Description: This is a rare October 10th, 1940 broadside (single page playbill) from the three-night, National Tour engagement of the Labor Stage Players' musical revue "NEW PINS AND NEEDLES" at the Shubert Theatre in New Haven, Connecticut. (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 single page, two-sided playbill measures 5 3/4" X 11 1/2" inches, is printed on a newsprint stock and includes full production credits, cast list, scenes and musical numbers, but no cast photos or bios ..... CONDITION: With the exception of a fold across the middle and moderate creasing, this rare broadside 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.
Price: 29.99 USD
Location: Cannon Beach, Oregon
End Time: 2024-02-04T18:22:00.000Z
Shipping Cost: 3.95 USD
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Item Specifics
Restocking Fee: No
Return shipping will be paid by: Buyer
All returns accepted: Returns Accepted
Item must be returned within: 30 Days
Refund will be given as: Money Back
Industry: Theater
Product: Playbills / Programs
Genre: Broadway Musical Revue
Original / Reproduction: Original - U.S.
Date: 1940 - 1949
