Exclusive Photo Coverage: Inside the ROCKY Gypsy Robe Ceremony!
By: Walter McBride Mar. 17, 2014
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The company of Rocky just celebrated their February 13 opening night on Broadway with the famed Gypsy Robe ritual. BroadwayWorld was on hand for the event and brings you exclusive 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 Robe from the 2008-2009 season is on display in the lobby of the New York Visitors Center. The 2007-2008 Robe, dedicated to Broadway veteran Adrian Bailey, can be viewed on the fourteenth floor Council lobby.
Photo Credit: Walter McBride
Jennifer Allen (recipient from The Bridges of Madison County)
Jennifer Allen (recipient from The Bridges of Madison County)
Broadway Debuts: Vincent Corazza, Adrian Aguilar, Vince Oddo, Jenny Lee Stern and Margo Seibert
Broadway Debuts: Vincent Corazza, Adrian Aguilar, Vince Oddo, Jenny Lee Stern amd Margo Seibert
David Westphal, Stacey Todd Holt and Jennifer Allen
David Westphal, Stacey Todd Holt and Jennifer Allen
David Westphal, Stacey Todd Holt and Jennifer Allen
Stacey Todd Holt with John Schiappa, Margo Seibert, Eric Anderson and company
Stacey Todd Holt with Andy Karl and company
Stacey Todd Holt and company
Stacey Todd Holt and company
Stacey Todd Holt with Andy Karl and company
Stacey Todd Holt and company
Stacey Todd Holt with Andy Karl and Company
Stacey Todd Holt, John Schiappa, Margo Seibert, Eric Anderson and company
John Schiappa and Margo Seibert
Stacey Todd Holt, Adrian Bailey, Andy Karl and company
Stacey Todd Holt, Adrian Bailey, Andy Karl and company
Margo Seibert, Stacey Todd Holt and Andy Karl
Margo Seibert, Stacey Todd Holt and Andy Karl
Stacey Todd Holt, Margo Seibert and Andy Karl
John Schiappa, Stacey Todd Holt and Eric Anderson
John Schiappa, Stacey Todd Holt and Eric Anderson
Margo Seibert, Stacey Todd Holt and Andy Karl
Stacey Todd Holt and AEA's Kim Jordan
Stacey Todd Holt and AEA's Kim Jordan
Stacey Todd Holt, Margo Seibert and Andy Karl
Stacey Todd Holt, Margo Seibert and Andy Karl
Stacey Todd Holt, Margo Seibert and Andy Karl
Margo Seibert, Stacey Todd Holt and Andy Karl
Margo Seibert, Stacey Todd Holt and Andy Karl
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