Jonah Patel
What the Constitution Means to Me is a play by Heidi Schreck, which traces the impact of the US Constitution on four generations of women in her family. It is a profoundly personal, political, and contemporary feminist piece, which has been hailed as not just the best play to open on Broadway so far this season, but also the most important by The New York Times. The play is approximately 1 hour and 45 minutes long and contains discussions of domestic violence, sexual assault, abortion, and generational trauma.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Type | Play |
| Genre | Political, Personal, Feminism |
| Director | Oliver Butler |
| Playwright | Heidi Schreck |
| Duration | 1 hour and 45 minutes |
| Awards | Obie Award, Tony Award nominations, Pulitzer Prize finalist |
| Average Ticket Price | $106.82 |
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What You'll Learn
The play is a mix of history and memoir
The play "What the Constitution Means to Me" is a mix of history and memoir. It is a profoundly personal and political look at the US Constitution and how it could evolve to fit modern times. The play is written and performed by Heidi Schreck, who, at fifteen, paid her college tuition by giving speeches about the Constitution in debate competitions across the country. The play begins with Schreck resurrecting her fifteen-year-old self and delivering a speech about the Constitution's impact on women, starting with her great-great-grandmother, a mail-order bride who died under mysterious circumstances.
The play then takes a more personal turn as the modern-day Schreck in her late forties delves into the maternal history of her family, dating back to her European immigrant great-grandmother. She discusses how the women in her family have survived through physical abuse and rape at the hands of men, while reminding the audience that the US Constitution, intended to protect all citizens, does not mention the word "woman."
The play is a bold trailblazer in contemporary feminism and has been hailed by the New York Times as "the best and most important new play of the season." It argues both for the Constitution and against some of its outdated and misogynistic aspects. The play ends with Schreck being joined on stage by a young African American debater, and the two engage in a formal parliamentary debate over whether the Constitution should be abolished.
"What the Constitution Means to Me" is not a traditional play but has been described as an "entertaining form of education." Schreck's performance gives the sense of an unscripted, off-the-cuff approach, while the writing is well-scripted with each segment serving a clear purpose. The play breathes new life into the Constitution and imagines how it will shape the next generation of Americans.
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It's political and personal
"What the Constitution Means to Me" is a play that is as political as it is personal. It is a boundary-breaking play that breathes new life into the US Constitution and imagines how it will shape the next generation of Americans. The play is a profoundly personal look at the nation's most debated document and how it could evolve to fit modern times. It is also a bold trailblazer in contemporary feminism.
The play begins with the author and performer, Heidi Schreck, walking onto the set of an American Legion Hall, with monotonous rows of portraits of old white men on display. Schreck informs the audience that she will turn herself into her fifteen-year-old self, who used to deliver speeches about the US Constitution to old white men across the country to raise money for college. The audience must become these old white men and listen to the 'teenager' give her thoughts on the document.
The play takes a personal turn as the modern-day Heidi in her late 40s delves into the maternal history of her family, dating back to her European immigrant great-grandmother. She discusses how the women in her family have survived through physical abuse and rape at the hands of men, while reminding the audience that the US Constitution, intended to protect all citizens, never mentions the word 'woman'.
The play ends with Heidi being joined on stage by an African American girl, a real-life debater from today's young generation. Together, they enter into a formal parliamentary debate over whether or not the Constitution should be abolished. "What the Constitution Means to Me" is an incredibly well-scripted play that encourages the audience to ask themselves where they stand in relation to the Constitution.
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It's a trailblazer for contemporary feminism
The play "What the Constitution Means to Me" is a trailblazer for contemporary feminism. The play is written by Heidi Schreck, who is also the performer. The play is partly autobiographical, as it draws on Schreck's own experience of putting herself through college by giving speeches about the U.S. Constitution. In the play, Schreck resurrects her fifteen-year-old self, who used to deliver speeches about the Constitution to old white men across the United States.
The play takes a personal turn as the modern-day Heidi, in her late 40s, delves into the maternal history of her own family, dating back to her great-grandmother. She discusses how the women in her family have survived through physical abuse and rape at the hands of men. Schreck highlights the fact that the U.S. Constitution, intended to protect all citizens, does not mention the word "woman".
