On November 13th, the company of The Mystery of Edwin Drood celebrated their opening night with the Gypsy Robe ritual with the company's recipient Eric Sciotto. 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 fourteenth floor Council lobby.
Photo Credit: Walter McBride/Retna Ltd.
Stephanie J. Block & Merwin Foard (recipient for 'Annie')
Chita Rivera
Spencer Plachy (making his Broadway debut!)
Spencer Plachy (making his Broadway Debut!)
Spencer Plachy (Making his Broadway Debut!)
Will Chase & Stephanie J. Block
Eric Sciotto & Chita Rivera
Eric Sciotto & Chita Rivera & Company
Kyle Coffman
Merwin Foard (recipient for 'Annie')
Stephanie J. Block
Rupert Holmes
Will Chase & Stephanie J. Block
Will Chase, Peter Benson, Stephanie J. Block
Chita Rivera, Will Chase, Peter Benson, Stephanie J. Block, Justin Greer & Rupert Holmes
David Westphal, Eric Sciotto & Merwin Foard (recipient for 'Annie')
David Westphal, Eric Sciotto & Merwin Foard (recipient for 'Annie')
Eric Sciotto & Merwin Foard (recipient for 'Annie')
David Westphal, Jessie Mueller, Betsy Wolf & Chita Rivera with Company & guests
Eric Sciotto & Warren Carlyle with Company
Will Chase, Peter Benson, Stephanie J. Block & Eric Sciotto
Jessie Mueller, Betsy Wolfe, Chita Rivera, Will Chase, Peter Benson, Stephanie J. Block, Rupert Holmes & Eric Sciotto
Jessie Mueller, Betsy Wolfe, Chita Rivera, Will Chase, Peter Benson
Jessie Mueller, Betsy Wolfe, Chita Rivera, Will Chase, Peter Benson, Stephanie J. Block, Rupert Holmes & Eric Sciotto
Eric Sciotto & Company
Eric Sciotto & David Eggers
Andy Karl & Eric Sciotto
Andy Karl & Eric Sciotto
Eric Sciotto & Jim Walton
Gregg Edelman & Eric Sciotto
Eric Sciotto
Eric Sciotto
David Eggers, Eric Sciotto & Kirsten Wyatt
Warren Carlyle & Eric Sciotto
Jessie Mueller, Betsy Wolfe, Chita Rivera, Stephanie J. Block, Eric Sciotto & Will Chase
Jessie Mueller, Betsy Wolfe, Chita Rivera, Stephanie J. Block, Eric Sciotto & Will Chase
Chita Rivera & Eric Sciotto
Eric Sciotto & Company
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