Harold Rome "PINS and NEEDLES" Marc Blitzstein 1939 Labor Stage Playbill

Description

This is a rare March 1939 program (playbill) from the Original Broadway production of the musical revue "PINS AND NEEDLES" at the Labor Stage Theatre in New York City. (The production opened November 27th, 1937 at the Labor Stage Theatre and transferred on June 26th, 1939 to New York's Windsor Theatre. The show would be retitled "New Pins and Needles" and "Pins and Needles 1940" 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 mostly 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 ARTHUR ARENT, MARC BLITZSTEIN, EMMANUEL EISENBERG, CHARLES FRIEDMAN, HAROLD J. ROME and DAVID GREGORY; Sets designed by S. SYRJALA; Choreographed by BENJAMIN ZEMACH; Dances Directed by ADELE JEROME; Musical Direction by HAROLD J. ROME; Staged by CHARLES FRIEDMAN; Produced by LABOR STAGE INCORPORATED ..... DETAILS: The twelve page playbill measures 7" X 10" inches and includes full production credits, cast list, scenes and musical numbers, a history of the show with one production photo and bios of several members of the creative team ..... CONDITION: With the exception of heavy creasing at the bottom, the start of splits at the seam and minor edge wear, this rare playbill is in excellent condition and 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.
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