When the stars align: Nashville performer and Mizzou alumna returns to the stage 

Mizzou alumna Megan Murphy Chambers, BA ’01, recently returned to the Rhynsburger Theatre stage for the first time in more than twenty years. Chambers, who lives and performs in Nashville, Tennessee, headlined the Department of Theatre and Performance Studies’ production of Heidi Schreck’s “What the Constitution Means to Me," sponsored by the Kinder Institute on Constitutional Democracy as the 2025 James E. Fleming & Linda C. McClain Constitution Day Lecture Event.  

Originally from Pilot Grove, Chambers found an academic home in the Department of English at Mizzou. “I have always been a voracious reader,” said Chambers, who called her undergraduate studies an amazing experience. “Some of my favorite moments in life are spent discussing books with other literary enthusiasts. My English degree allowed me to explore a subject I loved.” 

Chambers’ involvement in college theater and summer stock solidified her dream to pursue a career in acting. She says the stars aligned for her return in September, a Homecoming of sorts to her alma mater and a special friendship formed on campus more than two decades ago.  

Chambers met the show’s director, Claire Syler, in the late 1990s. Syler, who was pursuing a bachelor of arts degree in performance, said the two soon became friends, bonding over their love of theatre. 

Syler, now an associate professor in Mizzou’s Department of Theatre and Performance Studies and School of Visual Studies, and an affiliate faculty member in Kinder Institute on Constitutional Democracy, immediately thought of her friend for the lead role in Schreck’s play.   

“The play is a vehicle for its lead actress, which means it's hard to imagine directing the play without thinking about casting,” said Syler. “I knew Megan would bring the necessary wit, charm, and humor to the role.”  

“I found the part to be really easy to slip into, not only because it's beautifully written, but because I was able to use current events and my own lived experiences to layer in the kind of authenticity and detail that you always hope for,” said Chambers. “Being able to pull from some deeply rooted parts of myself was a tremendous help.”  

Schreck’s play imagines how the Constitution will shape the next generation of Americans, including personal moments from the playwright’s life, comedy, and civic debate, while tracing the profound relationship between four generations of women and the founding document that impacted their lives.

Although the Kinder Institute's James E. Fleming & Linda C. McClain Constitution Day lecture typically features guest speakers, the theatrical format was a great way to reach new audiences, including high school students.  

“We’re always looking for meaningful ways to deepen community engagement,” said Carin Huffman Grinch, head of outreach for the Kinder Institute. “With the encouragement of our donors, we saw an opportunity to reimagine how to connect with the community on the topic of constitutional scholarship.”

“Returning to the Rhynsburger Theatre was like being home,” said Chambers. The call board by the dressing rooms brought back treasured memories and nostalgia. “I have such vivid memories of racing there to check for cast lists, signing in before a show, and posting homemade flyers for get-togethers at my off-campus house.” 

Nearly 250 high school students attended a special matinee of “What the Constitution Means to Me,” including Battle High School’s Advanced Placement Government class and Hickman High School’s Women in Literature class, connecting the play's content to their classroom curriculum. 

Murphy also shared her experiences and insights with Tigers who are currently pursuing degrees in theatre and performance studies.   

“I've really relished the opportunity to show these students that not everyone's path in this industry is the same, and that they have a lot of avenues open to them after they graduate,” said Chambers. “The main thing I tried to pass on to them is to remain open and ready, and to remember that their worth is in no way tied to how many times they get cast, or what kinds of roles they get cast in. There's a lot more to life than that, and they all have so much to offer the world, right when we need it most.”