Auditions
Pins & Needles
by Harold Rome
Eileen Morris, Director
Jared Emerson-Johnson, Musical Director
Saturday May 24th, 10am-3pm
Rehearsals in July and August, opening Labor Day weekend and running 3 weeks, 9 performances.
Auditions, rehearsals, and performances are all at Mercury Theater
3333 Petaluma Boulevard North, in Petaluma, north of downtown.
Harold Rome’s “Pins and Needles” is a musical revue with music and lyrics by Harold Rome, originally produced in 1937 by the International Ladies Garment Workers Union. Blending satire, humor, and toe-tapping tunes, the show offers a witty and spirited look at the social and political issues of the time—including labor rights, fascism, racism, and class inequality. Originally performed by union members and factory workers, the revue uses sketches and songs to champion progressive causes while poking fun at politicians, business tycoons, and social elites. Lighthearted yet bold, Pins and Needles is a unique piece of American theater history — a celebration of activism, humor, and the voices of everyday people.
Read more about the fascinating history of Pins and Needles here: https://jacksonupperco.com/2016/12/05/before-the-curtain-rings-down-iii-pins-and-needles-1937/
Mercury Theater’s Auditions for Pins and Needles are open to union members and organizers of all performance experience levels. If you aren’t a member of a union but are interested in organizing, please indicate as much on in your registration form.
Auditions for Pins & Needles will be held from 10am-3pm, Saturday, May 24 at Mercury Theater, 3333 Petaluma Blvd. North, Petaluma, CA 94952.
Register for your audition here
Please be prepared to sing a song, and please bring sheet music for any song you'd like to sing (chords are fine). You may prepare a monologue if you'd like, or just be prepared to read with us.
Pins & Needles' original 1937 cast featured members of the International Ladies Garment Workers Union and Mercury's show will feature local union members and people who are in the process of organizing. The atmosphere will be casual—we promise.
Cast and directors will be volunteers, but we'll make sure that cast members are not out-of-pocket for mileage and other travel expenses.
This show is an important piece of history. And it's an opportunity to educate our local community about the debt we owe the labor movement and the promise the movement still has. Most of all, it's full of fun, delightful music and sketches that have been unjustly forgotten for decades.
Some labor unions such as the IWW will accept any worker:
We hope to see you at our auditions!