RHS students gathered to attend a performance of “What the Constitution Means to Me,” a play by Heidi Schreck that examines the personal and societal impact of the U.S. Constitution, on Friday, Feb. 6.

Junior Kate Thompson, a member of National English Honor Society (NEHS), described the play as “an inspiring experience that gives light to struggles that are not often discussed.”

The play explores Schreck’s personal connection to the U.S. Constitution and reflects on her experience as a teenager giving speeches about the document to earn scholarship money for college. 

A standout element of the production was the performance by Melissa Salerno, who portrayed Schreck. The play is driven by emotion as it examines how the Constitution affects people’s lives. “It carries such an important message about civic engagement and how laws and the Constitution impact everyone’s lives,” Salerno said. 

The production addresses issues including sexual assault, gender roles, abuse and immigration, highlighting how legal gaps have affected marginalized communities. Schreck shares personal stories about how those issues shaped her life and the lives of women in her family. 

Audience members said the emotional depth of the performance made it memorable. “I think the biggest entertainment about the play was the emotion,” junior Sophia Betancur said. “There was never a dull moment, and the actors did an amazing job to display the struggles that some unfortunately experienced.”

Others said the performance offered a deeper understanding of history. “The play was a very educational and enjoyable experience to understand a bit more about history,” junior Kate Lyons said. “We are taught about the Constitution in school; however, we never truly see how people dealt with it, and I think this was great exposure to see that.”