2019 Pulitzer Prize Nomination Obie Award for Best New American Play
What the Constitution Means to Me Written by Heidi Schreck • Directed by Christian Wolf
Torrance Cultural Arts Foundation
Saturday, January 24, 2026 • 8pm
Saturday, January 31, 2026 • 8pm
Sunday, January 25, 2026 • 2pm
Sunday, February 1, 2026 • 3pm
(310) 781-7171 TorranceArts.org
(323) 851-4839 TheatreWest.org
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Torrance Cultural Arts Foundation
SPONSORS OUR MISSION In partnership with the City of Torrance, The Torrance Cultural Arts Foundation’s mission is to enrich the community through the performing arts by providing diverse cultural, educational and entertainment experiences of the highest quality. OUR VISION The vision of the Torrance Cultural Arts Foundation is to connect our community through culturally enriching experiences. THANK YOU TO THE CITY COUNCIL AND CULTURAL ARTS COMMISSION FOR THEIR CONTINUED SUPPORT OF TOCA AND THE ARTS IN THE SOUTH BAY
DALE KORMAN
(In Memory of Maestro Frank Fetta)
Ann and Marty Gallagher
Nancy and George Mannon
Ted and Carolyn Porter
Cliff Numark
LAND ACKNOWLEDGEMENT The Torrance Cultural Arts Foundation would like to acknowledge that the Armstrong Theatre is located on the traditional and ancestral territory of the Tongva people in the Swaanga Village. We ask you to join us in acknowledging the Tongva community, their elders both past and present, as well those of future generations. www.tongvapeople.com
Welcome to Our 2025–2026 Season Welcome to a brand-new season with the Torrance Cultural Arts Foundation! I’m honored to step into the role of Board President as we continue TOCA’s proud tradition of celebrating the arts in all their beautiful diversity. For over three decades, TOCA has been a cornerstone of creativity and connection in the South Bay. That legacy continues today because of the passion and dedication of our community—our artists, audiences, partners, donors, and volunteers. Together, we make it possible to bring inspiring, thought-provoking, and joy-filled performances to our stages. At TOCA, we believe the arts are for everyone. Whether it’s your first time in the theater or you’ve been with us since the beginning, we invite you to explore this season’s lineup and find something that speaks to you. From laugh-out-loud comedy to moving musical performances and cultural celebrations, there’s truly something for every taste. On behalf of the entire Board of Directors, thank you for your continued support. I hope you’ll consider deepening your connection with TOCA—subscribe to our season, become a donor, or lend your time as a volunteer. However you choose to engage, know that you are a vital part of our mission. I look forward to seeing you at the theater—and to all the unforgettable moments we’ll share this season. Warmly,
Camilla Seferian President, Board of Directors Torrance Cultural Arts Foundation
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2019 Pulitzer Prize Nomination Obie Award for Best New American Play
What the Constitution Means to Me Written by Heidi Schreck • Directed by Christian Wolf
What the Constitution Means to Me is a Tony-nominated and Pulitzer Prize-finalist play by Heidi Schreck that uses her own experience winning constitutional debate competitions as a teenager to explore the U.S. Constitution’s impact on four generations of women in her family. The play blends personal storytelling, humor, and political insight to examine themes of gender equality, abortion, domestic violence, and the document’s relevance today, ultimately questioning how it shapes the lives of Americans, particularly women. DIRECTOR’S NOTE At its core, What the Constitution Means to Me is not a debate, it is a conversation. Written with humor, heart, and remarkable honesty, this play invites us to look at one of the most important documents in American history not as a relic behind glass, but as a living promise, one that has shaped our past, challenges our present, and asks something of our future. The Constitution is often spoken of in absolutes, yet it was born of compromise, uncertainty, and aspiration. Its opening words, “We the People” are not merely an introduction, but an invitation. They remind us that this nation was never meant to be static. It was designed to be questioned, tested, amended, and strengthened by the very people it serves. At a time when public discourse can feel divided and loud, this play offers something increasingly rare: space to listen. It does not tell us what to think. Instead, it asks us to reflect on how laws affect lives, how history echoes forward, and how personal experience shapes our understanding of justice, fairness, and belonging. This production would not be possible without an extraordinary cast who bring courage, nuance, and generosity to this work each night. Their willingness to engage deeply with the material and with one another transforms the play from a script into a shared experience, inviting audiences to lean in, consider, and connect. I am also deeply grateful to the Torrance Cultural Arts Foundation Board of Directors, whose leadership and belief in the power of live theatre made it possible to bring this important work to the stage. Their support reflects a commitment to presenting art that encourages dialogue, reflection, and civic engagement values that are essential to a healthy and vibrant community. Regardless of political affiliation or personal ideology, the Constitution remains the framework that has held us together through conflict, change, and growth. This story reminds us that our shared civic foundation is not about winning arguments, but about continuing the work engaging with one another thoughtfully, honestly, and with empathy. My hope is that tonight’s performance sparks conversation long after the curtain falls, not about sides, but about responsibility; not about division, but about participation. The Constitution begins with “We the People” because it has always belonged to all of us. Thank you for being part of that ongoing story.
