Photo Coverage: 'The Little Mermaid' Gypsy Robe Ceremony

Adrian Bailey was chosen as The Little Mermaid's winner of the Gypsy Robe on Thursday, January 10 at opening night of the new musical at the Lunt-Fontanne Theatre.

The colorful Gypsy Robe, embellished with mementos from Broadway musicals, is presented to the cast member who has the most Broadway chorus credits.  Amber Stone of Grease was the last recipient of the Gypsy Robe. The Gypsy Robe is a Broadway event steeped in tradition.  Upon opening night of a Broadway musical, the Gypsy Robe recipient must put on the honored garment and run inside a circle three times so each company member can touch the coat. The must also visit each company member's dressing room before the top-of-show call. It is also the recipient's responsibility to decorate a portion of the Gypsy Robe to commemorate their specific show.  Bailey performs as a member of the ensemble, whose other Broadway credits include Hot Feet, La Cage aux Folles, The Wild Party, Smokey Joe's Café and The Who's Tommy.

Based on the Disney film and the classic fairy tale by Hans Christian Andersen, the company of The Little Mermaid features Sierra Boggess as 'Ariel,' Sean Palmer as 'Prince Eric,' Norm Lewis as 'King Triton,' Tituss Burgess as 'Sebastian,' Eddie Korbich as 'Scuttle,' Jonathan Freeman as 'Grimsby,' Derrick Baskin as 'Jetsam,' Tyler Maynard as 'Flotsam,' Trevor Braun, Brian D'Addario, Cody Hanford and J.J. Singleton as 'Flounder,' and Sherie Rene Scott as 'Ursula.'

"The Little Mermaid takes place in a magical kingdom beneath the sea, where a beautiful young mermaid named Ariel longs to leave her ocean home to live in the world above. But first, she'll have to defy her father, the king of the sea, escape the clutches of an evil sea witch and convince a prince that she's the girl with the perfect voice," explain press notes.

Led by the award-winning director, Francesca Zambello, some of the theatre's most innovative artists have collaborated to create The Little Mermaid.  The score features the classic songs:  "Part of Your World," "Kiss the Girl" and the Academy Award-winning Best Original Song, "Under the Sea," composed by eight-time Academy Award winner Alan Menken and his longtime collaborator, the late Howard Ashman, as well as 10 new songs by Menken and lyricist Glenn Slater.  The book for the new musical is by Pulitzer Prize and Tony Award-winning playwright Doug Wright.

The playing schedule for The Little Mermaid is as follows: Tuesday – Saturday evenings at 8pm, Wednesday and Saturday matinees at 2pm, and Sunday matinees at 3pm.  Tickets for are $51.50 - $121.50 (includes a $1.50 facility fee), available through Ticketmaser at (212) 307-4747, online at www.DisneyOnBroadway.com, or in-person at the Lunt-Fontanne Theatre (205 West 46th Street).

Photos by Walter McBride / Retna Ltd