The play ends with Heidi being joined on stage by a young African American girl, a real-life debater from today's generation. Together, they enter into a formal parliamentary debate about whether the Constitution should be abolished. "What the Constitution Means to Me" is not just a play but also an educational experience for adults. It encourages the audience to reflect on their own views and inspires them to learn more about the document.
The New York Times hailed the play as "not just the best play to open on Broadway so far this season, but also the most important." It was also recognized as a "bold trailblazer in contemporary feminism" by the New York Theater Guide. The play was a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize and received two Tony Award nominations, among other accolades.
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It's a one-woman monologue with two actors
"What the Constitution Means to Me" is a profoundly personal and political look at America's most debated document and how it could be moulded to fit the modern era. The play is written and performed by Heidi Schreck, who, at fifteen, paid her college tuition by giving speeches about the U.S. Constitution in debate competitions. In the play, Schreck resurrects her teenage self to explore the document's impact on four generations of women in her family, dating back to her European immigrant great-grandmother. The play is directed by Oliver Butler and features a small cast, including Mike Iveson as the contest moderator, and Gabriel Marin as the Legionnaire.
Although the play could be presented as a one-woman monologue, with Heidi Schreck as the central performer, she is joined on stage by Mike Iveson, who acts as the contest moderator. In the context of the play, Heidi, now in her late 40s, delves into the maternal history of her family, revealing how the women in her lineage have endured physical abuse and rape, while highlighting the absence of the word "woman" in the Constitution. The play concludes with an African American girl, a real-life debater from today's generation, joining Heidi on stage for a formal parliamentary debate about whether the Constitution should be abolished.
The play has been hailed as "not just the best play to open on Broadway so far this season, but also the most important" by The New York Times. It has received numerous accolades, including two Tony Award nominations and recognition as a Pulitzer Prize finalist. The play runs for approximately 1 hour and 45 minutes without intermission and contains mature themes, such as domestic violence, sexual assault, abortion, and generational trauma.
"What the Constitution Means to Me" offers a unique blend of history, memoir, and contemporary feminism, encouraging audiences to reflect on their relationship with the Constitution and consider its relevance in the modern era.
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It's an entertaining and educational experience
"What the Constitution Means to Me" is a play that is as entertaining as it is educational. It is a profoundly personal and political look at the US Constitution and how it could evolve to fit modern times. The play is based on the true story of its author and performer, Heidi Schreck, who, at 15, paid her college tuition by giving speeches about the US Constitution in debate competitions across the country. In the play, Schreck resurrects her teenage self to tell the story of four generations of extraordinary women in her family and how their lives were shaped by the Constitution.
The play is incredibly well-scripted, with each segment having its purpose. It argues both for the Constitution and against some of its misogynistic and outdated aspects. It is a bold trailblazer in contemporary feminism, with Schreck's character giving intelligent and eloquent speeches about notions that will affect her generation and future generations. The play is also a fascinating history lesson and a family memoir. It is a unique and captivating way to educate oneself about the Constitution and its impact on women.
The play takes an intriguing turn as the modern-day Schreck delves into the maternal history of her family, dating back to her great-grandmother. She discusses how the women in her family have survived physical abuse and rape, while reminding the audience that the US Constitution, intended to protect all citizens, does not mention the word "woman". The play ends with Schreck being joined on stage by a young African American girl, and the two engage in a formal debate about whether the Constitution should be abolished.
"What the Constitution Means to Me" is a thought-provoking and powerful piece of theatre that combines entertainment and education seamlessly. It encourages audience members to reflect on their own views of the Constitution and inspires further exploration of the document and its relevance today. It is a must-see for anyone interested in an insightful and engaging theatrical experience that goes beyond traditional plays to offer a unique perspective on American history, feminism, and personal storytelling.
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Frequently asked questions
The play is a personal and political history lesson and family memoir. It is a bold trailblazer in contemporary feminism, exploring the impact of the US Constitution on four generations of women in Heidi Schreck's family.
The play is written by Heidi Schreck, who also performs in it.
The play runs for approximately 1 hour and 45 minutes with no intermission.
The play was performed at the Helen Hayes Theatre on Broadway in 2019. It has also been performed at the Round House Theatre, and by the Huntington Theatre Company.