Christian Wolf
Written by........................................................................................................... Heidi Schreck Heidi.................................................................................................................. Jessica Hayes Legionnaire............................................................................................................ Brian Singer Teen Debater.................................................................................................... Brooklyn Reiss Produced by .................................................................... Torrance Cultural Arts Foundation Director............................................................................................................... Christian Wolf Administrative Coordinator..............................................................................Sharon Sapigao Production Coordinator.......................................................................................... Susan Lyon Sound, Set & Lighting..................................................Kristofer Kataoka & Heather Harless HEIDI SCHRECK (Writer) Schreck attended the University of Oregon and upon graduation worked in Siberia, teaching English. She then was a journalist in St. Petersburg, Russia. She next moved to Seattle, Washington where she started working as an actress and writer. Schreck’s first play, titled Creature, debuted in New York and was directed by Leigh Silverman and produced by New Georges and Page 73. Her following plays include There Are No More Big Secrets (directed by Kip Fagan at Rattlestick Playwrights Theatre), The Consultant (produced by The Long Wharf), and Grand Concourse (at Playwrights Horizons). Schreck has also written episodes of the TV series I Love Dick, Nurse Jackie, and Billions. She is the writer and star of What the Constitution Means to Me, which opened on Broadway on March 31, 2019. This play is partially autobiographical, relating her reallife experience in participating in debates as a teen. The play was picked up as a movie directed by Marielle Heller for streaming by Amazon and released in time for the 2020 Presidential elections. The play challenges America’s understanding of values and protections as they are outlined in the U.S. Constitution. In particular, Schreck points out how the document does little to ensure the freedoms and wellbeing of women and minority groups. Schreck has performed Off-Broadway in, among others, Drum of the Waves of Horikawa (HERE Arts Center, 2007) and Circle Mirror Transformation (2009) and How the World Began (Women’s Project, 2011) at Playwrights Horizons. Schreck is married to director Kip Fagan. As of 2019, they live in Park Slope, Brooklyn. They have two children. JESSICA HAYES (Heidi) Jessica Hayes (she/her) is beyond thrilled to be performing as Heidi here at TOCA. She holds her B.A. in Theatre Arts from Cal State University of Long Beach and is an accomplished vocalist, actress, and comic. Theater credits include Pinkalicous (The Laguna Playhouse), Into the Woods (The Merc), Mariachi Girl (Phantom Theatre Projects), Teatro Martini (Pirates Dinner Adventure) ,and hundreds of touring TYA shows. These days she can be found singing acapella with Heavenly Voices Productions, or writing and producing original songs with her partner in life and music, Joseph Ott. She wishes from the bottom of her heart that those here in the audience are moved by Heidi Schreck’s extraordinary script so that we might be nudged in the direction of justice for all underrepresented communities.
