‘Quilters’ tells story of life on the frontier

Thu., Sept. 16, 2004

By Jim Kershner jimkershner@comcast.net

This is a story told in patchwork and stitches, music and dialogue.

CenterStage, the downtown Spokane dinner theater, opens the pioneer-woman musical “Quilters” for previews tonight, with the official opening night on Saturday.

“Quilters” tells the story of a mother and six daughters and their long trip westward by covered wagon. The musical covers a lot of territory itself: the hardships of creating a frontier home, the joys of courtship and marriage, the trials of child-rearing and the sadness of burying the dead.

The show has an ingenious structure revolving around the “legacy quilt” that the women are sewing. Each block of the quilt represents a chapter in their lives. The story of each block is then retold through music and dialogue.

Molly Newman and Barbara Damashek wrote the show, with music and lyrics by Damashek. It was originally produced for the Denver Center for the Performing Arts, where it became a huge grass-roots success. It then went on to Broadway in 1985 and received six Tony nominations. It has gone on to be a favorite with community and regional theaters. Several previous productions have been staged in Spokane.

The CenterStage production is directed by Kimberly Roberts, with musical direction by Leslie Ann Grove. The cast includes Marianne McLaughlin, Sallie Christensen, Julie Croteau, Norilee Kimball, Ryan Patterson, Selena Schopfer and Angela Snyder.

The set is designed by Jason Laws. Two of the most impressive decorations are large quilts created and donated by local quilt-makers.

When the show is over, the quilts will be moved to a display area on the first floor and raffled off on Dec. 15 to raise money for CenterStage. Raffle tickets will be $2.

The show’s dinner selections will have a pioneer theme, with more options than CenterStage has previously offered. The regular entrees include your choice of Wagon Train Mixed Grill (venison flank steak with succotash of fresh corn and lima beans and venison-rabbit sausage); Oven-Fried Chicken, with mashed potatoes, pan gravy and succotash; or Vegetarian Mixed Grill (grilled zucchini and eggplant, served with succotash).

Upgraded entree selections, with extra charges in parentheses, include: New York steak ($9.95); New York Steak and Lobster ($14.95); Seafood Trinity Linguini ($14.95); Trio Salad ($9.95); and fresh catch (market rate). The following add-on appetizers are also available: Creole Crabcakes ($9), Scallops Mornay ($10) and Tri-Color Bruschetta ($6).

Tickets for the dinner and show are $39 on preview nights (tonight and Friday), as well as every Thursday night and the Sunday matinee. Tickets for dinner and show are $45 on opening night (Saturday) and ensuing Friday and Saturday nights. Those prices include regular entrées only.

Show-only tickets, which include dessert and beverage, are $22 for any performance.

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