WHAT THE CONSTITUTION MEANS TO ME

"...first-rate...critical, sympathetic, funny and hopeful.”
-BroadwayWorld

WHAT THE CONSTITUTION MEANS TO ME

September 13 – October 1

By Heidi Schreck  | Directed by Melissa Crespo | Scenic Design by Ann Beyersdorfer | Costume Design by Carmen M. Martinez | Lighting Design by Kathy A. Perkins | Sound Design by Jacqueline R. Herter

Schreck’s boundary-breaking show traces the profound relationship between four generations of women and the founding document that shaped their lives. Hilarious, hopeful, and honest, this Tony and Pulitzer nominated play exposes baked-in biases and omissions, while also breathing in new life, and imagining how American lives will be impacted for generations to come. 

“Every American should see this play!” 
– The Seattle Times

Program: Read the program here.

Study Guide: Explore the comprehensive study guide here.

Run Time: 90 minutes, no intermission.

Content Advisory: What the Constitution Means to Me contains adult language and themes that may not be suitable for all ages.

READ REVIEWS:

Buy TICKET calendar of performances + link to buy tickets

  • Topics include discriminatory language and discussion of race, age, gender, ethnicity, religious beliefs, sexual orientation, abortion, physical and emotional abuse, and mental illness.

WATCH VIDEO:

"What the Constitution Means to Me" at Syracuse Stage, September 13 - October 1, 2023. By Heidi Schreck. Directed by Melissa Crespo. Scenic design by Ann Beyersdorfer. Costume design by Carmen M. Martinez. Lighting design by Kathy A. Perkins. Sound d

"What the Constitution Means to Me" at Syracuse Stage, September 13 - October 1, 2023. By Heidi Schreck. Directed by Melissa Crespo. Scenic design by Ann Beyersdorfer. Costume design by Carmen M. Martinez. Lighting design by Kathy A. Perkins. Sound design by Jacqueline R. Herter. Production stage managed by Stuart Plymesser. Casting by Bass/Valle Casting. Photo by Michael Davis.

Emily Castillo-Langley, Phillip Taratula, and Mel House in "What the Constitution Means to Me" at Syracuse Stage, September 13 - October 1, 2023. By Heidi Schreck. Directed by Melissa Crespo. Scenic design by Ann Beyersdorfer. Costume design by Carm

Emily Castillo-Langley, Phillip Taratula, and Mel House in "What the Constitution Means to Me" at Syracuse Stage, September 13 - October 1, 2023. By Heidi Schreck. Directed by Melissa Crespo. Scenic design by Ann Beyersdorfer. Costume design by Carmen M. Martinez. Lighting design by Kathy A. Perkins. Sound design by Jacqueline R. Herter. Production stage managed by Stuart Plymesser. Casting by Bass/Valle Casting. Photo by Michael Davis.

Malaika Wanjiku and Mel House in "What the Constitution Means to Me" at Syracuse Stage, September 13 - October 1, 2023. By Heidi Schreck. Directed by Melissa Crespo. Scenic design by Ann Beyersdorfer. Costume design by Carmen M. Martinez. Lighting de

Malaika Wanjiku and Mel House in "What the Constitution Means to Me" at Syracuse Stage, September 13 - October 1, 2023. By Heidi Schreck. Directed by Melissa Crespo. Scenic design by Ann Beyersdorfer. Costume design by Carmen M. Martinez. Lighting design by Kathy A. Perkins. Sound design by Jacqueline R. Herter. Production stage managed by Stuart Plymesser. Casting by Bass/Valle Casting. Photo by Michael Davis.

Mel House and Phillip Taratula in "What the Constitution Means to Me" at Syracuse Stage, September 13 - October 1, 2023. By Heidi Schreck. Directed by Melissa Crespo. Scenic design by Ann Beyersdorfer. Costume design by Carmen M. Martinez. Lighting d

Mel House and Phillip Taratula in "What the Constitution Means to Me" at Syracuse Stage, September 13 - October 1, 2023. By Heidi Schreck. Directed by Melissa Crespo. Scenic design by Ann Beyersdorfer. Costume design by Carmen M. Martinez. Lighting design by Kathy A. Perkins. Sound design by Jacqueline R. Herter. Production stage managed by Stuart Plymesser. Casting by Bass/Valle Casting. Photo by Michael Davis.

