*Quilters, the Musical * *This beautiful show closes Sunday Nov. 1st. * *Hope you can join us this weekend. * *www.actorssummit.org <http://www.actorssummit.org/>* *Local. Professional. Exceptional. * *(creating professional theater, with OHIO artists and actors) * Tough women quilt in Actors’ Summit’s ‘Quilters’ *10/15/2015 - West Side Leader **By David Ritchey* *Show features ‘excellent’ cast* *Starring in Actors’ Summit Theater’s “Quilters” are, from left: (top row)Hope Caldwell, Sally Groth and Rachel Irwin; and (bottom row) Shani Ferry, Charlene DeJournett and Sarah Slagle.**Photo: Bruce Ford*DOWNTOWN AKRON — Women are tough. That raw toughness surfaces in “Quilters,” which is playing through Nov. 1 at Actors’ Summit Theater. The production isn’t a long, evolving story, but instead features scenes about pioneer women who struggle to hold together their families as they move westward toward a new life. They pause to give birth, bury their dead and move forward to build a new nation. The women made quilts to keep the family warm at night, and the quilts provided an artistic outlet for the women. Often the women in the family gathered together around the quilting frame to work on one quilt — this shared experience provided an opportunity for the family to draw even closer. One woman in the story tells of her husband helping her quilt. This production of “Quilters” complements the Summit County Historical Society’s Mutton Hill Quilt Show, which will take place Oct. 16-18 at the John S. Knight Center. The first act sets up the plan of the play. Women reminisce and tell stories of quilts they’ve made. The stories fit together nicely with old favorite hymns and original music written by Barbara Damashek. The book was written by Molly Newman and Damashek. The first act is light and whimsical. The second act is more painful and rugged. In the second act, the characters deal with birth, children and abortion. These women gave birth often without the benefit of a midwife. Many raised five, 10 or more children. They shared a recipe for easy-to-find spices that would cause a miscarriage. The women worked with the men to build their log cabin homes. They finally have a place to live. In another scene, they face prairie fires that destroy their homes, crops and livestock. Yet, they move on — they were tough and had no choice. *The cast is one of the best ensembles to come to an Akron stage in a long time.* Charlene DeJournett plays Sarah, the mother. She brings maturity and wisdom to the production. Sarah’s daughters are played by Sally Groth, Shani Ferry, Hope Caldwell, Sarah Slagle and Rachel Irwin. The excellent cast brought laughter, tears and stunned silence to the theater. They sang solos, but the women were at their best when the six sang together and blended beautifully. Ferry’s character tells of not being able to have children. She falls in love with a man and he loves her, but he wants children and marries another woman. Ferry’s character is a teacher and later teaches his children. Groth’s character, a mother of many children, has to deal with the death of her husband and find a way to keep herself and her children alive on the plains. These women have a resilience, which keeps them going through the pains of the westward trek. They tell the stories of their lives in their quilts. The instrumentalists for “Quilters” include Deborah Ingersoll (keyboard), Ian Leroy (alternate keyboardist), Groth (fiddle), Jon Mosey (banjo) and Brian Mosey (guitar). MaryJo Alexander directed this moving production. She works well with musical shows. She caught the mood and spirit of each vignette in “Quilters” and made that section meaningful. *This is a satisfying production and is appropriate for the whole family.* For tickets, call 330-374-7568. or go to www.actorssummit.org *David Ritchey has a Ph.D. in communications and is a professor of communications at The University of Akron. He is a member of the American Theatre Critics Association and the Cleveland Critics Circle.* -- *MaryJo Alexander* *Artistic Director* *Actors' Summit Theater* *Greystone Hall---6th floor* *103 S. High St* *Akron Oh 44308 * *330-374-7568* *www.actorssummit.org <http://www.actorssummit.org/>*