Fountain Hills Theater opens the musical Quilters Friday, March 11.

Quilters is a marvelous, though rarely produced musical, that 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 musical 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 humor and the moving spectacle of simple human dignity and steadfastness in the face of adversity.

The local production is produced by Patty Torrilhon and directed by Noel Irick. The show stars Colleen Corliss, Cynthia Elek, Danielle Hale, Jennifer Harrington, Angela Kabasan, Larah Pawlowski and Jennifer Whiting.

For the Fountain Hills production, more than 16 local quilters, led by Hilary “Tink” Hirsch, created the Legacy quilt revealed at the end of the show. The quilters volunteered more than 100 hours, using 14 different fabrics, 966 pieces, 59 yards of fabric and 8 yards of batting. Design and research began in October and the entire project was completed at the end of February. The quilt will be raffled off, as will the 16 blocks created for the show.

Quilters will play through March 27. Performances are Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays at 8 p.m. and Sundays at 2 p.m.

Individual tickets are $28 for adults and $23 for children 17 and under. Group rates and student rush discounts are available. Tickets are half price for veterans and free admission for active duty and their immediate family.

All performances are at Fountain Hills Theater on its Mainstage at 11445 N. Saguaro Blvd. Tickets are available through the Theater Box Office at 480-837-9661 x3.

Box office hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday. Visit the website at fhtaz.org. Originally presented by The Denver Theater Company, Quilters opened on Broadway in 1984 and was nominated for six Tony Awards, including Best Musical. Quilters is produced through special arrangement with Dramatists Play Service.