Stageworks revives ‘Constitution’ for a post-hurricane encore

The play What The Constitution Means to Me was originally scheduled to run at Tampa ‘s Stageworks Theatre Sept. 27 through Oct. 13.

Look again at the dates. A couple of non-fans named Helene and Milton put a stop to that.

As brutal hurricane weather came, went and came again, nearly half of the performances were canceled. By the end of its pre-determined run, What the Constitution Means to Me was seen by so few people that the company lost somewhere in the neighborhood of $80,000.

Coupled with the loss of anticipated state money through Gov. DeSantis’ strike-through veto of all funding for the arts, it hurt.

Stageworks has a make-up date, a single encore performance of What The Constitution Means to Me, Sunday (Nov. 3) at 3 p.m. “Understandably my heart is with friends, family and the community that has experienced such devastation,” said actress Kari Goetz, who plays Heidi, the central character.

“As we move towards finding normality after the storm, I’m glad we are able to give this encore performance since so many expressed disappointment and frustration that they couldn’t see it.”

What the Constitution Means to Me is about playwright Heidi Schreck’s love/hate relationship with the United States’ foundational document; addressing the audience, she ponders both its deepest meanings and its inconsistencies.

The play, however, is not a boring civics lesson. It’s lively and it’s funny, and Goetz’s energetic performance – along with those of co-stars Matthew DePasquale and Raleigh Lockett – keeps the story moving forward.

Goetz, like the playwright, began competing in public-speaking competitions in her teens. She, too, is fascinated by the Constitution and the other fundamentals of American democracy.

“This has been one of the most rewarding experiences I’ve had as a performer,” she said. “I got to talk about something I am naturally passionate about.

“I’ve had young people come up to me after the show and tell me they learned more in 90 minutes than their whole civics class. That motivates me and makes me so proud that Stageworks chose to do this important show.

“And my parents were really proud when they got to see it. I’m almost 50, but I’m not above needing my parent’s approval. Both parents cried. My mom said she forgot it was me up there. That’s a pretty amazing compliment. She’s been watching me on stage for 45 years. I don’t think I ever made her cry before.”

It hasn’t escaped anyone’s attention that this encore performance is taking place two days before the presidential election. “It’s a wonderful coincidence,” Goetz said, “and I’m happy we can do a small part that might inspire or motivate someone to vote. Go vote!”

Tickets for the Sunday, Nov. 3 performance are here.

READ MORE: Kari Goetz plays it patriotic in Stageworks Theatre’s ‘Constitution’