Exclusive Photo Coverage: Inside DISASTER!'s Gypsy Robe Ceremony!
By: Walter McBride Mar. 09, 2016
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Broadway's new musical comedy DISASTER!, directed by Jack Plotnick with a book by three-time Emmy Award nominee and Grammy Award nominee Seth Rudetsky and Jack Plotnick, officially opened last night, March 8, 2016, for a limited engagement through Sunday, July 3, 2016. BroadwayWorld was on hand for the whole evening, starting with the sacred Gypsy Robe ceremony. Below, check out photos of gypsy robe recipient Paul Castree with the company!
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.
Castree's Broadway credits include: 9 to 5, Young Frankenstein, High Fidelity, All Shook Up, Movin' Out, Saturday Night Fever, Footloose, The Scarlet Pimpernel, Grease! National tour: Joseph...Dreamcoat. NYC Opera: The Most Happy Fella. L.A. Ovation, Dora Award winner.
Photo Credit: Walter McBride
Seth Rudetsky and Faith Prince
Seth Rudetsky and Faith Prince
Jeffrey Schecter, from 'Fiddler On The Roof'
Jeffrey Schecter, from 'Fiddler On The Roof'
Jeffrey Schecter, from 'Fiddler On The Roof'
Jeffrey Schecter, from 'Fiddler On The Roof'
Travis Kent, Faith Prince, Kerry Butler, Maggie McDowell and Adam Pascal
Broadway debuts: Baylee Littrell, Maggie McDowell, Olivia Phillip, Travis Kent and Lacretta Nicole d
Faith Prince, Baylee Littrell, Rachel York, Kerry Butler and Maggie McDowell
Manoel Felciano and JoAnn M. Hunter
Paul Castree with the cast cast
Paul Castre with the cast
David Westphal and Paul Castree
Paul Castre with Kerry Butler, Adam Pascal and the cast
Max Crumm, Jennifer Simard, Olivia Phillip, Travis Kent and Seth Rudetsky
Seth Rudetsky with Paul Castree
Maggie McDowell, Casey Garvin, Paul Castree, Travis Kent, Olivia Phillip and Catherine Ricafort during the Broadway Opening Night Actors' Equity Gypsy Robe Ceremony honoring Paul Castree for 'Disaster!' at Nederlander Theatre on March 8, 2016 in New York City.
The cast and creatives
Paul Castre
Paul Castre
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