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Photos Exclusive: FOLLIES Gypsy Robe Ceremony!
By: Walter McBride
The new production of FOLLIES opened on Broadway on Monday night, September 12, 2011 to multiple rave reviews. Before the show, we were there for long-standing opening night tradition on the Great White Way, the fabled Gypsy Robe, which is bestowed upon a veteran Broadway chorus member for each opening production. In what has now become a theatrical ritual, originating on Broadway 60 years ago, FOLLIES cast member Jenifer Foote received the Gypsy Robe and BroadwayWorld was there for the celebration.
At the song and dance ceremony, cast members who were making their Broadway debuts were acknowledged at the center of the stage. Call then proceeded to circle the room in the robe in celebration with the entire FOLLIES family.
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 fourteenth floor Council lobby.
The Robe from the 2003-2004 season is now housed in the Orlando office and members can stop by to view the Robe during business hours. In the coming year, the Los Angeles and new Chicago office will have their own Gypsy Robes for display. Periodically, the Robes will be rotated so members may have the chance to see various Robes. Robes are also on display at the Smithsonian in Washington, DC, The Museum of the City of New York and the Lincoln Center Library for the Performing Arts.
Photos by Walter McBride / Retna Ltd.
Director Eric Schaeffer & Bernadette Peters
Director Eric Schaeffer & Elaine Paige
Bernadette Peters & David Sabin
Harvey Evans & Christian Delcroix
Danny Burstein, Harvey Evans & Christian Delcroix
Cast Members making their Broadway Debut
Cast Members making their Broadway Debut
Gypsy Robe Recipient Arbender Robinson 'Hair'
Gypsy Robe Recipient Arbender Robinson 'Hair'
Jenifer Foote & Company
Jenifer Foote & Company
Jenifer Foote & Company
Gypsy Robe Recipient Arbender Robinson 'Hair' with Jenifer Foote
David Westphal, Gypsy Robe Recipient Arbender Robinson 'Hair' with Jenifer Foote
Mary Beth Peil, Bernadette Peters, Harvey Evans & Susan Watson
Lora Lee Gayer, Kirsten Scott, Christian Delcroix & Nick Verina
Jenifer Foote, Jayne Houdyshell, Mary Beth Peil, Bernadette Peters & Susan Watson with Company
Jenifer Foote, Jan Maxwell & Company
Mary Beth Peil, Bernadette Peters, Harvey Evans & Susan Watson
Jenifer Foote, Mary Beth Peil, Bernadette Peters & Susan Watson
Director Eric Schaeffer
Jenifer Foote, Danny Burstein, Elaine Paige, Eric Schaeffer & Company
Jenifer Foote, Jan Maxwell & Company
Mary Beth Peil, Bernadette Peters & Susan Watson
Elaine Paige & Eric Schaeffer with Michael M. Kaiser
Jenifer Foote, Danny Burstein, Elaine Paige, Eric Schaeffer & Company
Jenifer Foote & Company
Jan Maxwell & Company
Gypsy Robe Recipient Arbender Robinson 'Hair' & Jenifer Foote
Paige Price AEA Acting President, Gypsy Robe Recipient Arbender Robinson 'Hair', Jenifer Foote & Rebecca Kim Jordan AEA 2nd V.P. Chair, ACCA
Director Eric Schaeffer & Jenifer Foote
Director Eric Schaeffer & Jenifer Foote
Jenifer Foote, Danny Burstein, Terri White & Elaine Paige
Jenifer Foote with Bernadette Peters, Jan Maxwell, Danny Burstein & Elaine Paige
Jenifer Foote with Bernadette Peters, Jan Maxwell, Ron Raines Danny Burstein, Terri White & Elaine Paige
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