The Quiltmaker

  • Mary Lucy Bivins & Meredith Autry Holcomb
    Photos courtesy of Barter Theatre

  • Janee Reeves
    Photos courtesy of Barter Theatre

  • Meredith Autry Holcomb, Nicholas Piper, & John Hedges
    Photos courtesy of Barter Theatre

  • Meredith Autry Holcomb & Michael Poisson
    Photos courtesy of Barter Theatre

  • Meredith Autry Holcomb
    Photos courtesy of Barter Theatre

Synopsis

Life in Mud Creek has never been easy and no one knows that better than Ida May Combs. Ever since her husband’s death, Ida May has supported her family by selling her beautiful hand-stitched quilts – and dealing prescription drugs. But times are changing. Ida May’s granddaughter Cindy has married the hated son of a rival moonshining family, her son Ronnie is having an affair with his best friend’s wife and Sheriff Ham Terhune is cracking down on the epidemic drug spree sweeping the area. As Ida May struggles to maintain control over her “family,” Ronnie and Cindy are forced to choose between love, loyalty… and life.

Cast

Ida May Combs seventies; sharp-tongued quiltmaker
Juanita Jenkins fifties; unattractive cosmetics saleswoman
Cindy Taylor Bennett late twenties; Ida May’s granddaughter
Jackson Bennett early thirties; Cindy’s husband
Ronnie Combs fifties; Ida May’s son
Ham Terhune fifties; the local sheriff

Specs

Cast Size: 6 (3m, 3w)
Approximate Run Time: 1h 50m
Number of Acts: Two
Script Sample
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Production History

2005 Winner of Barter Theatre’s Appalachian Festival of Plays and Playwrights

The Quiltmaker was first produced in 2007 by Barter Theatre (Abingdon, VA), Richard Rose, Producing Artistic Director

The Quiltmaker was produced in 2015 by Parkway Playhouse (Burnsville, NC), Andrew Gall, Artistic Director



Reviews

“…laugh-until-you-cry funny.”
Robert McKinney, Bristol Herald Courier
“A thought-provoking play – and a comedy to boot!”
Shari Stacy, Washington County News
Cast Size: 6 (3m, 3w)
Approximate Run Time: 1h 50m
Number of Acts: Two
Script Sample
Request Rights

Synopsis

Life in Mud Creek has never been easy and no one knows that better than Ida May Combs. Ever since her husband’s death, Ida May has supported her family by selling her beautiful hand-stitched quilts – and dealing prescription drugs. But times are changing. Ida May’s granddaughter Cindy has married the hated son of a rival moonshining family, her son Ronnie is having an affair with his best friend’s wife and Sheriff Ham Terhune is cracking down on the epidemic drug spree sweeping the area. As Ida May struggles to maintain control over her “family,” Ronnie and Cindy are forced to choose between love, loyalty… and life.

Cast

Ida May Combs
seventies; sharp-tongued quiltmaker
Juanita Jenkins
fifties; unattractive cosmetics saleswoman
Cindy Taylor Bennett
late twenties; Ida May’s granddaughter
Jackson Bennett
early thirties; Cindy’s husband
Ronnie Combs
fifties; Ida May’s son
Ham Terhune
fifties; the local sheriff

Reviews

“…laugh-until-you-cry funny.”
Robert McKinney, Bristol Herald Courier
“A thought-provoking play – and a comedy to boot!”
Shari Stacy, Washington County News

Production History

2005 Winner of Barter Theatre’s Appalachian Festival of Plays and Playwrights

The Quiltmaker was first produced in 2007 by Barter Theatre (Abingdon, VA), Richard Rose, Producing Artistic Director

The Quiltmaker was produced in 2015 by Parkway Playhouse (Burnsville, NC), Andrew Gall, Artistic Director

Script Sample
Request Rights