CONGRESS AMONGST YOURSELVES

In the play, Heidi portrays a 15-year-old version of herself who had completely polar beliefs to the ones she has today; and yet, with grace, Heidi acknowledges when and how she developed her evolving stance on a number of issues. What is something that you’ve changed your mind about, and what were the catalyzing events for such a conversion of belief?

At the end of the play, the sides of the debate are determined by a coin toss, meaning that each debater must be prepared to argue for both sides of an issue and support their points. Where do you stand in terms of the major questions posed in the debate? Should we keep or abolish the Constitution? Why? Could you defend the opposite belief?

Heidi is tasked to make a connection between her arguments and the Constitution. What in the play resonated or connected with you most? Has this play changed the way you think about this founding document of our nation?

BACK IN THE LAND

We are so excited to have Heidi Schreck’s work back at Cleveland Play House. Back in 2014, Heidi Schreck was a Roe Green Award recipient and her work - a play entitled Grand Concourse - was part of our New Ground Theatre Festival. This more recent play, What the Constitution Means to Me, is a recipient of the Obie Award, Off-Broadway Alliance Award, New York Drama Critics’ Circle Award, multiple Tony Nominations and Drama Desk Awards, and was a Pulitzer Finalist in 2019.

Heidi Schreck goes the extra mile in her script for What the Constitution Means to Me, offering a generous list of additional reading materials. If you’re curious to read and know more, take a look through the Goodreads bookshelf we’ve curated for your easy navigation.

Here are some additional sources she lists as helpful and mindful reading:

The Constitution of the Czech Republic (1992)

The Constitution of the Republic of South Africa (1996)

The Race of the Ark Tattoo by David Hancock (a play, unpublished, 1998)

Articles:

“The Death of the Fourteenth Amendment: Castle Rock and Its Progeny” by G. Kristian Miccio (William & Mary Journal of Race, Gender, and Social Justice: Volume 17 [2010-2011], Issue 2, Article 2 William & Mary Journal of Women and the Law; February 2011)

“To Have and Hold: Reproduction, Marriage, and the Constitution” by Jill Lepore (New Yorker, May 18, 2015 and May 25, 2015 Dept. of Justice Issue)

“U.S. in Top 10 Most Dangerous Countries for Women, Report Finds,” by David Brennan (Newsweek, June 26, 2018)

“The Bicentennial Speech,” by Justice Thurgood Marshall (delivered in Maui, Hawaii on May 6 1987, as part of the constitutional bicentennial celebration at the Annual Seminar of the San Francisco Patent and Trademark Law Association)

MORE AROUND TOWN

Loved the show? You’re in luck - Heidi Schreck has ANOTHER play being produced in Cleveland RIGHT NOW!

Grand Concourse by Heidi Schreck
Produced by Seat of the Pants
at Christ Episcopal Church
3445 Warrensville Center Rd.
Shaker Heights, Ohio, 44122

Check out our friends at Seat of the Pants and their site-specific production of Heidi Schreck’s Grand Concourse, taking place in a commercial kitchen. In fact this play was originally developed at Cleveland Play House when Schreck was awarded the Roe Green Award in 2014.

And one more reason to go: DISCOUNTS! Theatre-goers who purchase a ticket to What the Constitution Means to Me get a discount to Grand Concourse; just use the code CPHP for 15% off at grandconcoursesotp.eventbrite.com!

Inspired by the sense of activism and personal involvement of Heidi and our student debaters?

Are you looking to be more active in the NEOhio community?

Check out the 3rd Space Action Lab, just a 15 minute drive from Downtown. Their work encompasses an enormous range of initiatives including local activism, event planning, project support, education and training, poetry and art gallery spaces, a bookstore, and more.

There’s always something going on: get involved, attend an event, and take a look at the groups and projects they’re supporting.

LET'S HIT THE QUILLS

At the end of the play Schreck generously provides the audience with an opportunity to directly contribute to how this play ends and offer final thoughts that reach across time and space to the next night’s audience.

Now, following Schreck’s lead, we want to hear from you. If you could reach across time and space, what amendments would you have added or would you like to see added to the Constitution? What amendments do you believe would have strong promise for the future?

Tell us what you think Amendments 28 through 30 look like, and tag us: @clevelandplayhouse #CPHWTCMTM #CPHConstitution

NOW PRESENTING…

Everyone has a topic that they are an expert on. For me, it’s amazing facts about the majestic creature, the flamingo. For my older sibling, it was baseball rosters of the American League from 1995-2003. But what do we do with this niche knowledge? I offer to you the Presentation Party [click next slide].

A great way of making new friends or deepening your relationships is to share the things you love and are passionate about. To add a little extra dose of fun, make a party out of it! As an event, each person in attendance comes ready with a 5-10 minute PowerPoint about the things they’re most passionate. For those 21 and older, maybe there’s some imbibing every time a fun fact surprises you; for any age, maybe there’s a competition element for the person with the most ludicrous presentation. Presenting doesn’t have to just be scholastic; strive to make it personal to you and have fun with it. When we share with others our full selves, we stand to make a much bigger impact and maybe find some camaraderie for our newly shared passions.