Last week on April 20, 2010, Actor's Equity's David Westphal hosted the famed Gypsy Robe Ceremony for company members of AMERICAN IDIOT at the ST. James Theatre. A long-standing opening night tradition on the Great White Way, the fabled Gypsy Robe 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, LA CAGE AUX FOLLES chorus member Dale Hensley turned over the robe to AMERICAN IDIOT cast member Andrew Call. 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 AMERICAN IDIOT 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.
For tickets and more information on AMERICAN IDIOT, visit www.americanidiotonbroadway.com.
Photo Credit: Walter McBride / Retna Ltd.
Billie Joe Armstrong and Michael Mayer
Billie Joe Armstrong and Michael Mayer
Billie Joe Armstrong and Michael Mayer
Billie Joe Armstrong
Billie Joe Armstrong
Ben Thompson
Ben Thompson
Broadway Debuts Ben Thompson, Libby Winters, Omar Lopez-Cepero, Aspen Vincent, Alysha Umphress and Christina Sajous
Andrew Call and Lorin Lattaro
Andrew Call and Lorin Lattaro
Andrew Call and Lorin Lattaro
David Westphal (Actors Equity), Andrew Call and Lorin Lattaro
Andrew Call and Lorin Lattaro
Lorin Lattaro
Dale Hensley (Gypsy Winner - LA CAGE ) and Andrew Call (Gypsy Robe Winner - AMERICAN IDIOT )
Dale Hensley and Andrew Call
Dale Hensley and Andrew Call
Dale Hensley and Andrew Call
Curtis Holbroock, John Gallagher Jr., Steven Hoggett, Billie Joe Armstrong and Michael Mayer
Billie Joe Armstrong
Theo Stockman, Michael Mayer, Tony Vincent and Billie Joe Armstrong
Andrew Call, John Gallagher Jr., Steven Hoggett, Billie Joe Armstrong and Michael Mayer
John Gallagher Jr., Steven Hoggett, Billie Joe Armstrong, Michael Mayer and Theo Stockman
Billie Joe Armstrong and Michael Mayer
Andrew Call
John Gallagher Jr. and Steven Hoggett
Lorin Latarro, Leslie McDonel, Aspen Vincent, Tony Vincent and Brian CharLes Johnson
Rebecca Naomi Jones, Mary Faber and Tom Kitt with AMERICAN IDIOT Company Members
Steven Hoggett, Billie Joe Armstrong, Michael Mayer and Andrew Call
Andrew Call with Aspen Vincent, Tony Vincent, Gerard Canonico, Michael Esper and AMERICAN IDIOT Company
John Gallagher Jr.
Andrew Call, Tony Vincent, Brian CharLes Johnson, Gerard Canonico and AMERICAN IDIOT Company
Theo Stockman, Libby Winters, Stark Sands, Ben Thompson, Andrew Call and AMERICAN IDIOT Company
Andrew Call, Theo Stockman, Libby Winters, Stark Sands and Ben Thompson
Libby Winters, Stark Sands, Joshua Henry and Miguel Cervantes
Andrew Call and AMERICAN IDIOT Company
Andrew Call and Lorin Lattaro
Andrew Call and Tony Vincent
Billie Joe Armstrong and Andrew Call
Andrew Call, Billie Joe Armstrong and Michael Mayer
Andrew Call, Billie Joe Armstrong and Michael Mayer
Andrew Call, Billie Joe Armstrong and Michael Mayer
Andrew Call and Tony Vincent
Tony Vincent and Billie Joe Armstrong
Tony Vincent and Billie Joe Armstrong
Tony Vincent and Billie Joe Armstrong
Andrew Call and Tony Vincent
Andrew Call and Stark Sands
Andrew Call and Stark Sands
Andrew Call
Stark Sands and Billie Joe Armstrong
Stark Sands and Billie Joe Armstrong
Stark Sands and Billie Joe Armstrong
Stark Sands and Billie Joe Armstrong
Stark Sands and Billie Joe Armstrong
Stark Sands and Billie Joe Armstrong
John Gallagher Jr., Steven Hoggart, Andrew Call, Billie Joe Armstrong and Michael Mayer
Lorin Latarro and Billie Joe Armstrong