BRIAN SINGER (Legionnaire/Danny) Brian’s theatrical career can be traced back to 6th grade when he appeared in his first TV commercial for Pepsi Super Hero glasses and delivered the line “I’ve got the Joker right in the palm of my hand!” Since then his acting and voice-over work span stage, television, radio, film and commercials. Notable stage roles include Lou D’Marco in Light Sensitive, Ellard Simms in The Foreigner, and Ronnie Shaughnessy in The House of Blue Leaves. Recent film credits include The Bronx Bull, 9/11, Sweetwater, and the short Bartender. Commercial work includes Lowe’s, Jeep, AT&T, Comcast and Verizon. Currently Brian can be heard as the English voice dub on a couple of Netflix Spanish series. In addition to acting, Brian is an 8-time Emmy award winning news and sports editor and photographer, formerly with KCBS and KCAL-TV. He is honored to be part of this important production and is grateful for the years he has spent working with TOCA on various projects. More than anything, he enjoys time with his family, his role as husband and dad, and coaching nearly 15 years of youth baseball and soccer in the South Bay. BROOKLYN REISS (Teen Debater) Brooklyn Reiss is overjoyed to be performing as Teen Debater in her first ever production with TOCA. Currently a sophomore at Mira Costa High School, Brooklyn participates in numerous activities both in and out of school. She most recently took the stage as Mary Poppins (Mary Poppins Jr.) and other credits include Sharpay (High School Musical), Anna (Frozen), Marian Paroo (The Music Man) and countless other plays through Family Theater Inc. Off the stage, Brooklyn is a competitive dancer and enjoys dancing in her free time as well as playing the piano and singing. She’d love to thank her closest friends, her incredibly supportive extended family, and most importantly, her mom, dad and sister, Skylar, for supporting her every step of the way, along with the entire cast and crew. She truly hopes that you can find a special place in your heart for this one of a kind play and enjoy it just as much as she does. CHRISTIAN WOLF (Producer/Director) Christian Wolf has served as the Artistic and Executive Director of the Torrance Cultural Arts Foundation since 2009, where he curates and produces the Foundation’s diverse programming for the Armstrong and Nakano Theatres. With more than 25 years of experience in theatre management, producing, and direction, he has overseen and created numerous productions across Southern California, including Prelude to a Kiss, Inspecting Carol, Wait Until Dark, The Magic Ribbon, and TOCA’s original musical revues Remember When the Music and The Paul Williams Songbook. Before joining TOCA, Christian held leadership roles at the California Center for the Arts in Escondido, the Grand Theatre Center for the Arts in Tracy, and the Curtis Theatre in Brea. A dedicated advocate for the performing arts, he has served on the boards of Western Arts Alliance and California Presenters and remains active in the Association of Performing Arts Professionals. Christian is passionate about creating theatre that entertains, engages, and inspires conversation—values that are at the heart of What the Constitution Means to Me.
KRIS KATAOKA (Sound/Lights/Set) Kris Kataoka is a big fan of the Constitution and most of its amendments. He has been a lighting and sound designer for many theatres and performing companies all over Southern California. Kris can often be found at the Curtis Theatre in Brea, where he has been employed for the better part of two decades as a technician, technical director, and, for the last eight years, as manager and artistic director. When he’s not doing theatre-related things he— oh who are we kidding? He’s always doing theatre-related things. Thanks to Chris for letting him come play. Enjoy the show! HEATHER HARLESS Heather Harless has worked in theatre since 2003, earning a B.A. in Technical Theatre and Design with an emphasis on Lighting Design from Cal Poly Pomona. Her design credits include many theatrical productions from Beauty & the Beast to The Revolutionists, as well as dance productions for Nouveau Chamber Ballet, Fullerton College Dance, and Torrance HS North Dance. She is currently the Head of Lighting and Technical Director for the Curtis Theatre. When not working, she enjoys spending time with her family and practicing aerial silks. SUSAN LYON (Production Coordinator) Susan has worked as Artist Hospitality at TOCA for 20 years. Prior to that, she served as Producer, Stage Manager or Set Designer/ Props/Set Dresser for over 200 productions in Los Angeles, including SM for Cat On A Hot Tin Roof at A Noise Within and Nicholas Nickelby at Theatre 40. She was one of the original Producers and Stage Manager for …And Then There Was Nun which is available for license at Concord Theatricals. Studio work includes Lorimar Telepictures, Warner Bros. and Showtime Networks. She also worked as Stage Manager Liaison/Talent Escort for Comic Relief, The Emmys, Grammys, Grammy Living Legends and the MTV Music & Video Awards. While at Warner Bros., she was the Coordinator on behalf of the studio and the USPS for the Bugs Bunny and Sylvester & Tweety postage stamps. She was Prop Mistress for The Elf Who Saved Christmas and The Elf & The Magic Key on Lifetime Networks. She also worked as a Coordinator/Location Scout for the 35th Anniversary Ghostbusters Fan Fest at Sony Studios. SHARON SAPIGAO (Administrative Coordinator) Sharon Sapigao is the Administrative Coordinator for the Torrance Cultural Arts Foundation (TOCA) since 2007 where she supports the daily operations, staff and board of directors, to ensure the Foundation runs smoothly. Sharon is the go-to resource person and handles all the bookkeeping for TOCA. She also supports the staff and artists plus supervises the concessions volunteers at all the shows. In her free time, she enjoys cooking and baking and always looking for new recipes to try out and tweaking them. She also loves to do floral design/arrangements. Sharon is passionate about the arts and enjoys contributing to TOCA’s mission that brings creativity and connection to the South Bay community.
