Finalist! 2019 Pulitzer Prize Winner! 2019 Obie Award, Best New American PlayWinner! 2019 New York Drama Critics' Circle Award, Best American PlayWinner! 2019 Off-Broadway Alliance Award, Best New PlayNominee: Two 2019 Tony Awards, including Best PlayNominee: Two 2019 Drama Desk Awards, including Outstanding Play

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Finalist! 2019 Pulitzer Prize Winner! 2019 Obie Award, Best New American PlayWinner! 2019 New York Drama Critics' Circle Award, Best American PlayWinner! 2019 Off-Broadway Alliance Award, Best New PlayNominee: Two 2019 Tony Awards, including Best PlayNominee: Two 2019 Drama Desk Awards, including Outstanding Play *

What the Constitution Means to Me

July 12 – July 27, 2025

Previews begin July 5 - July 11

By Heidi Schreck
Directed by Emma Shafer

25 N Broadway, Irvington, NY

Approximate Running Time: 1 hour and 40 minutes with no intermission
Recommended Age: 14 and up

All performances will take place outside. Chairs will be provided.

If a performance is cancelled due to weather, the performance will be rescheduled for the following Thursday. Audience members will be notified via the email they use for ticket reservations.

Synopsis

Playwright Heidi Schreck’s boundary-breaking play breathes new life into our Constitution and imagines how it will shape the next generation of Americans. Fifteen-year-old  Heidi earned her college tuition by winning Constitutional debate competitions across the United States. In this hilarious, hopeful and achingly human new play, she resurrects her teenage self in order to trace the profound relationship between four generations of women and the founding document that shaped their lives.

Content Warning

This production contains references to and discussions of domestic violence, sexual assault, abortion, and generational trauma

EVENTS & DISCUSSIONS:

Stick around after these performances to hear about What the Constitution Means to some of Westchester’s brightest non profits!

  • Planned Parenthood Hudson Peconic: Saturday, July 12th

  • The LOFT: LGBTQ+ Center: Friday, July 18th

Performances

  • A theatrical poster for a show titled 'What the Constitution Means to Me,' featuring a classical portrait with pink paint splashed across the face, framed in an ornate gold frame.

    Saturday, July 5

    First Preview

    7:00 PM

    The Rivertowns Playhouse
    Irvington, NY

    Reserve Tickets
  • The poster features a classical portrait of George Washington with a pink paint splatter over his eyes. It contains event information for a play titled 'What the Constitution Means to Me,' presented by River Towns Playhouse, written by Heidi Schreck and directed by Emma Shafer. The cast includes Rachel Gatewood, Colin Henning, Nate Larson, and Charlotte Pearson. The performances are scheduled for Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays at 7 pm from July 12 to July 27, recommended for ages 14 and up. The event includes a preamble party after each show, with free tickets available. The poster's background mimics a black textured canvas, framed by an ornate gold frame.

    Sunday, July 6

    Second Preview

    7:00 PM

    The Rivertowns Playhouse
    Irvington, NY

    Reserve Tickets
  • A theatrical poster with a gold ornate frame, featuring a portrait of George Washington with pink paint splattered on his eyes. The poster advertises a play titled 'What the Constitution Means to Me,' written by Heidi Schreck and directed by Emma Shafer. The cast includes Rachel Gatewood, Colin Henning, Nate Larson, and Charlotte Pearson. The event is scheduled for July 12-27 at 7 pm, recommended for ages 14 and up, with free tickets. It also invites viewers to join a preamble party after each performance, with details to visit rivplayhouse.org.

    Friday, July 11

    Third Preview

    7:00 PM

    The Rivertowns Playhouse
    Irvington, NY

    Reserve Tickets
  • Planned Parenthood Hudson Peconic logo with slogan 'Care. No matter what.'

    *Saturday, July 12

    Opening Night

    7:00 PM

    The Rivertowns Playhouse
    Irvington, NY

    Reserve Tickets
  • A theatrical poster featuring a portrait of a historical figure with a modern twist. The figure's face is painted with pink graffiti-style splashes over the eyes. The poster has a gold ornate frame and includes details about a play titled 'What the Constitution Means to Me,' with performance info, cast names, and event dates.

    Sunday, July 13

    7:00 PM

    The Rivertowns Playhouse
    Irvington, NY

    Reserve Tickets
  • Logo for the Loft Community Center featuring large black text 'LOFT' with a smaller rainbow-colored bar underneath and the words 'COMMUNITY CENTER' in gray text below.

    *Friday, July 18

    7:00 PM

    The Rivertowns Playhouse
    Irvington, NY

    Reserve Tickets
  • A stone house under construction with wooden beams and scaffolding, set against a pink and purple sky.

