Photos: In Our Time Gypsy Robe Event

A press rehearsal was recently held for "The Gypsy Robe - In Our Time," which was presented by Actors' Equity on Monday, February 12, 2007 at the New York Public Library for the Performing Arts Dorothy and Lewis B. Cullman Center, Bruno Walter Auditorium.

Staged by A. Wellington Perkins and Pi Douglass, "In Our Time" honored African-American chorus actors who have received the Gypsy Robe, a time-honored opening night tradition among the chorus of Broadway musicals, and the many contributions African American performers have made to the American theater. The evening was co-sponsored by the League of Professional Theater Women to celebrate Black History month.

EEO Committee Co-Chairs Christine Toy Johnson and Julia Breanetta Simpson and ACCA Vice-Chair Thomas Jay Miller narrated the colorful pageant, which showed off six of the legendary Gypsy Robes. With words and music, the show intertwined the history of the robe while retracing the history of African-American performers and shows on Broadway. Onstage, the stellar line-up of former robe recipients included Nikki Renee Daniels (Les Miserables- 2006), Ramon Flowers (Hot Feet - 2006), Tim Hunter (Fascinating Rhythm - 1999), T. Oliver Reid (The Wedding Singer - 2006), Judine Somerville (Hairspray - 2002), Lynn Sterling (The Life - 1997), Gwen Stewart (Rent - 1996), and Brynn Williams (In My Life - 2005). Joining them were AEA members Daria Hardeman, Stacey Haughton, Tyson Jennette, Harrison Lee, Vicky Nitchie, Richard Waits and Steven Ward. Attending the event were Martial Roumain (The Wiz - 1984), Yolanda Graves (Uptown...It's Hot - 1986), Deidre Goodwin (The Rocky Horror Show - 2000), Devin Richards (Jesus Christ Superstar - 2000) The Musical Director was William McDaniel.

Photos by Walter McBride/Retna Ltd.

 

Gypsy Robes

William McDaniel

 
Daniel Schubmehl

Julia Breanetta Simpson and Christine Toy Johnson

Julia Breanetta Simpson

Vicky Nitchie and Julia Breanetta Simpson

Vicky Nitchie, Christine Toy Johnson and Tyson Jennette

Tyson Jennette

Stacey Haughton

Ramon Flowers, Stacey Haughton and A. Wellington Perkins (Director)

Thomas Jay Miller, Stacey Haughton, Judine Somerville & A. Wellington Perkins

Gwen Stewart & Richard Waits with A. Wellington Perkins

Vicky Nitchie, Brynn Williams & Tyson Jennette with A. Wellington Perkins

Judine Somerville, Pi Douglass, Stacey Haughton and A. Wellington Perkins

Vicky Nitchie, Brynn Williams and Tyson Jennette with A. Wellington Perkins

Nikki Renee Daniels and Brynn Williams with the cast

Brynn Williams

Brynn Williams

A. Wellington Perkins and cast

 Vicky Nitchie and Tyson Jennette

 Vicky Nitchie and Tyson Jennette

Gwen Stewart and Richard Waits

Ramon Flowers and Tyson Jennette

Ramon Flowers and Tyson Jennette

Ramon Flowers and Tim Hunter

Ramon Flowers and Tim Hunter

The cast

Ramon Flowers

Nikki Renee Daniels, Ramon Flowers and Brynn Williams

Nikki Renee Daniels, Ramon Flowers and Brynn Williams

Tyson Jennette

Tyson Jennette

Harrison Lee

Harrison Lee

Vicky Nitchie

Vicky Nitchie

Gwen Stewart

Gwen Stewart

Richard Waits

Richard Waits

Richard Waits, Gwen Stewart, Vicky Nitchie, Tyson Jennette, Lynn Sterling and Harrison Lee