by Aaron Draper & Heather Fischer

Kim Donovan delivers an extraordinary performance as the playwright Heidi Schreck. Donovan is so convincing that we feel she is the writer herself, confiding in us. Her portrayal is intense and emotionally rich, like a concert pianist drawing both sorrow and joy from a single piece of music. The writing is powerful, the stories gut-wrenching and often funny, and Donovan’s performance truly elevates Hillbarn Theatre’s “What the Constitution Means to Me.”

Donovan moves effortlessly across time, from Heidi’s eager teenage self—brimming with idealism—to her adult self, confronting painful stories of violence, inherited trauma, and resilience. As the quicksilver Heidi, Donovan is magnetic, deeply human, and impossible to look away from.

In “What the Constitution Means to Me,” Heidi Schreck expertly blends personal history, humor, and civic education. Although it was written nearly a decade ago, the Pulitzer-nominated play feels especially urgent today, as constitutional protections are under daily threat.

The plot is simple. Fifteen-year-old Heidi is competing in a debate contest at the local American Legion Hall. She is competing to earn money for college tuition, eager to show her smarts. She stands at the Legion podium and behind her are hundreds of photos of photos of white, male Legion heroes. They are represented by one live Legion member played wittily by Vincent Randazzo.

Heidi is ready to confront them all. Schreck’s stories of domestic abuse echo across generations. She points out that women have long been excluded from constitutional protections.

Much of the play centers on the Fourteenth Amendment, particularly its promises of citizenship and due process. Schreck illuminates her points by using her own tragic family histories, including the story of Theresa, her great-great-grandmother. Theresa was purchased from Germany and later died in a mental hospital of “melancholia” at the age of 36!

Real audio recordings of Supreme Court justices arguing cases are woven throughout the play, highlighting how much constitutional meaning rests on subjective interpretation. One especially powerful moment features Ruth Bader Ginsburg responding to the question of when will she feel there are enough women on the Supreme Court: “When there are nine.”

As both the Legionnaire and the actor Mike, Randazzo balances Donovan’s emotional intensity. As Mike, an actor grappling with identity and coming out, he adds warmth and vulnerability.

Later, high school debater Miriam Shem-Tov joins Donovan for a live constitutional debate. Shem-Tov is poised, confident, and compelling, holding her own with impressive maturity.

The production elements—sound design, interactive moments, and pacing—create a polished and thoughtful ambiance. We are deeply moved, as the show invites us to reflect on our own roles in this fragile democracy.

We left the theater energized and grateful for the reminder that participation in democracy is not abstract—it comes from all of us. “Constitution” is one of the best pieces of theater we’ve seen in years—it’s only running for two weeks, so come on along.

“What the Constitution Means to Me” by Heidi Schreck, directed by Susannah Martin, scenic design by Jenn Forder, costumes by Madeline Berger, lighting by Cameron Pense, sound by Jeff Mockus, at Hillbarn Theatre, Foster City, California.

Info: hillbarntheatre.org – to February 8, 2026.

Cast: Kimberly Donovan, Vincent Randazzo, Avery Hartman, and Miriam Shem-Tov.

“What the Constitution Means to Me” is a SFBATCC Go See! production!