    Saturday, July 19

    *6:00 PM

    Wildcliff Mansion

    44 Wildcliff Rd, New Rochelle, NY 10805

    Reserve Tickets
  • A theatrical poster for a play titled 'What the Constitution Means to Me.' The poster features a painted portrait of a woman in historical attire, overlaid with pink spray paint obscuring her eyes. The text indicates that the play is presented by River Towns Playhouse, written by Heidi Schreck, and directed by Emma Shafer. The cast includes Rachel Gatewood, Colin Henning, Nate Larson, and Charlotte Pearson. The show runs Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays at 7 pm, from July 12 to July 27, suitable for ages 14 and up. Tickets are free, and attendees are invited to join a preamble party after each performance. The poster has a decorative gold frame.

    Sunday, July 20

    7:00 PM

    The Rivertowns Playhouse
    Irvington, NY

    Reserve Tickets
  • A theatrical poster framed with ornate gold border advertising a play titled 'What the Constitution Means to Me.' The background features an image of a woman with a historical painting style, with pink spray paint over her eyes and a pink paint drip down her face. The poster includes details about the play's presentation by River Towns Playhouse, written by Heidi Schreck, directed by Emma Shafer, starring Rachel Gatewood, Colin Henning, Nate Larson, and Charlotte Pearson. It mentions performances on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays at 7 pm from July 12 to July 27, recommended for ages 14 and up, with free tickets and a link to rivplayhouse.org.

    *Friday, July 25

    *8:00 PM

    (pushed from 7:00PM due to heat advisory)

    The Rivertowns Playhouse
    Irvington, NY

    Reserve Tickets
  • A theatrical poster with a dark background and a gold ornate frame. It features a historical portrait of a person in 18th-century attire with pink paint splattered across the face, covering the eyes. Pink handwritten-style text at the center reads 'What the Constitution Means to Me.' Additional event information and credits are in pink and white text around the portrait.

    Saturday, July 26

    7:00 PM

    The Rivertowns Playhouse
    Irvington, NY

    Reserve Tickets
  • A theatrical poster with a classical portrait of a man with a powdered wig, obscured by pink paint splatter over his eyes, and pink handwritten-style text for the play's title 'What the Constitution Means to Me'. Additional text details the production, including dates, actors, and event info, all set within an ornate gold frame.

    Sunday, July 27

    Closing Night

    7:00 PM

    The Rivertowns Playhouse
    Irvington, NY

    Reserve Tickets

MEET THE CAST

  • A young woman with red hair, blue eyes, and a slight smile, wearing a black leather jacket and a delicate necklace, against a dark background.

    Rachel Gatewood

    HEIDI


    Rachel Gatewood is a Harlem based Actor and Producer from Texas. She has performed off/near Broadway, but feels the most at home performing at 25 N Broadway. After seeing the original production of this play, she cried a lot and wrote Heidi Schreck an email that still sits in her drafts because she was too scared to send it. She is deeply honored to be here. When she is done dry heaving from the surrealness of it all she would like to thank Kamran, Emma, Colin, Matt, Sean, Julia, Shannon and everyone who has touched this show and helped bring it to life. BFA in Acting from SUNY Purchase @rgatewood

  • A young man with dark, curly hair, a mustache, wearing a black sweater and a silver chain necklace, sitting in a brown leather chair against a gray wall.

    Colin Henning

    LEGIONNARE

    Raised in North Carolina, Colin Henning received his BFA in Acting from SUNY Purchase and now lives in New York City. He has performed at The Drama League, Theater for the New City, and appeared in the second season of Hulu’s “Wild Crime.” He co-owns C.H. Squared Films with his partner in life and art, Chad Hylton. Their short, “Eden for Two” was an official selection of Dances with Films: NY, and HollyShorts Monthly. His feature directorial debut, “Appalachian Dog,” was featured on Entertainment Weekly’s What to Watch List, and is now available on Prime & Tubi. 

  • A young boy with short brown hair and brown eyes wearing a dark denim shirt against a dark background.

    Nate Larson

    THE DEBATER

    Nate E. Larson is proud to make his professional debut with Rivertowns Playhouse. He trained at the Hudson Valley Conservatory and is grateful to Denise Summerford, Loren O’Connell, and Dee Wright-Kelly for their guidance and encouragement. Special thanks to his agent Bonnie Shumofsky Bloom, manager Jackie Reid, and his amazing family and friends for their love and support. Nate is excited to give his all on stage!

  • A young woman with shoulder-length light brown hair, blue eyes, and fair skin, smiling and wearing a black top with puffed sleeves and jewelry, against a blue-gray background.

