Pins and Needles

A Musical Revue in Two Acts, 19 Scenes. Sketches by Arthur Arent, Marc Blitzstein, Emanuel Eisenberg, Charles Friedman, Harold J. Rome and David Gregory. Music and lyrics mostly by Harold J. Rome.

First produced in New York 11 June 1936 at the Labor Stage Studios. Opened 27 November 1937 at the Labor Stage Theatre; Second edition (Pins and Needles 1939) opened 20 April 1939, moved 26 June 1939 to the Windsor Theatre; renamed Pins and Needles 1939 in August 1939, renamed Pins and Needles 1940 in September 1939; Third edition (New Pins and Needles) opened 25 November 1939, and closed 22 June 1940 after a total of 1108 performances.

New material was frequently introduced during the run of the show; the following list, though by no means complete, is representative of the changes:

Act I
Scene 1

• "First Impression" - Entire Company (Music by Harold Rome. Lyrics by Harold Rome and Charles Friedman.)
• "Lesson in Etiquette" (Added by September 1938) - The Expert: Pickets:
• One Third of a Mitten (by Emanuel Eisenberg and Jay Williams)(Added by September 1938)
• "The Great White Way Turns Pink" (Added by September 1938) (Music by Lee Wainer. Lyrics by John Latouche.)
• "Lorelei on the Rocks" (Added December 1938) (Music by Berenice Kazounoff. Lyrics by John Latouche.)
  Die Lorelei: A Storm Trooper:
• "Papa Lewis, Mama Green" (added 30 January 1939) (Pantomime and Dance)
  Mama: Papa: Children (2):
• "Back to Work" (added by February 1939)
  Joe: Strikers: Entire Company.
• "Britannia Rules the Waves" (added April 1939) (Music by Berenice Kazounoff. Sketch and Lyrics by Arnold B. Horwitt and John Latouche.)
  The Prime Minister: The Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs: The Secretary of State for War: The First Lord of the Admiralty: The German Envoy: The Japanese Envoy: Miss Beamish:
• "The Red Mikado" (added late April 1939) (Book and Lyrics by Joseph Schrank and Harold J. Rome, with apologies to Gilbert & Sullivan. Vocal Direction by Simon Rady.)
  Lord High Executioner: Flunky: Three Little Maids: Wandering Minstrel: Gilbert: Sullivan: I.L.G.W U. Titi-Pu Chorus:
• "I've Got the Nerve to Be in Love" (added April 1939) (Pantomime and Dance Staged by Felicia Sorel. Music Arranged by Baldwin Bergersen.)
  Girl: Boy:
• "Cream of Mush" (added April 1939) (Sketch by Joseph Schrank. Music and Lyrics by Harold J. Rome.)
  Lem Godfrey: Dan Scotti: Pete: Mr. Price: Mr. Perkins: J. Drexel Weller: Mr. Black:
• "Mene Mene Tekel" (added August 1939) Dorothy Harrison
• "The Harmony Boys" (added June 1939) - (Sketch by Joseph Schrank. Music and Lyrics by Harold J. Rome.)
  Coggie: Bob: Fritzie:
• Paradise Mislaid (Sketch by Joseph Schrank.) (added by September 1939) Jake: Papa: Minnie: The janitor: "Stupie": Max: Moe: Becky: The Nursa: Lucille: The Moving Man: Jack Smith:
• "Bertha, the Sewing Machine Girl," or "It's Better With a Union Man" (added November 1939) - (Sketch by Joseph Schrank. Music and Lyrics by Harold J. Rome. Dance by Katherine Dunham.)
  The Singing Waiter: Bertha: Ted Trueblue: Harold Hotfoot: Ensemble:
• "We Sing America" (added November 1939) Entire Company
• "What This Party Needs" (added 2 November 1939) - (Sketch by Joseph Schrank. Music by Harold J. Rome. Lyrics by Harold J. Rome and Arthur Kramer.)
  Bill: Mack: First Graybeard: Second Greybeard: Third Greybeard:

Scene 2

• "Why Sing of Skies Above?" (Sing Me a Song of Social Significance)
  Boys: Girls:

Scene 3

• Mussolini Handicap (by Arthur Arent)
  Mussolini: Four Prize Winners:

Scene 4

• "Public Enemy No. I"

Scene 5

• The General Is Unveiled (Staged by Benjamin Zemach. Ballet Music by Harold Rome.)
  General: Speaker: Secretary: Invited Guests:

  The Women's Auxiliary assembles to unveil the statue of a famous general on his birthday. In the middle of a stirring address by Mr. Warmonger, the general, comes to life and does as he has always done: set man against man. When he resumes his granite self, he leaves behind him a chastened and thoughtful group.

