Harold Rome "NEW PINS and NEEDLES" Katherine Dunham 1940 Chicago Playbill

Description

This is a rare December 17th, 1940 playbill from the National Tour engagement of the Labor Stage Players' musical revue "NEW PINS AND NEEDLES" at the Studebaker Theatre in Chicago, Illinois. (The production opened November 27th, 1937 at New York's Labor Stage Theatre and transferred on June 26th, 1939 to the Windsor Theatre. The show would be retitled "Pins and Needles 1940" and "New Pins and Needles" during its successful 1108 performance run.) ..... The title
Pins and Needles
was created by Max Danish, long-time editor of the
International Ladies Garment Workers Union
(I.L.G.W.U.)'s
newspaper
Justice
.
The union sponsored an inexpensive revue with ILGWU workers as the cast and two pianos. Because of their factory jobs, participants could rehearse only at night and on weekends, and initial performances were presented only on Friday and Saturday nights. The original cast was made up of cutters, basters, and sewing machine operators.
Pins and Needles
looked at current events from a pro-union standpoint. It was a "lighthearted look at young workers in a changing society in the middle of America's most politically engaged city." Skits spoofed everything from Fascist European dictators to bigots in the Daughters of the American Revolution. Word-of-mouth was so enthusiastically positive that the cast eventually abandoned their day jobs and the production expanded to a full performance schedule of eight shows per week. New songs and skits were introduced every few months to keep the show topical. Music and lyrics were written by HAROLD ROME and sketches contributed by ARTHUR ARENT, MARC BLITZSTEIN, EMMANUEL EISENBERG, CHARLES FRIEDMAN, DAVID GREGORY, JOSEPH SCHRANK, ARNOLD B. HORWITT, JOHN LATOUCHE and HAROLD ROME. Some of the choreography was staged by famed African-American dancer KATHERINE DUNHAM. According to theatre writer John Kenrick, "
Pins and Needles
is the only hit ever produced by a labor union, and the only time when a group of unknown non-professionals brought a successful musical to Broadway." The revue was also performed in 1938 at the White House for President Franklin D. Roosevelt and Eleanor Roosevelt. Brooks Atkinson, perhaps the most important theatre critic at the time, wrote that "
Pins and Needles
is a gay, satirical revue, which is amusing, as Mrs. Roosevelt knows, for she has recently sealed it with the cachet of the White House." (Wikipedia) ..... CREDITS: Music and Lyrics by HAROLD J. ROME ("Call Me Mister", "Fanny", "Pins and Needles", "Wish You Were Here", "Alive and Kicking", "Bless You All", "Destry Rides Again", "Gone With the Wind", "I Can Get It For You Wholesale", "The Zulu and the Zayda"); Sketches by JOSEPH SCHRANK; Sets designed by S. SYRJALA; Choreographed by KATHERINE DUNHAM, ADELE JEROME and FELICIA SOREL; Directed by ROBERT H. GORDON; Produced by LABOR STAGE INCORPORATED ..... DETAILS: The eight page playbill measures 5 1/2" X 8 1/2" inches and includes full production credits, cast list, scenes, musical numbers and a history of the show but with the exception of the front cover, no cast photos or bios ..... CONDITION: (Please Note!) There is a missing torn section from the top right corner of the cover, heavy creasing from having been folded into quarters and minor soiling. Despite these flaws, this rare playbill will make a wonderful addition to the collection of any musical theatre aficionado or historian. This item will be carefully packaged in a protective, carded sleeve and backed by stiff cardboard ..... SHIPPING DISCOUNTS: Check my "Other Items" for additional rare Broadway playbills and other theatre related memorabilia. Shipping discounts are available for multiple purchases when all items are combined into a single payment. Please wait for a revised invoice before sending payment ..... THANKS !!!
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