Malaika Wanjiku, Phillip Taratula, and Mel House in "What the Constitution Means to Me" at Syracuse Stage, September 13 - October 1, 2023. By Heidi Schreck. Directed by Melissa Crespo. Scenic design by Ann Beyersdorfer. Costume design by Carmen M. Ma

Malaika Wanjiku, Phillip Taratula, and Mel House in "What the Constitution Means to Me" at Syracuse Stage, September 13 - October 1, 2023. By Heidi Schreck. Directed by Melissa Crespo. Scenic design by Ann Beyersdorfer. Costume design by Carmen M. Martinez. Lighting design by Kathy A. Perkins. Sound design by Jacqueline R. Herter. Production stage managed by Stuart Plymesser. Casting by Bass/Valle Casting. Photo by Michael Davis.

Mel House in "What the Constitution Means to Me" at Syracuse Stage, September 13 - October 1, 2023. By Heidi Schreck. Directed by Melissa Crespo. Scenic design by Ann Beyersdorfer. Costume design by Carmen M. Martinez. Lighting design by Kathy A. Per

Mel House in "What the Constitution Means to Me" at Syracuse Stage, September 13 - October 1, 2023. By Heidi Schreck. Directed by Melissa Crespo. Scenic design by Ann Beyersdorfer. Costume design by Carmen M. Martinez. Lighting design by Kathy A. Perkins. Sound design by Jacqueline R. Herter. Production stage managed by Stuart Plymesser. Casting by Bass/Valle Casting. Photo by Michael Davis.

Mel House in "What the Constitution Means to Me" at Syracuse Stage, September 13 - October 1, 2023. By Heidi Schreck. Directed by Melissa Crespo. Scenic design by Ann Beyersdorfer. Costume design by Carmen M. Martinez. Lighting design by Kathy A. Per

Mel House in "What the Constitution Means to Me" at Syracuse Stage, September 13 - October 1, 2023. By Heidi Schreck. Directed by Melissa Crespo. Scenic design by Ann Beyersdorfer. Costume design by Carmen M. Martinez. Lighting design by Kathy A. Perkins. Sound design by Jacqueline R. Herter. Production stage managed by Stuart Plymesser. Casting by Bass/Valle Casting. Photo by Michael Davis.

Phillip Taratula, in "What the Constitution Means to Me" at Syracuse Stage, September 13 - October 1, 2023. By Heidi Schreck. Directed by Melissa Crespo. Scenic design by Ann Beyersdorfer. Costume design by Carmen M. Martinez. Lighting design by Kath

Phillip Taratula, in "What the Constitution Means to Me" at Syracuse Stage, September 13 - October 1, 2023. By Heidi Schreck. Directed by Melissa Crespo. Scenic design by Ann Beyersdorfer. Costume design by Carmen M. Martinez. Lighting design by Kathy A. Perkins. Sound design by Jacqueline R. Herter. Production stage managed by Stuart Plymesser. Casting by Bass/Valle Casting. Photo by Michael Davis.

Mel House in "What the Constitution Means to Me" at Syracuse Stage, September 13 - October 1, 2023. By Heidi Schreck. Directed by Melissa Crespo. Scenic design by Ann Beyersdorfer. Costume design by Carmen M. Martinez. Lighting design by Kathy A. Per

Mel House in "What the Constitution Means to Me" at Syracuse Stage, September 13 - October 1, 2023. By Heidi Schreck. Directed by Melissa Crespo. Scenic design by Ann Beyersdorfer. Costume design by Carmen M. Martinez. Lighting design by Kathy A. Perkins. Sound design by Jacqueline R. Herter. Production stage managed by Stuart Plymesser. Casting by Bass/Valle Casting. Photo by Michael Davis.