Scene 6

• "We'd Rather Be Right" - (Sketch by David Gregory. Music by Harold Rome. Lyrics by Arthur Kramer.)
  First 100% American: Second 100% American: Third 100% American: Boy:
• "When I Grown Up" (The "G Man" Song) (added for New Pins and Needles tour) - Solo
• "Sitting on Your Status Quo" - Solo and Ensemble
• "Oh, Give Me the Good Old Days" (added by March 1940) Solo
• International Situation (Sketch by Joseph Schrank.)
• "Pity the Poor Millionaire" - (Music and Lyrics by Harold J. Rome.)
• "Stay Out, Sammy" (added by March 1940)
  Mother: Sammy:
• Poker Players (Sketch by Joseph Schrank) (New Pins and Needles tour)
  Adolf. Phui: Joe: Benny: French General:
• Let 'Em Eat Guns (Sketch by Joseph Schrank.) (added for New Pins and Needles tour)
  A Lecturer: The Exhibit:
• "History Eight to the Bar" (added for New Pins and Needles tour) (Music and Lyrics by Harold J. Rome.)
  Professor: D. Harrison. Students: Sherman Edwards, A. Charmat, E. Bregman, T. Fazio, L. Morrison, Sylvia Cahn, A. Levy, E. Gerber, W. Castellano, J. Nicita.
• "Alone on the Lone Prairie" (added for New Pins and Needles tour) (Music and Lyrics by Harold J. Rome.)
  "The Pluto Boys" (added for New Pins and Needles tour) (Music and Lyrics by Harold J. Rome.)
  Girl: Imp: First Demon: Second Demon: Third Demon:
• 1+1=1 (added to NY run briefly, New Pins and Needles tour) (Sketch by Joseph Schrank.)
  Announcer: Judge: Professor: Boy: . Girl: Expert: Man on Street: Vendor: Mother: Daughter: Citizen: Miss Dewberry: Shady Fellow: Passerby:

Scene 7

• The Little Red Schoolhouse (by Emanuel Eisenberg)
  Schmaltz: Bernadette: Mildred: Lena: Boss: . Union Man:

Scene 8

• "Sunday in the Park"
  Papa: Mama: Boy: Girl: Cop: Balloon Man: Vendor: Couple: Man With Carriage: Lonesome Guy: Park Attendant: Radical: Man on Bench: Passersby:

Scene 9

• "Dear Beatrice Fairfax" (Nobody Makes a Pass at Me) Solo

Scene 10

• "Economics 1"
  (Sketch by Charles Friedman. Music and Lyrics by Harold Rome.)
  The Stray: Doorman: Stage Manager: Banker: Manufacturer: Wholesaler: Retailer: Consumer:

Scene 11

• "Men Awake"
  Entire Company, Dance Group
  (Prelude Suggested by a Poem of Langston Hughes. Conceived and Staged by Benjamin Zemach.)
  Singers:

ACT 2

Scene 1

• "It's Not Cricket to Picket" Solo, Company

Scene 2

• "Vassar Girl Finds Job" (Chain Store Daisy) Solo

Scene 3

• "F. T. P. (Federal Theatre Project) Plowed Under" (by Marc Blitzstein) Mr. Bureaucrats: Mrs. Clubhouse: Mr. Zealous:. Mr. Stallalong: Mr. Hippity Bloomberg: Guards:

Scene 4

• "What Good Is Love?" Solo

Scene 5

• "One Big Union for Two" (Dance Routine by Gluck Sander.)
  Girls: Boys:
• "Four Little Angels of Peace"
  Eden: Mussolini: Japanese: Hitler:

Scene 7

• "Slumming Party" (Doing the Reactionary)
  (Monologue, Music and Lyrics by Harold Rome. Dance Routine by Gluck Sander.)
  Mrs. Dalrymple III: Her Protégé: Her Nephew: Her Aunt: Her Uncle: Her Chauffeur:

Scene 8

• "We've Just Begun" (Music by Harold Rome. Lyrics by Harold Rome and Charles Friedman.)
  Entire Company
  

Discography:

25th Anniversary edition featuring Barbra Streisand - Columbia CK 57380