Life is a quilt of experiences, according...

Life is a quilt of experiences, according to the producers of “Quilters,” an all-female musical celebrating pioneer women who helped establish America’s western frontiers.

The seven-woman production debuts Friday at the El Camino Community College Campus Theatre.

“It’s a celebration of women who have helped found the country,” director Ron Scarlata said. “Most views of the West are shown through the eyes of men. This is a history lesson, and it’s also about women and their determination to create a home for the family. You just go away admiring women all the more.”

Scarlata said most of the roles are female, but where male roles exist, they are played by women.

“They put on hats and become the doctors and lawyers as well as show us female experiences like childbirth, abortions and becoming a woman. There were secret, primitive abortions and underground formulas. Even though they weren’t publicly accepted, they did exist,” he said.

The script for “Quilters” was originally performed at the Denver Center. The musical later toured the country with performances in New York, the Mark Taper Forum in Los Angeles and the Las Palmas Theater in Hollywood. The El Camino College production includes musical accompaniment by a country and Western band.

In one scene, after a prairie fire, the women gather their wits, pick up brooms and start sweeping up to begin celebrating the rebirth of life. Scarlata compared this scene to the recent Los Angeles riots, after which many people helped sweep up in hopes of starting anew.

“Most things haven’t changed,” Scarlata said. “It’s about restoring life after a disaster. That kind of fortitude has to be admired. The courage and the strength that it must have taken to find a new life for themselves is made clearer in the play.”

“Quilters” will be performed Friday, Saturday, May 22 and May 23 at 8 p.m., and May 17 at 3 p.m. The El Camino Campus Theatre is at 16007 Crenshaw Blvd. in Torrance. Tickets are $6 and $8 for all performances. Information: (310) 329-5345.