Saturday, June 14, from 7-9 p.m.—WHITE RIVER JUNCTION—Shaker Bridge Theatre will present a one-night-only staged reading of “What the Constitution Means to Me” at the Briggs Opera House, 5 S. Main St., White River Junction, as a fundraiser to support its 18th season. The event, which coincides with Flag Day, invites audiences to engage with one of the most acclaimed and thought-provoking American plays of the last decade.
Written by playwright Heidi Schreck, “What the Constitution Means to Me” breathes new life into the U.S. Constitution by framing it through the eyes of a 15-year-old debater who once earned her college tuition through high school competitions on the topic. In this heartfelt, humorous, and deeply personal play, Schreck resurrects her teenage self to examine how the Constitution has shaped the lives of four generations of women in her family—and how it continues to influence American life today.
The Shaker Bridge reading features a trio of accomplished performers. Susan Haefner, a Broadway veteran whose credits include “State Fair,” “Thoroughly Modern Millie,” and “42nd Street,” will take on the role of Heidi. Haefner last appeared at Shaker Bridge Theatre in “The Effect” and has recently performed with regional companies, including Northern Stage, Weston Theater Company, and Theater at Monmouth. Richard Waterhouse will portray the Legionnaire. A Vermont-based actor and director, Waterhouse teaches at Brown University and has directed and acted with We The People Theater and Shaker Bridge Theatre. Kaitlynn Cherry, a recent graduate of Burr and Burton Academy, rounds out the cast as the Debater. Cherry played the same role in the Weston Theater Company’s production of the play and brings her experience and insight to this performance.
“What the Constitution Means to Me” debuted on Broadway in 2019 to critical acclaim, earning nominations for two Tony Awards and later receiving a filmed release on Amazon Prime Video. The play was widely praised by outlets, including The New York Times, The New Yorker, and Time Magazine, and has been honored with a Critics Choice Award nomination as well as recognition from the Dramatists Guild and Smithsonian Magazine.
The reading will be directed by Shaker Bridge Theatre founder and artistic director Bill Coons, who has led the theatre through nearly two decades of bold programming. This benefit event is part of Shaker Bridge’s ongoing efforts to sustain high-quality, thought-provoking theater in the Upper Valley.
Tickets for the reading are $20 and may be purchased online or reserved by phone or email. Seating is limited for this one-night performance.
For more information, visit: shakerbridgetheatre.org.
