The current production at the Grand Marais Playhouse, “Quilters,” has a long history with the Playhouse and this community. The Playhouse first produced the show in September of 1987.
The cast included Christy Buetow, Shelby Anderson, Ahne Patten, Melinda Spinler, Julie Zech, Claire Olen, and Dawn Drouillard. Performing music was Wendy Yecoshenko, Barb LaVigne, Adam Moe and Jason Yecoshenko, and Brian Martinson and Krista Scott directed the play with a set by Sue Hennessy.
The Legacy Quilt was created by Sharon Eliasen, Kathleen Anderson, Sue Backlund, Sharon Bushman, Marlene Dahlgren, Annie DeBevec, Christy Eliasen, Gloria Hendrickson, Maude Joesting, Bev Johnson, Ethel Johnson, Robin Johnson, Becky Kaiser, Joan LaVine, Gloria Lampel, Karen Lehto, Patricia Lemsky, SaraJane Lindstrom, Claire Olen, June Olsen, Ahne Patten, Kathy Patten, Diane Sartell, Liz Shut, Lenny Sobanja, Becci Spears, Melinda Spinler, Lois Staples and Jan Viren.
The quilt was auctioned off following the production.
Remember the cast from the 1987 production of the Quilters? If you’ve forgotten, or never knew, here they are from L-R: Clair Olen, Shelby Anderson, Christy Beutow, Dawn Drouillard, Ahne Patten, Melinda Spinler and Julie Zech. Photo courtesy of Sue Hennessy
The play was produced again in 2004 with the cast of Gwen Danfelt-Martin, Cory Cochrane, Hannah Laky, Talla Peterson, Tiffany Nelson, and Katie Humphrey. Musicians were Kay Costello, Barb Lavigne, and Tim Suck.
The 2004 Legacy Quilt was created by Peg Birse and Kim Nelson, with Birse providing the fabric and Nelson doing the quilting.
The blocks and their makers were Crystal Nelson, Beth Kidd, Bridget Sobieck, Judy Steinbrecher, Peg Birse, Nancy Hanson, Carol Evenson, Carol Harris, Dorothy Danielson, Orlene Fisher, Sandi Rude, Nancy Carlson, and Kim Nelson. The quilt was auctioned off following the production.
The current 2019 production cast is Aurora Schelmeske, Bryn Fitzgerald- Wells, Elsa Garry, Izy Sparks, Abbey Stoddard, Greta Roth, and Kylie Viren. The musicians are Kay Costello, Barb LaVigne, Myra Theimer and Yvonne Mills.
The 2019 Legacy Quilt is the one created for the 2004 show. Carol Harris put on her detective cap and found it, and it is used with permission from Crystal Nelson. Kim Nelson hung onto the blocks from 2004 and lent them to us for the current show.
As you read you will find some names that repeat. At each of the productions last week we have had past cast members in the audience. Why does this play resonate so much with our community?
I have worked on all three of the Playhouse productions, and the play was produced during my college years. Everyone I know who has performed or worked on this show has been touched by it. It has left an indelible mark. I keep it in mind for a show whenever I see a group of young women with strong singing voices come along. I think you will agree with me that the current cast has talent! It is challenging music, and the storytelling ranges from comic to tragic in moments. It is no small feat in acting!
There is also some deep bonding that happens between those who work together on this play. Gwen Danfelt (2004) attended opening night and told us how much this show cemented the friendships of her and the other cast members. This is a common statement from many of the women who have participated in the play anywhere, including my college production.
Barb Lavigne who has played in all three productions wrote about her memories.
“It seems I’m destined to play music for ‘Quilters’ every 15 years. This is my third time. The first was in 1987 in the old playhouse with a young Sue Hennessy. That cast included women of various ages, from a very young Dawn Drouillard to a beautifully matriarchal Christy Buetow. I remember Melinda Spinler made us cry every night when she told us how her husband was killed on the railroad tracks. Greta Roth’s version this year is a tearjerker as well.
“In 2004 we were in the new ACA with a cast of high school aged women. I was just reminded that a couple of the cast members were also on the basketball team and if they had won one more game, they would have had a playoff game on opening night. I’m not sure what the contingency plan was, but as it turned out, the girls lost the game, and the show went on.
“Here we are in 2019 with another cast of high schoolers – some of them only 13 years old. It’s been interesting to see this story played out with such different personalities, all of them putting their own twist on the same lines. In 1987 some of the cast members’ grandmothers had lived the stories told in ‘Quilters.’ It’s pretty great to see the young women in this cast picking up those threads. In 15 years I’ll be 73 years old and expecting a call from Sue for ‘Quilters,’ 2033!”
Shelby Anderson (1987) attended opening night and shared her thoughts:
“It was just as moving to me seeing it a third time as it was performing it the first time. I was so impressed with these high school-middle school young women portraying the depth of emotions explored in this play. I also loved hearing those complex harmonies! They were tough to learn.
At the time we did the show in 1987, there were no opportunities to sing in groups. I don’t think Claire or Dawn (could check with them on that!) had ever sung in a group or read music vocally, so that was a real challenge in learning the music.
I was surprised at how so many of the lines returned to my old brain – some causing me to tear up at times! A show well done reminding us of the struggles women dealt with in prairie days and how few choices they had.”
Elsa Garry (2019) says she hopes that “Quilters” opens up the viewer’s minds about how smart and brave these strong women truly were.
Talla (Peterson) Anderson (2004) came from Minneapolis to see the production on Saturday.
The songs and the telling of the stories are important. As Ahne Patten (1987) said after the show on Saturday, “These stories are getting lost, it is so important to keep them alive.”
Come see why this play keeps such a strong place in the hearts of those who share it. You will be so glad you did!
Quilters continues this weekend March 15-17, Friday and Saturday at 7 p.m. and Sunday at 2 p.m. Tickets are $10 adults, $5 12-17 and $3 under 12. Performances at the Arrowhead Center for the Arts.
Grand Marais Playhouse Artistic Director Sue Hennessy provides this behind-the-scenes look at Grand Marais Playhouse activities.
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