Exclusive Photo Coverage: Go Inside the ANASTASIA Gypsy Robe Ceremony

What started as a 1997 animated movie with music by composers Stephen Flaherty and Lynn Ahrens is now a full-blown Broadway musical that's been twenty years in the making. Earlier this week, Anastasia opened at the Broadhurst Theatre and BroadwayWorld was on hand for the sacred Gypsy Robe ceremony. Check out photos with recipient Shina Ann Morris below!

Shina Ann Morris' Broadway credits include: Holiday Inn, Cinderella, Annie (Star to Be), Nice Work If You Can Get It, Anything Goes (u/s Erma), West Side Story (Consuela). Tour: Chicago. New York: Encores! The Most Happy Fella, Bells Are Ringing. BFA, University of Michigan. Thanks to God, Mom, Sasha, Dad, family, WB, MM, teachers, Telsey team, Darko, Peggy, Adam, and my heart, Mark.

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 the 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.

Photo Credit: Walter McBride

Terrence McNally and Tom Kirdahy
Ramin Karimloo
Christy Altomare, Ramin Karimloo
Caroline O'Connor and John Bolton
Christy Altomare and Derek Klena
Christy Altomare, Ramin Karimloo and Derek Klena
Cast members making their Broadway debuts
Katie Webber (Charlie and the Chocolate Factory)
Terrence McNally and Tom Kirdahy
Jennifer Smith
Stephen Flaherty, Jennifer Smith, Terrence McNally and Tom Kirdahy
Christy Altomare
Derek Klena
Constantine Germanacos
Katie Webber (Charlie and the Chocolate Factory)
Shina Ann Morris
Shina Ann Morris
Terrence McNally and Tom Kirdahy
Stephen Flaherty
Katie Webber, David Westphal and Shina Ann Morris
Katie Webber and Shina Ann Morris
Shina Ann Morris
Ramin Karimloo, Katie Webber and Shina Ann Morris
Katie Webber and Shina Ann Morris
Shina Ann Morris
Shina Ann Morris
Shina Ann Morris
Katie Webber and Jennifer Smith
Jennifer Smith and Shina Ann Morris
Christy Altomare, Shina Ann Morris and Derek Klena
Mary Beth Peil and Shina Ann Morris
John Bolton and Shina Ann Morris
Christy Altomare, Ramin Karimloo, Shina Ann Morris and Derek Klena
Shina Ann Morris and cast
Shina Ann Morris
Shina Ann Morris
Shina Ann Morris