Exclusive Photo Coverage: Inside THE COLOR PURPLE's Gypsy Robe Ceremony!
By: Walter McBride Dec. 14, 2015
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The new Broadway revival of THE COLOR PURPLE opened just last week, December 10, at theBernard B. Jacobs Theatre (242 W 45th Street). Grammy, Academy Award, and Golden Globe award winner Jennifer Hudson makes her Broadway debut opposite Cynthia Erivo, the breakout star of John Doyle's acclaimed Menier Chocolate Factory production, and Orange is the New Black's Danielle Brooks, in the highly anticipated production of The Color Purple. BroadwayWorld was on hand for the whole evening, starting with the sacred Gypsy Robe ceremony. Below, check out photos of gypsy robe recipient Grasan Kingsberry with the company!
The Gypsy Robe began in 1950, when Bill Bradley, in the chorus of GENTLEMEN PREFER BLONDES, borrowed a dressing gown from Chorus member Florence Baum and sent it to a friend in CALL ME MADAM on opening night Oct 12, 1950 saying it was worn by all the Ziegfeld beauties and would "bless" the show. A cabbage rose from Ethel Merman's gown was added and the robe was passed along to next Broadway musical on opening night. The tradition evolved so that the robe is now presented to the "gypsy" who has performed the most Broadway musicals on a chorus contract. Along the way, the robe is decorated, painted, patched, stitched, and signed by everyone in the show, becoming a fanciful patchwork for an entire Broadway season.
This is Grasan's 10th Broadway show and was a member of the original cast of The Color Purple in 2005. Other Broadway Original Casts:Motown, Nice Work..., Leap of Faith, On A Clear Day..., Catch Me..., Finian's Rainbow, Dirty Rotten..., Aida. Regional: One Night In Miami (Sam Cooke/Center Stage), Dreamgirls (Curtis/North Shore and National Tour). TV/Film: "Royal Pains," "Smash," "All My Children," I Am Legend. He is a graduate of Juilliard.
Photo Credit: Walter McBride
The Gypsy Robe
Jennifer Hudson and Danielle Brooks
Cynthia Erivo, Jennifer Hudson and Danielle Brooks
Cynthia Erivo, Danielle Brooks and Jennifer Hudson
Danielle Brooks, Cynthia Erivo and Jennifer Hudson
Danielle Brooks, Cynthia Erivo, Patrice Covington and Jennifer Hudson
Jennifer Hudson, Danielle Brooks and Cynthia Erivo with fellow Broadway debut cast members
Jennifer Hudson, Danielle Brooks and Cynthia Erivo with fellow Broadway debut cast members
Grasan Kingsberry with past recipients
David Westphal, Grasan Kingsberry and Alan H. Green
Danielle Brooks with Grasan Kingsberry and cast
Danielle Brooks with Grasan Kingsberry and cast
Danielle Brooks, Cynthia Erivo with Grasan Kingsberry and cast
Danielle Brooks with Grasan Kingsberry and cast
Danielle Brooks, Jennifer Hudson and Cynthia Erivo
Danielle Brooks, Cynthia Erivo with Grasan Kingsberry and cast
Cynthia Erivo, Grasan Kingsberry, Danielle Brooks and Jennifer Hudson
Grasan Kingsberry with Cynthia Erivo, Danielle Brooks, Jennifer Hudson and the cast
Grasan Kingsberry with Cynthia Erivo, Danielle Brooks, Jennifer Hudson and the cast
Grasan Kingsberry with Cynthia Erivo, Danielle Brooks, Jennifer Hudson and the cast
Grasan Kingsberry during the Broadway Opening Night Actors' Equity Gypsy Robe Ceremony celebrating Grasan Kingsberry for 'The Color Purple' at the Bernard B. Jacobs Theatre on December 10, 2015 in New York City.
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