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Quilters

Music & lyrics by Barbara Damashek; Book by Molly Newman and Barbara Damashek : Based on The Quilters: Women and Domestic Arts by Patricia Cooper and Norma Bradley Allen.

Jack Lawrence Theatre, Broadway - September 25, 1984 (24 perfs)

Story

Ostensibly the story of a pioneer woman and her six daughters, Quilters blends a series of interrelated scenes into a rich mosaic which captures the sweep and beauty, the terror and joy, the harsh challenge and abiding rewards of frontier life. Illuminating stories contained in various patches or "blocks" with music, dance and drama, the action depicts the lot of women on the frontier: girlhood, marriage, childbirth, spinsterhood, twisters, fire, illness and death.

But, with this, there is also love, warmth, rich and lively humour and the moving spectacle of simple human dignity and steadfastness in the face of adversity. In the end, when the various patches are assembled into one glorious, brilliantly colourful quilt, the effect is both breathtaking and magical---and a theatrical masterstroke which will finger in the mind and memory long after the house lights have dimmed.

Cast:

7 women, 5 musicians (bit parts)

Musical Numbers:

1. Are You Washed inthe Blood of the Lamb?
2. The Butterfly
3. Cornelia
4. Dandelion
5. Every Log In My House
6. Everything Has a Time
7. Green, Green, Green
8. Hands Around
9. Hoedown
10. Little Babes That Sleep All Night
11. The Lord Don't Rain Down Manna
12. The Needle's Eye
13. Pieces of Lives
14. Quiltin' and Dreamin'
15. Rocky Road
16. Thread the Needle
17. Who Will Count the Stitches?
18. The Windmill Song
    

Instrumentation:

Piano/Conductor, Harp, Guitar 1, Guitar 2, Bass, Strings, Orchestrated for. Violin, Bass, Harp, Piccolo Freaka, Flute, Concertina, Hammered Dulcimer, Guitar (12 and 6 skiing), Mandolin, Tenor Banjo, Spoons, Harmonica in D, Penny whistle (Flute), Twanger, Octave Mandolin, Irish Tenor Drum, Creaky Chair.