Cast

Jackie Robinson- Ephraim Sykes

Rachel Isum Robinson- Ariana DeBose

Edgar Robinson- Marcus Scribner

Mrs. Robinson- Anika Nani Rose

Young Jackie Robinson- Caleb McLaughlin

Branch Rickey- Nobert Leo Butz

Wendell Smith- Brandon Victor Dixon

Leo Durocher- Christian Borle

Red Barber- Brian D’Arcy James

Clyde Sukeforth- Denis O’Hare

Ben Chapman- Jeremy Jordan

Clay Hopper- John Stamos

Dixie Walker- Andrew Keenan-Bolger

Ralph Branca- John Cariani

Kirby Higbe- Derek Klena

Pee Wee Reese- Aaron Tviet

Eddie Stanky- Corey Cott

 Character Breakdown

Jackie Robinson- #42 and first baseman of the Brooklyn Dodgers, first African American ball
player to play in the ML’s, fast, angered easily but stands up for what is right

Rachel Isum Robinson- Married to Jackie Robinson, compassionate, loving, caring

Young Jackie Robinson- Jackie Robinson at age 12

Edgar Robinson- Jackie’s eldest brother, 20 years old, kind-hearted, protector of the household

Mrs. Robinson- Jackie’s mother, hard-working, tired but loving

Branch Rickey- General manager of the Brooklyn Dodgers, hard but has a good soul

Wendell Smith- African American sportswriter, helped Jackie onto the team, helpful and
motivational

Leo Durocher- manager of the Dodgers, let’s Jackie play on the team, smart, head strong

Red Barber- sports commentator, nice speaking voice, passionate about sports

Clyde Sukeforth- officially signs Jackie to the Dodgers, smart, powerful

Ben Chapman- Manager of the Philadelphia Phillies, taunts Jackie with racist remarks, hateful

Clay Hopper- racist manager who asks to move Jackie to a different team, hateful

Dixie Walker- right fielder on the Brooklyn Dodgers, 5 time All Star, talented

Ralph Branca- pitcher for the Brooklyn Dodgers, stands by Jackie on opening day, supportive
and kind

Kirby Higbe- pitcher for the Brooklyn Dodgers, asked to be traded after Jackie was signed, was
traded to the Pirates

Pee Wee Reese- shortstop for the Brooklyn Dodgers, strong supporter of Jackie, friendly and
good-natured

Eddie Stanky- 2nd baseman of the Brooklyn Dodgers, stands up for Jackie, good head on his
shoulders
 Act 1 Scene 1

[A wide spotlight shines on stage. Under it is Edgar Robinson and young Jackie Robinson. Both
Edgar and Jackie are holding baseball mitts.]

Edgar Robinson- Listen here Jack. You never stop playing alright? I know talent when I see it.

You run faster than any white boy I seen, you catch better than any of your fellow ball players,

and you can hit bullets sky high. You never ever let someone tell you that you can’t play, you

hear me?

Young Jackie- Yes sir.

Edgar Robinson- I’m proud of you J. Now, how ‘bout a game of catch with your brother?

[Young Jackie nods and smiles at his brother, hugging him. He puts on his baseball cap and puts
his hand in his mitt. It fits like a “glove.” The screens behind him create the backdrop of a
neighborhood. They’re in front of the Robinson house. Jackie runs to the other side of the stage.
They start to play catch.]

Young Jackie- [Hesitantly. Still playing catch.] Eddie? Do you think I’ll ever play ball in the big

leagues? With them white players?

Edgar Robinson- Jackie, you know I don’t like talkin’ ‘bout things I don’t know the answers to.

Young Jackie- I know Eddie, but I was just thinkin’ ‘bout it. That’s what I wanna do. Play in the

big leagues with the white men. Just to show them that Negros can play just as good as them

white players.

Edgar Robinson- [Stops the game of catch] Jackie you listen to me. If that’s what your dream is,

you fight for it. Never give up on that dream. Now how’s ‘bout you go find Mack?
[Jackie smiles and “inside” (off stage). Mrs. Robinson enters, standing on the porch. She has an

oven mitt in her hand, signaling that she has been cooking.]

Mrs. Robinson- How’s he doing?

Edgar Robinson- Good. Faster and stronger than ever. He wants to play in the big leagues with

them white boys. Didn’t have the heart to tell him the reality of that dream.

Mrs. Robinson- That reality can change Eddie. You never know. Maybe he’ll play ball in the

major leagues. Never give up on his dream, that’s what you always tell him. Change is coming I

can tell. C’mon inside, dinner is finished.

[The scene changes to young Jackie’s bedroom. He’s now the only person on stage; he’s
standing on his bed.]

Young Jackie- [Like a baseball announcer] And next up is #42, Jackie Robinson for the

Brooklyn Dodgers! He steps up to the plate, bases are loaded, 2 outs, bottom of the 10th inning.

Score is 3-0 with the Dodgers losing. This could make or break Robinson’s career! The pitcher

winds up and delivers a solid strike. Count is 0-1. The pitcher winds up again but Robinson

swings, foul ball to left field. The count is now 0-2, can Robinson deliver for the Dodgers? The

pitcher winds up, Robinson swings, and it is out, out, out, of here! Robinson hits the first grand

slam of the season! The Dodgers win the game 4-3!

[Young Jackie freezes with the bat held proudly in the air. Jackie Robinson enters, out of the
dark into the young boy’s bedroom.]

Jackie- I always wanted to play ball. Ever since I was a kid playin’ ball with the neighborhood

boys, with wooden sticks as bats and trash can lids as bases. Little Jackie had no idea that this
would really happen to him. If I had to go back in time, I wouldn’t change a thing, I knew

playin’ ball is all I wanted to do.

[Young Jackie unfreezes and joins Jackie.]

Young Jackie- My name is Jack Roosevelt Robinson, but you can call me Jackie! I was born

January 31st, 1919 in Georgia. I have three older brothers and one older sister but us boys made

the best baseball team in the neighborhood. We moved to California when I was one years old so

I don’t remember nothin’ ‘bout Georgia.

Jackie- I played ball in high school and junior college. After I graduated, I attended UCLA,

where I was the first student to win varsity letters in four sports, of basketball, football, track,

and baseball. [Young Jackie stares at him in amazement.] I was drafted to an Army cavalry unity

in Kansas when I was 23. I played ball with the guys when we had free time. I knew fighting was

what I needed to do for my country, but I couldn’t help but be upset that I wasn’t playin’

professional ball. I came back home in 1944 and in 1945, I played in the Negro leagues for the

Kansas City Monarchs, earning $400 per month.

Young Jackie- Gee whiz $400?! I get 5 cents for doing the dishes! What else happened?

Jackie- Well kid, you broke down a lot of barriers in your lifetime. You got married, had

beautiful babies, and changed the baseball game for millions around the world.

Young Jackie- Well get on with it then!

Young Jackie and Jackie- I’m Jackie Robinson, and this is my story.

[Lights go to black. The stage/screens rapidly change to a baseball managers office. Branch
Rickey is sitting at his desk, reading a paper, smoking a pipe.]