Chapel Hill — “Quilters,” a musical celebration of home life on the American frontier, will be presented by Deep Dish Theater Company from Thursday, April 28, through Saturday, May 21. The play, written by Molly Newman and Barbara Damashek, with music by Ms. Damashek, is directed by Deep Dish Artistic Director Paul Frellick.

Deep Dish is located in Chapel Hills University Mall, located on Estes Drive and US 15-501. Thursday through Staurday performances begin at 8 p.m., with Sunday Matinees at 3 p.m. There will also be a special early show at 7:30 on Wednesday May 18. For reservations and information, call 968-1515. Tickets for all performances are $14, $12 for seniors, and $10 for students. Thursday, May 5 is "Cheap Night," when all tickets will be $5; no advance reservations will be taken for that performance.

Based in part on oral histories collected in “The Quilters: Women and Domestic Art,” by Patricia J. Cooper and Norma Bradley Allen, “Quilters” examines the rugged frontier existence as reflected in the quilts that were so important to the lives of the pioneers.  The musical focuses on Sarah McKendrie Bonham (Olive McKrell), as she works to complete her Legacy Quilt, which she will pass on to her six daughters (Margaret-Ellen Jeffreys, Laura Jenkins, Erica Nashan, Tracey Phillips, Donna Shannon, and Ann Marie Thomas).  Each actress plays a host of characters, as the authors stitch together stories and song into a vivid portrait of life on the prairie.

Deborah Coclanis is the musical director, and Joy Javits will provide choreography.  The design team for “Quilters” includes Kim deCoste (sets), Gene Gurlitz (lights), Sue Sweezy (costumes), and Devra Thomas (properties). Erma Kirkpatrick and a number of area quilters are preparing pieces for use in the production.  Jennifer Bauer is the stage manager.

“I’ve wanted to do this piece at our theater for quite a while,” says Frellick, who worked for the Denver Center Theater Company when the musical debuted in 1982.  “It’s such a lovely and moving work, but like the quilting patterns that are its subject, it’s built on the simplest of frameworks.  At bottom, the characters are simply telling stories, and in our little theater, there is genuine magic in that.”