TimeLine Theatre Company announces Planned Parenthood of Illinois Night at What the Constitution Means to Me, Saturday, June 17 at 8 p.m.
The evening’s performance will be followed by a post-show discussion with Cristina Villarreal, Chief External Affairs Officer, Planned Parenthood of Illinois (PPIL).
Beth Lacke plays Heidi (center, photo on left) in TimeLine Theatre’s What the Constitution Means to Me. Raymond Fox (far left) plays Legionnaire. Photo by Brett Beiner. (right) Cristina Villarreal, Chief External Affairs Officer, Planned Parenthood of Illinois, will join a post-show discussion on Planned Parenthood Night of Illinois at What the Constitution Means to Me, Saturday, June 17 at 8 p.m.
A special block of $75 tickets is being made available for this performance as a fundraiser for PPIL; a portion of each fundraiser ticket sold will go toward supporting sexual and reproductive health care across Illinois.
Tickets to PPIL Night at What the Constitution Means to Me go on sale Wednesday, June 7 at 10 a.m. To purchase, visit timelinetheatre.com, or call the TimeLine Theatre Box Office, (773) 281-8463 x6.
Heidi (Beth Lacke, right) is determined to win with her knowledge of the Constitution, as the Legionnaire monitors the competition rules (Raymond Fox). Photo by Brett Beiner
What the Constitution Means to Me is hilarious, hopeful, and guttingly human as it grapples with women’s reproductive rights and our nation’s founding document.
The Chicago Tribune called Timeline’s new production of Heidi Schreck’s Tony-nominated Broadway sensation “a fantastic work of activist and feminist theater (that is) absolutely worth experiencing.”
TimeLine’s What the Constitution Means to Me is “directed to perfection by Helen Young” (AroundTheTownChicago.com).
It features Chicago theater favorite Beth Lacke as Heidi, who is “SO good in the lead role…it should be Constitutionally required for everyone to see this TimeLine show!” (WGN Radio Behind the Curtain).
Also featured in this politically charged play-meets-debate are Raymond Fox as Legionnaire, with Sophie Ackerman and Makalah Simpson alternating as Debater.
What the Constitution Means to Me runs through July 2 at TimeLine Theatre, 615 W. Wellington Ave., Chicago. Tickets are $47-$62. Show times are Wednesdays (June 7 and June 21 only) and Thursdays at 7:30 p.m.; Fridays at 8 p.m.; Saturdays at 4 p.m. and 8 p.m.; and Sundays at 2 p.m. (except no show on June 25). Additional matinees are Thursday, June 15, and June 29 at 2 p.m. To purchase tickets, visit timelinetheatre.com, or call the TimeLine Theatre box office, (773) 281-8463 x6.
TimeLine Theatre is located in Chicago’s Lakeview East neighborhood near the corner of Wellington and Broadway, inside the former Wellington Avenue United Church of Christ building, now Chabad East Lakeview. TimeLine is served by multiple CTA trains and buses. There are multiple paid parking options nearby, plus limited free and metered street parking. For more details, visit timelinetheatre.com/timeline-theatre
About What the Constitution Means to Me
Screen and download TimeLine's new sizzle video for What the Constitution Means to Me.
Fifteen-year-old Heidi earned her college tuition by winning Constitutional debate competitions across the United States. In What the Constitution Means to Me, Schreck resurrects her teenage self in order to trace the relationship between four generations of women—all while grappling with the founding document that, for better and worse, shapes their lives.
What the Constitution Means to Me became a sensation upon its premiere at New York Theatre Workshop in 2018 and went on to a five-month Broadway run with Schreck in the leading role, garnering Tony Award nominations for Best Play and Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Play. A national tour—launched in 2020, paused due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and resumed in 2021—followed. What the Constitution Means to Me was also filmed, again with Schreck performing, for Amazon Prime Video.
About Cristina Villarreal, Chief External Affairs Officer, Planned Parenthood of Illinois
Cristina Villarreal, Chief Officer of External Affairs at Planned Parenthood of Illinois, has a storied career in public policy and social service. She was the Communications Director for the Cook County Assessor's Office, President of the Chicago Chapter of the National Organization for Women, and assisted the Obama Presidential campaign with the Latino vote efforts. For the city of Chicago, she served at the Department of Public Health, the Department of Family and Support Services, and the Department of Streets and Sanitation. After supporting the City’s COVID-19 response, Villarreal served as the Chief of External Affairs in Cook County State’s Attorney Kim Foxx’s Office. Currently, Cristina is the Chief Officer of External Affairs for Planned Parenthood of Illinois where she oversees the legislative and public policy, the marketing and communications, and the community engagement and education teams. Villarreal has a B.A in International Relations from American University in Washington DC and a Law degree from DePaul College. She is originally from Wheeling, Illinois. She is motivated by her two daughters to continue the fight for reproductive and sexual health rights.
About TimeLine Theatre Company
TimeLine Theatre Company was founded in April 1997 with a mission to present stories inspired by history that connect with today's social and political issues. Currently celebrating its 26th season, TimeLine has presented 85 productions, including 12 world premieres and 39 Chicago premieres, and launched the Living History Education Program, which brings the company's mission to life for students in Chicago Public Schools. Recipient of the MacArthur Award for Creative and Effective Institutions, Alford-Axelson Award for Nonprofit Managerial Excellence and the Richard Goodman Strategic Planning Award from the Association for Strategic Planning, TimeLine has received 60 Jeff Awards, including an award for Outstanding Production 11 times.
For more information, visit timelinetheatre.com or Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram (@TimeLineTheatre).
About Planned Parenthood of Illinois
Planned Parenthood of Illinois (PPIL) provides affordable, high-quality reproductive health care services including abortion and gender-affirming care as well as medically-accurate sexual health education. Through medical services, educational programs and advocacy efforts, PPIL works to ensure and protect the reproductive rights of each individual. For more information, visit ppil.org.