‘Piece of My Heart’ important history lesson for the present

When Rachel Lewman (formerly Donaldson) was 17 and a student at Cottage Grove High School, she played the character “Steele,” an army intelligence officer, in the play “A Piece of My Heart.” At the time, Janet Rust was a high school theater teacher, directing the play.

Now, 16 years later, Rust is directing the play again, though this time at Cottage Theatre, and Lewman is reprising the role.

“Because it had been so long, I…