The Jewish Repertory Theatre Announces Its Spring Season

The Jewish Repertory Theatre is proud to announce its exciting Musicals in Concert spring season which includes the rarely seen musical revue "Pins and Needles" and the New York premiere of Bob Merrill's last Broadway-bound musical "The Prince of Grand Street" at THE CENTER FOR JEWISH HISTORY (15 West 16th Street, NYC). Tickets are $35 and can be ordered by calling 917-606-8200 or by visiting JRT's website at http://www.jrt.org/. A special 2-play subscription at a discounted price of $55 will be available for individuals who would like to see both shows.

JRT's production of "Pins and Needles in Concert" runs for 4 performances only, from March 27th through March 31st Showtimes are Thursday, March 27th at 8:00 pm, Sunday, March 30th at 3:00 and 7:00 pm, and Monday, March 31st at 2:00 pm.

"The Prince of Grand Street" in Concert will play four performances only from May 29th to June 2nd. Showtimes are Thursday May 29th at 8:00 pm, Sunday, June 1st at 3:00 and 7:00 pm, and Monday, June 2nd at 2 pm.

First up is Harold Rome's musical revue "Pins and Needles in Concert." This will be the first New York revival of this satirical revue in over twenty years. Featured in the show are cabaret star and Broadway actress Karen Mason ("Mamma Mia!", "Sunset Boulevard," "And The World Goes 'Round") and Jim Walton ("And the World Goes 'Round," "Merrily We Roll Along," "Crazy for You"). The cast also includes veteran performers David Brummel, Louisa Flaningam, Allie Laurie, Tia Speros, and Linda Romoff. The concert will be directed and staged by Gary John La Rosa, with musical direction by Nathan Hurwitz.

Now celebrating its 65th anniversary, "Pins and Needles" was originally presented by the International Ladies Garment Worker's Union at the tiny Labor Stage. An enormous hit, it moved to Broadway where it ran for 1,108 performances and became the longest running musical until "Oklahoma!" It spawned two national tours and presented a command performance for President Franklin D. Roosevelt and his wife, Eleanor, who was a major fan of the show.

The topical revue poked fun at everything from world politics and anti-war sentiment to high taxes and the growing labor movement in the USA. The tuneful songs by Harold Rome included "Sing Me a Song of Social Significance," "Chain Store Daisy," "Nobody Makes a Pass at Me," and "Sundays in the Park," which made The Hit Parade. The show received a studio recording on its 25th anniversary with Rome at the piano and with some of its numbers sung by a young emerging star named Barbra Streisand.

Since Pins and Needles was continually updated over its four year run, JRT's production will combine songs and sketches from all versions and will present selected material that has not been heard in over 65 years. Rome's songs, along with Joseph Schrank's sketches, remain fresh and funny, and will no doubt seem as contemporary and relevant as ever to today's audience.

Following "Pins and Needles," The Jewish Repertory Theatre's final production of their 2002-03 Musicals in Concert series will be Bob Merrill's final Broadway-bound show "The Prince of Grand Street." This musical, which boasts one of Merrill's best scores, was also the final musical for the late Robert Preston. The show played engagements in Philadelphia and Boston and closed on the road, never making it to New York. Merrill provided not only the music and lyrics for this show, but the book as well. The show centers on a Boris Thomashefsky-like Yiddish actor who has a penchant for playing young leading roles despite his older age and soon falls in love with his much younger leading lady. JRT's production will be adapted and directed by Walter Willison with a cast to be announced shortly. Fred Barton will be musical director.

"Pins and Needles" and "The Prince of Grand Street" are part of The Jewish Repertory Theatre's season of "musicals in concert," which is presenting lost or overlooked Jewish-themed works. Previously seen this season were "Minnie's Boys," about the Marx Brothers, and Jerry Herman's "The Grand Tour." JRT, which is currently in its 29th year, is under the Artistic Direction of Ran Avni and Associate Artistic Director Warren Hoffman. It is committed to producing theater that details the Jewish experience in America in the English language.

 

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