Exclusive Photo Coverage: Inside the LES MISERABLES Gypsy Robe Ceremony!

By: Mar. 26, 2014
Get Show Info Info
Cast
Photos
Videos
Enter Your Email to Unlock This Article

Plus, get the best of BroadwayWorld delivered to your inbox, and unlimited access to our editorial content across the globe.




Existing user? Just click login.

The company of Les Miserables just celebrated their opening with the Gypsy Robe ritual. BroadwayWorld was on hand for the event and brings you full photo coverage below!

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.

Recognizing their cultural and historic value, Gypsy Robes can now be viewed at two of Equity's Offices. The National Headquarters in New York now houses two of the historic Robes. The second floor Audition Center's newly designed case displays the Robe from the 2006-2007 season, which was dedicated by the ACCA to the memory of Patrick Quinn. The 2007-2008 Robe, dedicated to Broadway veteran Adrian Bailey, can be viewed on the 14th floor Council lobby.

Photo Credit: Walter McBride

Les Miserables
Dennis Stowe from "Aladdin"

Les Miserables
Dennis Stowe from "Aladdin"

Les Miserables
Ramin Karimloo and Will Swenson

Les Miserables
Ramin Karimloo and Will Swenson

Les Miserables
Ramin Karimloo and Will Swenson

Les Miserables
AEA President Nick Wyman and Cliff Saunders

Les Miserables
Caissie Levy and Ramin Karimloo

Les Miserables
Will Swenson

Les Miserables
Caissie Levy and Will Swenson

Les Miserables
Caissie Levy and Will Swenson

Les Miserables
AEA President Nick Wyman and stage hand

Les Miserables
Caissie Levy and Ramin Karimloo

Les Miserables
Caissie Levy and Ramin Karimloo

Les Miserables
Dennis Stowe from "Aladdin" and Nikki M. James

Les Miserables
Keala Settle, AEA President Nick Wyman and Dennis Stowe from "Aladdin"

Les Miserables
'Les Miserables' Broadway debuts

Les Miserables
'Les Miserables' Broadway debuts

Les Miserables
'Les Miserables' Broadway debuts

Les Miserables
'Les Miserables' Broadway debuts

Les Miserables
Introduction

Les Miserables
Arbender J. Robinson and Company

Les Miserables
Arbender J. Robinson and Company

Les Miserables
Arbender J. Robinson and company

Les Miserables
AEA's David Westphal, Arbender J. Robinson and Dennis Stowe

Les Miserables
AEA's David Westphal, Arbender J. Robinson and Dennis Stowe

Les Miserables
AEA's David Westphal, Arbender J. Robinson and Dennis Stowe

Les Miserables
AEA's David Westphal, Arbender J. Robinson

Les Miserables
AEA's David Westphal, Arbender J. Robinson

Les Miserables
Arbender J. Robinson

Les Miserables
Arbender J. Robinson with Caissie Levy, Ramin Karimloo and Company

Les Miserables
Caissie Levy and Ramin Karimloo with Company

Les Miserables
Arbender J. Robinson with Caissie Levy, Ramin Karimloo and Company

Les Miserables
Arbender J. Robinson and Company

Les Miserables
Arbender J. Robinson with Caissie Levy, Ramin Karimloo and Company

Les Miserables
Arbender J. Robinson and Company

Les Miserables
Arbender J. Robinson with Nikki M. James, Andy Mientus, Keala Settle and Company New York City.

Les Miserables
Arbender J. Robinson with Nikki M. James, Andy Mientus, Keala Settle and Company

Les Miserables
Arbender J. Robinson with Nikki M. James, Andy Mientus, Keala Settle and Company

Les Miserables
Arbender J. Robinson with Nikki M. James, Andy Mientus, Keala Settle and Company

Les Miserables
Arbender J. Robinson with Caissie Levy, Ramin Karimloo, Cameron Mackintosh and Company

Les Miserables
Keala Settle, Arbender J. Robinson and Nikki M. James

Les Miserables
Keala Settle, Arbender J. Robinson and Nikki M. James

Les Miserables
Keala Settle, Arbender J. Robinson and Nikki M. James

Les Miserables
Caissie Levy, Arbender J. Robinson and Ramin Karimloo

Les Miserables
Caissie Levy, Arbender J. Robinson and Ramin Karimloo

Les Miserables
Arbender J. Robinson and Andy Mientus

Les Miserables
Arbender J. Robinson and Andy Mientus

Les Miserables
Arbender J. Robinson and Andy Mientus

Les Miserables
Arbender J. Robinson and Andy Mientus

Les Miserables
Terance Cedric Reddick and Arbender J. Robinson

Les Miserables
Cliff Saunders and Arbender J. Robinson

Les Miserables
Cliff Saunders and Arbender J. Robinson

Les Miserables
Cliff Saunders and Arbender J. Robinson

Les Miserables
AEA President Nick Wyman with Arbender J. Robinson

Les Miserables
AEA President Nick Wyman and Arbender J. Robinson

Les Miserables
Caissie Levy, Arbender J. Robinson and Ramin Karimloo

Les Miserables
Caissie Levy, Arbender J. Robinson and Ramin Karimloo

Les Miserables
Producer Cameron Mackintosh and Company

Les Miserables
Cameron Mackintosh and Company

Les Miserables
Director Laurence Connor and Director James Powell

Les Miserables
Director Laurence Connor and Director James Powell

Les Miserables
Director Laurence Connor and Director James Powell

Les Miserables
Cameron Mackintosh with a prop Brick from the original production

Les Miserables
Cameron Mackintosh

Les Miserables
Cameron Mackintosh

Les Miserables
Director Laurence Connor and Director James Powell presented with gifts from the Company

Les Miserables
Director Laurence Connor and Director James Powell presented with gifts from the Company

Les Miserables
Best wishes card from Facebook Fans

Les Miserables
The Company

Les Miserables
The Company

Les Miserables
Arbender J. Robinson

Les Miserables
Arbender J. Robinson



Videos