Meet the Team

  • Mel House headshot

    Mel House

    Heidi

  • Phillip Taratula headshot

    Phillip Taratula

    Legionnaire

  • Emily Castillo-Langley headshot

    Emily Castillo-Langley

    The Student

  • Malaika Wanjiku headshot

    Malaika Wanjiku

    The Student

  • Whitney Tenney Pak headshot

    Whitney Tenney Pak

    Heidi Understudy

  • Melissa Crespo headshot

    Melissa Crespo

    Director

  • Ann Beyersdorfer headshot

    Ann Beyersdorfer

    Scenic Design

  • Carmen M. Martinez headshot

    Carmen M. Martinez

    Costume Design

  • Kathy A. Perkins headshot

    Kathy A. Perkins

    Lighting Design

  • Jacqueline R. Herter headshot

    Jacqueline R. Herter

    Sound Design

SPECIAL EVENT SERIES

  • PROLOGUE

    Free for ticket holders, an hour before curtain. Join cast members, and guest speakers to learn more about the show you’re about to see.

    September 17, @ 1:00 PM
    September 23, @ 1:00 PM
    September 28, @ 6:30 PM

  • timothy has short hair and wears a blue and white striped shirt with a collar

    WEDNESDAY @1 LECTURE

    An insightful pre-show lecture with Tim Byrnes. Free for ticket holders.

    Penumbras, Privacy, and Protection: What the Constitution Means for Some people Some of the Time

    September 20, @ 1:00 PM
    Show @ 2:00 PM

    Tim Byrnes is The Third Century Chair in Philosophy, Politics, and Economics at Colgate University. His books include Reverse Mission: Transnational Religious Communities and the Making of U.S. Foreign Policy (2011), Transnational Catholicism in Post-Communist Europe (2001), and Catholic Bishops in American Politics (1991).

  • TALK BACK

    After seeing the show, bring your questions to a post show discussion led by a member of Stage’s artistic staff with the show’s creative team. Talk backs are included with the purchase of the evening’s performance. (free for ticket holders)

    September 17, @ after the 7:30 PM performance

  • Pay-What-You-Will logo

    M&T BANK'S PAY-WHAT-YOU-WILL PROGRAM

    Syracuse Stage sets aside a limited number of tickets (76 total) for the M&T Bank Pay-What-You-Will Program. Tickets are available for September 13 - 17 performances of What the Constitution Means to Me, while supplies last. Tickets must be booked the same day of the performance either in person at the Syracuse Stage Box Office or by phone. Limit 4 per person.

  • Syracuse Symposium 2023 - 2024 logo

    SYRACUSE SYMPOSIUM

    The Landscape of Tomorrow: Art Exhibit

    OPENING
    Time: Sept. 13, 2023, 6 p.m. - 7:30 p.m.

    Location: Syracuse Stage, Main Lobby, 820 E. Genesee St.

    Part of the Syracuse Symposium series.

    On display throughout the run of What the Constitution Means to Me

    View artwork created by youth from La Casita Cultural Center and North Side Learning Center interpreting their visions of what the world will look like in 50 years.

    Part of Syracuse Symposium: Landscapes

  • Syracuse Symposium 2023 - 2024 logo

    SYRACUSE SYMPOSIUM

    The Constitution and the Landscape of our Lives

    Monday, Sept. 18, 7 – 8 PM, Free

    In conjunction with What the Constitution Means to Me, a panel of scholars takes a deeper dive into the landscape of the Constitution and how it will shape the next generation of Americans. Featuring Keith Bybee, Christopher Faricy, Lauryn P. Gouldin, Paula C. Johnson, and Melissa Crespo. Moderated by Suzette Meléndez.

    Part of Syracuse Symposium: Landscapes

  • Robert Moss smiles into camera wearing a black turtle neck and small wire framed glasses

    PANEL WITH ROBERT MOSS

    Sep. 27, 6:00 PM | Archbold Theatre

    Associate Artistic Director Melissa Crespo talks with Robert Moss (Artistic Director 1996 - 2008) about all things theatre for this live continuation of Crespo’s podcast Syracuse (On) Stage.

PRESENTING SPONSOR

Reisman Foundation logo

SEASON SPONSORS

Advance Media New York logo

MEDIA SPONSOR

Urban CNY logo
M&T Bank logo

PAY-WHAT-YOU-WILL SPONSOR

Hiscock Legal Aid Society logo

COMMUNITY PARTNER

What the Constitution Means to Me is made possible with funds from the General Operating Support program a regrant program of the County of Onondaga with the support of County Executive, J. Ryan McMahon II, and the Onondaga County Legislature, administered by CNY Arts.