by Molly Newman & Barbara Damashek
By popular demand, we’re receiving the most successful show in ITC’s 26-year history! This unique musical utilizes song, dance, and storytelling to trace the history of the pioneer women who helped settle the American frontier. “Pieced together with love, stitched with pride, QUILTERS is a thing of beauty, comfort and joy” -New York Post. Find out more about the upcoming events.
April 25th – May 11th
ITC PRESENTS “QUILTERS” MUSICAL
When the Illinois Theatre Center first presented Barbara Damashek and Molly Newman’s musical QUILTERS in 1985, it became a record-setting success, playing to mostly sold-out houses. We are now reviving this exciting show, opening on Friday, April 25thfor a three-week run.
QUILTERS combines music, dance, and scenes of dramatic intensity in a tribute to the courage and the spirit of our nation’s pioneer women. Critics have called QUILTERS is a show “pieced together with love and stitched with pride.” It is “a human patchwork rippling with joy, laughter, and some tears.” The original Broadway production earned six Tony Award nominations, including Best Musical, Best Book and Best Score.
In QUILTERS, an elderly woman gathers her six daughters to piece together her “Legacy Quilt”, made up of different patterns, or “blocks” that symbolize events in their lives. The “Rocky Road” block, for example, triggers a tale of crossing the prairie in a Conestoga wagon. “Double Wedding Rings” celebrates the courtship ritual, and “Log Cabin” depicts the building of a home. Each of the sixteen blocks is depicted in a small quilt, and in the show’s finale, the 12’ x 12’ Legacy Quilt, incorporating all the designs, is unfurled. By following this link you will be able to read more about the best acting classes in Chicago.
The Legacy Quilt, as well as more than 25 other pieces, have been created by the Quilters Plus Guild, whose members come from numerous communities in the south suburbs of Chicago. The creation of the quilts was a 6-month project with over 2500 hours of work by Guild members. Quilters Plus will also provide a lobby display and demonstration during the run of the play.
The ITC production features Laura Whyte as the mother, with Dawn DeVries, May Jane Guymon, Siobhan Sullivan, Regina Leslie, Allison Weiss, and Maria Barwegen as her daughters. The production is directed by Etel Billig and choreographed by Diana Duda. Jonathan R. Billig is Musical Director, leading the band that will include guitar, fiddle, banjo, mandolin and other period folk instruments.
QUILTERS runs from April 25th through May 11th with performances Wednesdays through Saturdays at 8 PM, and Sundays at 2:30 & 7:30 PM. Tickets are $18 on Fri. & Sat., and $16 all other times. There is a $1 discount for students and seniors.