Exclusive Photo Coverage: Inside the VIOLET Gypsy Robe Ceremony!
By: Walter McBride Apr. 25, 2014
The company of Violet 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
Joshua Henry, Sutton Foster and Colin Donnell
Joshua Henry, Sutton Foster and Colin Donnell
Broadway Debuts: Azudi Onyejekwe, Emerson Steele and Jacob Keith Watson
Broadway Debuts: Azudi Onyejekwe and Emerson Steele
Kevin Ligon fron "Bullets over Broadway''
Alexander Gemignani and Leigh Silverman
Jeanine Tesori, Joshua Henry, Colin Donnell and Sutton Foster
Jacob Keith Watson, Charlie Pollock, Jeanine Tesori, Joshua Henry, Jennifer Smith, Colin Donnell and Sutton Foster
Kevin Ligon fron "Bullets over Broadway''
Anastacia McCleskey and company
Anastacia McCleskey and company
Anastacia McCleskey and company
Anastacia McCleskey and company
Alexander Gemignani, Leigh Silverman and Annie Golden with cast
Alexander Gemignani, Leigh Silverman and Annie Golden
Charlie Pollock, Joshua Henry, Colin Donnell, Sutton Foster and Anastacia McCleskey
Anastacia McCleskey and cast
Todd Haimes, Paige Price and Anastacia McCleskey
Todd Haimes and Anastacia McCleskey
Charlie Pollock, Joshua Henry, Colin Donnell, Sutton Foster and Anastacia McCleskey
Annie Golden with Anastacia McCleskey
Annie Golden with Anastacia McCleskey
Thomas Carpenter and AEA Eastern Regional Director and Anastacia McCleskey
Thomas Carpenter and AEA Eastern Regional Director and Anastacia McCleskey
Paige Price and Anastacia McCleskey
Paige Price and Anastacia McCleskey
Anastacia McCleskey with Emerson Steele
Anastacia McCleskey with Emerson Steele
Anastacia McCleskey with Joshua Henry, Colin Donnell and Sutton Foster
Anastacia McCleskey with Joshua Henry, Colin Donnell and Sutton Foster
Anastacia McCleskey with Joshua Henry, Colin Donnell and Sutton Foster
Anastacia McCleskey with Joshua Henry, Colin Donnell and Sutton Foster
Anastacia McCleskey with Joshua Henry, Colin Donnell and Sutton Foster
Anastacia McCleskey with Joshua Henry, Colin Donnell and Sutton Foster
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