Play Title–What the Constitution Means to Me
Playwright–Heidi Schreck
Original Director–Oliver Butler
First Performed –21 June 2017, Wild Project and True Love Productions, New York
Notable Perf.– 31 March 2019, Helen Hayes Theater, Broadway
Setting–The present, 1989, an American Legion hall in a rural town
Play Structure–Non-Linear
Play Style–Meta, Autobiography, Comedy
Accolades–Winner (win) | Finalist (fin) | Nomination (nom)
2019 win, Obie, Best New American Play
2019 win, NY Drama Critics’ Circle, Best American play
2019 win, Off-Broadway Alliance, Best New Play
2019 fin, Pulitzer Prize, Drama
2019 nom, Tony, Best Play
2019 nom, Tony, Best Actress: Heidi Schreck
2019 nom, Drama Desk, Outstanding Play
2019 nom, Drama Desk, Outstanding Actress: Heidi Schreck
Table Sources: “1947 to”, “Finalist”, McPhee, Schreck, “Visiting Lecturer”, “What the Constitution”
— REVIEWS
“Schreck never finds simple or sloganeering solutions on how to ‘smash the patriarchy’, talking about men with no hint of misandry, and presenting arguments that are nuanced, intersectional and deeply humane.” – Arifa Akbar, The Guardian
“It’s a wake up call not only about the erosion of liberties in response to fear, but also about the less than glorious history of the myth that is America.” – Brian McCormick, amNewYork
“[The play] captures the mood of a time when institutional protections feel shockingly vulnerable and the country is getting an unwelcome crash course in constitutional arcana.” – Michael Schulman, The New Yorker
ILLUMINATING QUOTES FROM THE PLAY
“Just like us, this document is flawed. But just like us, it is also capable of getting better” (Schreck 62).
“… we need to do the hard work of passing amendments. To protect our basic human rights from the whims of a partisan court” (Schreck 91).
Works Cited
1. “1947 to the present: Winners and Honorees.” Tony Awards, https://www.tonyawards.com/nominees/year/2019/category/any/show/any/. Accessed 28 Jul. 2025.
2. Akbar, Arifa. “A dazzling, shocking indictment of America: What the Constitution Means to Me review.” The Guardian, 20 Oct. 2020, https://www.theguardian.com/stage/2020/oct/20/what-the-constitution-means-to-me-review-dazzling-shocking-america-indictment. Accessed 16 Jul. 2025.
3. “Finalist: What the Constitution Means to Me, by Heidi Schreck.” Pulitzer Prize, https://wwwdev9.pulitzer.org/finalists/heidi-schreck. Accessed 28 Jul. 2025.
4. McCormick, Brian. “Performance party packs them in at PS 122.” amNewYork, 18 Dec. 2007, https://www.amny.com/news/performance-party-packs-them-in-at-ps-122/. Accessed 28 Jul. 2025.
5. McPhee, Ryan. “Nominations for the 2019 Drama Desk Awards Announced; Oklahoma!, Tootsie, Rags Parkland Lead the Pack.” Playbill, 25 Apr. 2019, https://playbill.com/article/nominations-for-the-2019-drama-desk-awards-announced-oklahoma-tootsie-rags-parkland-lead-the-pack. Accessed 28 Jul. 2025.
6. Schulman, Michael. “Heidi Schreck Takes the Constitution to Broadway.” The New Yorker, 11 Feb. 2019, https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2019/02/18/heidi-schreck-takes-the-constitution-to-broadway. Accessed 28 Jul. 2025.
7. “Visiting Lecturer of English: Heidi Schreck.” Harvard University, https://english.fas.harvard.edu/people/heidi-schreck. Accessed 28 Jul. 2025.
8. “What the Constitution Means to Me.” Concord Theatricals, https://www.concordtheatricals.com/p/93589/what-the-constitution-means-to-me. Accessed 26 Jul. 2025.