What the Constitution Means to Me confronts history, rights, and democracy with timely urgency
Miami University Theatre, in partnership with the Menard Family Center for Democracy, is presenting What the Constitution Means to Me through September 21 at the Gates-Abegglen Theatre on the Oxford campus.
Written by Heidi Schreck and first staged in 2017, the play was nominated for the Tony Award for Best Play and a Pulitzer Prize finalist in 2019. It traces Schreck’s evolving relationship with the U.S. Constitution, beginning with her teenage years as a contestant in the American Legion’s Constitution Contest. The script blends personal history with civic reflection, provoking audible reactions from the audience as questions–and statements–of rights and interpretation unfold. The evening culminates in a debate between two performers on whether to keep or abolish the Constitution. Perfect for the college crowd, it invites active audience participation by booing or cheering the debaters’ points.
The Play
The production is structured in two parts. First, 15-year-old Heidi (Sara Rose Detwiler) delivers her contest speech, focusing especially on the Ninth Amendment, which Schreck describes as the Constitution’s “penumbra,” or the shadowy areas open for interpretation. Through Heidi’s perspective, the audience learns of her mother, grandmother, and great-great-grandmother, whose lives were shaped by gaps and interpretations of the law. The second part of the first section introduces the Legionnaire, Mike, who is performer Garland Weaver. Mike shares about gender and gender signaling.
The Final portion shifts to a live debate between Detwiler and an energetic and confident “student debater” (Danielle Todd-Harris). After the debate, one audience member choses to keep or abolish the Constitution. (On opening night the student chose to abolish it–drawing a reaction from the crowd.)
There are many quotable, even shocking, moments. What hit me this time, is how it distinguishes between positive rights or entitlements (health care, or public education for example) versus negative rights which protect your freedom from other’s actions. “Is the government protecting or the source of our problem?” Then the show applies it to women’s rights, both historically, and those currently under scrutiny.
Performances
Detwiler navigates the layered role with poise and strength, alternating between Heidi as a teenager, an adult, and even moments as herself. She removes layers (literally as well as figuratively) in this memory play. Weaver gives weight to the Legionnaire’s presence, and finds some of Mike’s humor. Todd-Harris energizes the closing debate with sharp delivery, conviction, and charm.
Directed by Gina Handy Minyard, assisted by Benjamin Jones, the production balances education and personal narrative while tackling difficult themes including abuse, abortion, and sexual violence. The debate sequence delivers urgency and immediacy. This should be required viewing–or at least extra credit!
Design
The design choices are understated but effective.
- Scenery (Madeline Milas): A muted Legion hall with podium and steps. Above the meeting room are billboards, or memories, of Schreck’s hometown. (Advised by Gion DeFrancesco.)
- Lighting (Cassie Mings): Subtle but well-timed shifts of focus and color, with ambient house light accommodating note-taking students.
- Costumes (Lisa Martin-Stuart): Simple, realistic.
- Sound (Gary Minyard and Marly Wooster): Effective use of historical recordings of court arguments and justices (including many telling awkward coughs)
Conclusion
As part of Miami’s Citizenship and Democracy Week, What the Constitution Means to Me is a timely and compelling choice. As one of the most produced plays of the last three years, it is also an appropriate launchpad for dialogue in theatre, civics, or law classes. It challenges audiences to confront how democracy functions in practice, against an ideal.
This show is presented without intermission, which is the right choice for this audience. Every attendee leaves with a pocket-sized copy of the Constitution, a reminder of the questions raised onstage. And the show and program notes urges them to take action and ownership of this country, to register to vote and participate in the process. Use it or lose it.
Tickets to What the Constitution Means to Me
What the Constitution Means to Me continues through September 21, 2025, at Miami University’s Gates-Abegglen Theatre, Center for Performing Arts. Tickets are available through Miami’s online box office.
