is "ingeniously arranged to entertain
child audiences with great humor and ample action while teaching them something about the often
neglected pre-history of our continent."—ATA Players, South Bend, Inc.
Also by Robinette: Beanstalk and Penny
and the Magic Medallion
Other plays with Native American content:
Bird Boy, Song of Hiawatha, and
Talking Leaves
See our full list of plays that may be performed as a musical or
non-musical.
Other plays for young actors (elementary and junior high).
See also: Plays About Prejudice and Injustice