SPECIAL THANKS Congressman Ted Lieu, Betty Lieu (Torrance School Board President), Nicolas Rodriquez and Ava Cross Dina Morrone, Daniel Korth and everyone at Theatre West Kristofer Kataoka (Curtis Theatre) Masako Tobaru (Chance Theater) Tommy Campos (CSM Water Jet) Eric Wood & the Armstrong theatre crew Robin Wolf Megan Dolan League of Women Voters South Bay Jonathan Westerberg (Mira Costa High School Drama Department) TOCA Board of Directors, Staff & Volunteers Jean Adelsman Athena Paquette Cormier Thank YOU for supporting this show and the arts
I am honored to support TOCA’s efforts to bring high-quality live entertainment and theatrical performances to the South Bay.
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Thank You SEASON PARTNER City of Torrance Eleanor Marie Land Family Trust $10,000 - $49,999 - STARS Paul & Rita Keil Pearlston Family Trust Torrance Refining Company $5,000 - $9,999 – CO-STARS Sares-Regis Group Supervisor Janice Hahn Surf Management, Inc. $2,500 - $4,999 PRODUCERS Jean Adelsman Continental Development Corporation Farmers & Merchants Bank Jane and Jim Isomoto Dale Korman (In Memory of Maestro Frank Fetta) Lori Mizuguchi Tito’s Handmade Vodka $1,000 - $2,499 - DIRECTORS Ann and Marty Gallagher Nancy and George Mannon Ted and Carolyn Porter $500 – ANGELS Tammy Khan Rod and Crystal Macdonell Gerald and Carol Marcil Ellenmary Michel William Oberholzer Jim Olds (In Memory of A.Y. & Joyce Olds) Athena Paquette Cormier
$250 - FRIENDS Reuben and Sabrina Ayala John and Louise Bye Mary Hoffman and Bob Habel Glen and Fumiko Isobe Russell and Carole Lefevre Frank and Marilyn Miles Fred and Ann Peitzman Andrea and Ron Perez (In Memory of John Popovich) Nancy Richards Laura Savitz Winnie Seieroe Sylvia Stadlman Christian and Robin Wolf $100 - FANS Amy Blomgren Janice Burrin Ann and Victor Cooper Helen Dennis Lynn Fernandez Judy Golden Gary Hastings Janet Johnson Eleanor Jones Pentti and Ginger Jussila Lynda Kraemer Kenneth and Doris Nakakura George and Helen Nakano Peter and Vicki Pellerito Pamela Popovich Maurine Swilley Hazel Taniguchi Paula and John Verbeck Kurt Weideman and Sue Golden
TORRANCE CULTURAL ARTS FOUNDATION BOARD Katy Geissert, Founding President EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE Camilla Seferian, President Heidi Cunningham, Vice President/Secretary Winnie Seieroe, Treasurer David Kartsonis, Immediate Past President BOARD OF DIRECTORS Jean Adelsman Sara Baillie Liliana Dongo Jim Olds Peter Pettler Rosemarie Piccioni, Ed.D. Laura Savitz ADVISORY BOARD David Benoit Shannon Dean Scott Douglas Donna Duperron Steve Fechner Patrick Furey Ann Gallagher Jonah Hirata Sherry Kramer Gesuina Lafayette George Nakano Steve Napolitano Bill Oberholzer Ted Porter Ritas Smith Kurt Weideman STAFF Christian Wolf, Executive Director Sharon Sapigao, Administration Susan Lyon, Artist Hospitality Tes Schaff, Graphic Design
Torrance Cultural Arts Foundation
February
May
06&07
Honey Whiskey Trio, 7:00pm
08
Because You’re Mine, 8:00pm
21
Sounds of Laurel Canyon, 8:00pm
09
Stunt Dog Experience, 2:00 & 6:00pm
28
L’elisir d’amore, 7:00pm
June
March
16&17
01
L’elisir d’amore, 2:30pm
06&07
Yuko Mabuchi Trio, 7:00pm
14
Style Thief Fashion Show, 8:00pm
21
Magic Bingo, 8:00pm
Swan Lake (San Pedro City Ballet), 7:30pm
27
April 11
Not the Right Mom, 8:00pm
26
Orchestra Collective of OC, 3:00pm
For more information or to purchase tickets, please call (310) 781-7171 or visit TorranceArts.org