Exclusive Photo Coverage: Inside ON YOUR FEET's Gypsy Robe Ceremony!
By: Walter McBride Nov. 09, 2015
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ON YOUR FEET!, the new Broadway musical based on the life story of seven-time GRAMMY winning international superstar Gloria Estefan and her husband, nineteen-time GRAMMY winning producer-musician-entrepreneur Emilio Estefan, opened on Broadway Thursday night, November 5, 2015 at the Marquis Theatre. BroadwayWorld was on hand for the whole evening, starting with the sacred Gypsy Robe ceremony. Below, check out photos of gypsy robe recipient Nina Lafarga 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.
The musical, directed by two-time Tony Award winner Jerry Mitchell (Kinky Boots, Hairspray) and choreographed by Olivier Award winner Sergio Trujillo (Jersey Boys, Memphis) with an original book by Academy Award winnerAlexander Dinelaris (Birdman, The Bodyguard Musical), lands on Broadway following a world premiere summer engagement at the Oriental Theatre in Chicago.
Cuban-American singer and actress Ana Villafañe makes her Broadway debut as Gloria Estefan, starring opposite Josh Segarra as Emilio. The cast also features Drama Desk Award winner Andréa Burns (In The Heights) as Gloria Fajardo (Gloria's mother), Alma Cuervo (Beauty and the Beast) as Consuelo (Gloria's grandmother), Alexandria Suarez as Little Gloria, and Eduardo Hernandez as Nayib/Young Emilio.
Photo Credit: Walter McBride
Emilio Estefan and Gloria Estefan
Jerry Mitchell and Sergio Trujillo
Jerry Mitchell and Gloria Estefan
Jerry Mitchell, Gloria Estefan and Sergio Trujillo
Emilio Estefan, Jerry Mitchell, Gloria Estefan and Sergio Trujillo
Gloria Estefan and Ana Villafane
Gloria Estefan and Ana Villafane
Gloria Estefan and Ana Villafane
Emilio Estefan and Josh Segarra
Emilio Estefan, Gloria Estefan, Ana Villafane and Josh Segarra
Emilio Estefan, Gloria Estefan, Ana Villafane and Josh Segarra
Carlos E. Conzalez and Gloria Estefan
Alexander Dinelaris, Nina Lafarga and Andrea Burns
Josh Segarra and Ana Villafane
Genny Lis Padilla, Marcos Santana, Nina Lafarga, Andrea Burns, Doreen Montalvo, Henry Gainza and Carlos E. Gonzalez
Broadway Debuts
Emilio Estefan and Gloria Estefan
Van Hughes (Spring Awakening) and Nina Lafarga
Andy Senor Jr., Josh Segarra, Ana Villafane, Alexander Dinelaris and Sergio Trujillo
Genny Lis Padilla, Marcos Santana, Nina Lafarga, Andrea Burns, Doreen Montalvo, Henry Gainza and Carlos E. Gonzalez
Van Hughes (Spring Awakening) and Nina Lafarga
Nina Lafarga and company
Nina Lafarga with Gloria Estefan and Emilio Estefan
Nina Lafarga and conpany
Nina Lafarga and company
Nina Lafarga and company
Nina Lafarga and company
Gloria Estefan and Nina Lafarga
Gloria Estefan and Nina Lafarga
Josh Segarra, Nina Lafarga and Ana Villafane
Josh Segarra, Nina Lafarga and Ana Villafane
Gloria Estefan, Josh Segarra, Nina Lafarga, Ana Villafane and Emilio Estefan
Gloria Estefan, Josh Segarra, Nina Lafarga, Ana Villafane and Emilio Estefan
David Baida, Nina Lafarga and Henry Gainza
David Baida, Gloria Estefan, Nina Lafarga and Henry Gainza
Chorus members congratulate Nina Lafarga
The cast and creative team
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