It's a strange thing 'bout parents - push turns to shove. What was hate becomes more or less love.
In Trousers
In Trousers opened at Playwrights Horizons in 1979. It was directed by William Finn and the orchestration and musical direction were by Michael Starobin. A cast recording was made on Original Cast Records and is available on CD.
There are two versions of In Trousers depending on where you look. This is because the original was rewritten in 1985. The new version opened off-Broadway at the Promenade Theatre on March 26, 1985. It was produced by Roger Berlind, Franklin Levy, and Gregory Harrison and directed by Matt Casella. The musical direction was by Roy Leake, Jr., set design by Santo Loquasto, lighting by Marilyn Rennagel, costumes by Madeline Ann Greneto, and sound by Tom Morse.
| Character | Played in 1979 | Played in 1985 |
| Marvin | Chip Zien | Stephen Bogardus |
| His Wife | Alison Fraser | Catherine Cox |
| His Sweetheart | Joanna Green | Sherry Hursey |
| Miss Goldberg | Mary Testa | Kathy Garrick |
Here is the song sequence for the 1979 and 1985 versions of In Trousers lined up side by side. You can see that many songs were added for the 1985 version, and that those songs that were kept were completely reorganized. This gave the 1985 version of In Trousers a more cohesive storyline and more defined characterization (of Marvin and Trina at least), not to mention some great songs like I Have a Family, I Feel Him Slipping Away, I'm Breaking Down, and Packing Up. I'm Breaking Down was later also used in Falsettos after This Had Better Come to a Stop.
Songs that are common to both versions
Songs only in the 1979 version
Songs only in the 1985 version
| Songs 1979 | Sung by | Songs 1985 | Sung by |
| Marvin's Giddy Seizures | Marvin and Ladies | In Trousers | All |
| How the Body Falls Apart | Ladies | I Can't Sleep | Marvin and Ladies |
| Your Lips and Me | Trina | A Helluva Day | Trina |
| My Highschool Sweetheart | All | I Have a Family | Marvin |
| Set Those Sails | Miss Goldberg and Ladies | How Marvin Eats His Breakfast | Marvin and Ladies |
| My Chance to Survive the Night | Marvin | Marvin's Giddy Seizures | Ladies |
| I Am Wearing a Hat | All | My Highschool Sweetheart | Sweetheart and All |
| How Marvin Eats His Breakfast | Marvin and Ladies | Set Those Sails | Miss Goldberg |
| A Breakfast Over Sugar | Marvin and Trina | I Swear I Won't Ever Again (part 1) | Marvin |
| Whizzer Going Down | Marvin and Ladies | High School Ladies at 5 o'clock | Ladies and Marvin |
| High School Ladies at 5 o'clock | Sweetheart and Ladies | I Swear I Won't Ever Again (part 2) | Marvin |
| The Rape of Miss Goldberg | Marvin and Miss Goldberg | The Rape of Miss Goldberg | Marvin and Miss Goldberg |
| The Nausea Before the Game | Marvin and Ladies | I Swear I Won't Ever Again (part 3) | Marvin |
| Love Me For What I Am | Trina | Love Me For What I Am | Trina and All |
| How America Got It's Name | All | I Am Wearing a Hat | Ladies |
| Your Lips and Me (reprise) | Trina | Wedding Song | All |
| Marvin Takes a Victory Shower | All | 3 Seconds | Marvin |
| Another Sleepless Night | All | Wedding Song (part 2) | All |
| In Trousers (The Dream) | Marvin and Ladies | How the Body Falls Apart | Ladies |
| I Feel Him Slipping Away | Trina | ||
| Whizzer Going Down | Trina | ||
| Marvin's Giddy Seizures (part 2) | Ladies | ||
| I'm Breaking Down | Trina | ||
| Packin Up | Marvin | ||
| Breakfast Over Sugar | Marvin and Trina | ||
| How America Got It's Name | All | ||
| Been a Helluva Day (reprise) | Trina | ||
| Another Sleepless Night | All | ||
| Goodnight (No Hard Feelings) or In Trousers-Reprise (The Dream) |
All |
