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Overview

Synopsis

Romance is blossoming at the Sleep-Tite Pajama Factory in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. Handsome new Superintendent Sid Sorokin falls hard for feisty Union rep “Babe” Williams, and, despite her dismissal of all things love-related, it seems she’s falling right back. That is, until Sleep-Tite employees are refused a seven-and-a-half cent raise, and the pair find themselves on either side of the union protest that results. Based on Richard Bissel’s novel, 7 ½ cents, Adler and Ross’ Pajama Game portrays the ups and downs of romance, with the added heat of politics making the temperature extra hot. Babe and Sid must figure out how to love when the principles they value most are tearing them apart. First staged in 1954, The Pajama Game won three Tony awards, including best musical, and won another Tony for Best Revival in 2006, a testament to the fact that love, music, and politics are as hot as they ever were. The Pajama Game features hit songs including “Hey There,” “Hernando’s Hideaway” and “Steam Heat” which have also become pop standards that climbed as high as number one in the US charts.

Show Information

Category
Musical
Age Guidance
Youth (Y)/General Audiences (G)
Number of Acts
2
First Produced
1954
Genres
Comedy, Romance
Settings
Period, Multiple Settings
Time & Place
cedar rapids, iowa, 1954
Cast Size
medium
Orchestra Size
Large
Dancing
Heavy
Ideal For
College/University, Community Theatre, High School, Professional Theatre, Regional Theatre, Star Vehicle Female, Star Vehicle Male, Mostly Male Cast, Includes Adult, Young Adult, Mature Adult Characters, Medium Cast

Context

Plot

Characters

Name Part Size Gender Vocal Part

Catherine “Babe” Williams

Lead

Female

Mezzo-Soprano

Sid Sorokin

Lead

Male

Baritone

Gladys Hotchkiss

Supporting

Female

Alto

Myron Hasler

Supporting

Male

Spoken

Prez

Supporting

Male

Tenor

Vernon Hines

Supporting

Male

Baritone

Mabel

Featured

Female

Alto

Mae

Featured

Female

Alto

Brenda

Featured

Female

Pop

Featured

Male

Spoken

Poopsie

Featured

Female

Charlie

Featured

Male

Joe

Featured

Male

Ensemble

Ensemble

Either Gender

Songs

Act One

  • The Pajama Game Opening – Hines
  • Racing With the Clock – Factory Workers
  • A New Town Is a Blue Town – Sid
  • I'm Not At All in Love – Babe and Factory Girls
  • I'll Never Be Jealous Again – Mabel and Hines
  • Hey There – Sid
  • Racing With the Clock (Reprise) – Factory Workers
  • Sleep-Tite – Company
  • Her Is – Prez and Gladys
  • Once a Year Day – Sid, Babe, and Company
  • Her Is (Reprise) – Prez and Mae
  • Small Talk – Sid and Babe
  • There Once Was a Man – Sid and Babe
  • Hey There (Reprise) – Sid

Act Two

  • Steam Heat – Gladys (Mae in 2006) and the Box Boys
  • The World Around Us (added to 2006 production) – Sid
  • Hey There (Reprise) – Babe
  • If You Win, You Lose (added to 2006 production) – Sid and Babe
  • Think of the Time I Save – Hines and Factory Girls
  • Hernando's Hideaway – Gladys and Company
  • The Three of Us (Me, Myself and I) (added to 2006 production) – Hines and Gladys
  • 7½ Cents – Prez, Babe and Factory Workers
  • There Once Was a Man (Reprise) – Sid and Babe
  • The Pajama Game Finale – Full Company

A song with an asterisk (*) before the title indicates a dance number; a character listed in a song with an asterisk (*) by the character's name indicates that the character exclusively serves as a dancer in this song, which is sung by other characters.

Monologues

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Scenes

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Guide Written By:

Alexandra Appleton

Alexandra Appleton

Writer, editor and theatre researcher