    Charlotte Pearson

    THE DEBATER

    Charlotte Pearson is thrilled to be part of such a critical play. A passionate performer and advocate, Charlotte brings heart, strength, and sharp intellect to her role, challenging the audience to think critically about the Constitution’s impact on real lives. Past credits include RAGE (Helen), The Divine Comedy (Lucy), How to Talk to Dead People (Cherry), The Hope and Heartache Diner (Loo), The Addams Family (Ancestor), and American Summer (Stephanie’s Friend). Charlotte thanks her friends and family for their unconditional support—and everyone who continues to question, challenge, and fight for a better future.

Meet the creative team

Director

Emma Shafer

Production Stage Manager

Shannon Kenny

Scenic Design

Sean Lillis

Sound Engineer

Ethan Chin

Marketing

Colin Henning

Producers

Rachel Gatewood

Emma Shafer

Matt O’Shea

Colin Henning

Artistic Director & Executive Producer

Kamran Saliani

Technical Director

Julia Little

Lighting Design

Ethan Chin

Costume Design

Colin Henning

Preamble Party Coordinator

Juliette Hartel

Carpenters

Kylie Cottrell

Carly Genovesi

Jim Lillis

meet our spotlights

In support of What The Constitution Means to Me, The Rivertowns Playhouse would like to spotlight and thank the following Westchester County Based Nonprofits for their dedication to basic human rights. These organizations provide accessible services to community members in order to help them during times of crisis and provide safe spaces to gather, educate, and seek support. 

For more information, or to make a tax-deductible donation, please visit their websites that are listed below.

Logo for the Loudoun County Community Center with black, white, gray, and rainbow-colored elements.
Planned Parenthood Hudson Peconic logo with acronym PP and the tagline 'Care. No matter what.'
Sign for National Domestic Violence Hotline with purple border and black text.
Logo of the American FFA Association with blue text and an orange rectangular background.

  • The LOFT LGBTQ+ Community Center is a non-profit institution that serves the LGBTQ+ community of Westchester County, NY, and the Hudson Valley Region. Founded in 1983, The LOFT provides a broad range of services including in-person, virtual, and hybrid programs, support groups, social activities, and special events such as Westchester Pride Hosted by The LOFT , The Hudson Valley TransForum , and the Trans Support of The Hudson Valley (TSHV) program, which supports and empowers Transgender, Gender Non-Conforming, and Non-Binary (TGNCNB) communities.

    Currently located at 252 Bryant Ave, White Plains, NY 10605, The LOFT continues to be a beacon of inclusion, advocacy, and community building for LGBTQ+ individuals and their allies.

    To learn more or donate to The LOFT visit their website here.

  • For over 90 years, Planned Parenthood Hudson Peconic (PPHP) has provided exceptional health services, accurate information and education, and fearless advocacy for reproductive rights and justice. PPHP’s 10 brick-and-mortar health centers, two mobile health centers, and virtual health center offer nonjudgmental, confidential, and affordable high-quality sexual and reproductive health care across Westchester, Rockland, Putnam, and Suffolk counties. PPHP’s mission is to empower individuals to determine their own sexual health and reproductive futures. For more information about PPHP’s services and to learn how to get involved, visit pphp.org.

    Donate to Planned Parenthood Hudson Peconic today.

  • The Neighbors Link mission is to strengthen the whole community through the healthy integration of immigrants. Our mission is achieved by filling a service gap for new immigrant families, offering education and empowerment programs, involving longer-term residents in volunteer opportunities and creating substantive partnerships with other local organizations. Our strategies to educate, empower and employ families include a Worker Center, English as a Second Language (ESL) education, legal services and advocacy, workforce development, parent education, early childhood programs and academic support for school-age children of immigrants.

    Neighbors Link is headquartered in Mount Kisco, has three locations in Westchester County and offers services throughout the Mid-Hudson Valley. For more information on locations or programs, please call us at 914-666-3410.

    To learn more or donate to Neighbors Link visit their website here.

  • 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year, the National Domestic Violence Hotline provides essential tools and support to help survivors of domestic violence so they can live their lives free of abuse.

    Contacts to The Hotline can expect highly-trained, expert advocates to offer free, confidential, and compassionate support, crisis intervention information, education, and referral services in over 200 languages.

    To learn more or to donate to the National Domestic Violence Hotline, click here.

Outdoor evening gathering with string lights overhead, people socializing around tables with food, and a grill with barbecue in focus.

the preamble party

In the spirit of the preamble itself, the Preamble Party is a free post show event that is designed with "We the people" in mind. With free food and beverage donated by local Irvington Businesses, discussions and resources provided by our Spotlight Partners, and all around good vibes, the Preamble Party is the place to get to know your neighbors, reflect together on the themes of the show, and the place to form a, "more perfect union."