Photo Coverage: The First Night Robe Continues Its Journey Through Nashville Theater

On September 2, 2012-during the presentation of The First Night Honors-a new Nashville and Tennessee theater tradition was unveiled with the presentation of the First Night Robe. Fashioned after and inspired by the legendary Broadway Gypsy Robe, the First Night counterpart is presented to someone who is Making Their first appearance on a Nashville-area stage.

The robe, designed and built by Laura Spencer Higgins and Cat Arnold, is royal blue lined with pale silver and accented with gold brocade trim. It represents the history of theater in the Volunteer State and the continuing sense of community and tradition that reverberates throughout Tennessee every time an actor steps upon the stage.

Broadway veteran Bailey Hanks (Legally Blonde), who made her Nashville stage debut at The First Night Honors, was the first recipient (subsequently, she was presented with the robe again on opening night of 9 to 5: The Musical at the Roxy Regional Theatre in Clarksville), followed by Taylor Tracey, who made her Nashville debut playing Elle Woods in Legally Blonde at the Larry Keeton Theatre.

Justin Boccitto, who plays Ken in Blackbird Theatre's production of Red, was the next recipient, receiving the robe on opening night of the show at Lipscomb University's Shamblin Theatre. Paul J. Cook, playing Leo Frank at Boiler Room Theatre, accepted the robe on the second night of Parade, while Enoch Porch and Kevin J. Thornton, creators of Into the Darkness: A Vampire Musical, shared the First Night Robe on their very own First Night at Chaffin's Backstage at the Barn.

photos by Johnny Benton/Studio Benton Photography; Rick Malkin; Faith Kelm; Anthony Just; and Amanda Lamb

Hugh Britt, Cary Street, Bailey Hanks and Angela Gimlin

Jeffrey Ellis, Enoch Porch and Kevin J. Thornton

Justin Boccitto autographs The First Night Robe

Ronnie Meek, Jeffrey Ellis and Jusin Boccitto

Paul Cook reads the autographs on the First Night Robe

Sondra Morton, Paul Cook and Jeffrey Ellis

Kate Adams, Jeffrey Ellis and Taylor Tracey

Jeffrey Ellis, Paul Cook and Sondra Morton

Jeffrey Ellis and Bailey Hanks

Cary Street, Bailey Hanks and Angela Gimlin

Hugh Britt, Cary Street, Bailey Hanks, Angela Gimlin and Jennifer Richmond

Hugh Britt, Bailey Hanks, Jennifer Richmond and Angela Gimlin

Bailey Hanks