Photo Coverage: A Look Back at the Legacy Robe Ceremonies of 2019

As we reflect on 2019, we're taking a look back on the people who received the Legacy Robe this year! From Beetlejuice to Moulin Rouge, Tina to Ain't Too Proud, and many more, relive the magic of the Broadway Legacy Robe with photos from the 2019 ceremonies below!

Following the tradition, the Robe recipient circles the stage three times while cast members reach out and touch the Robe for good luck. The recipient of the Robe then visits each dressing room to "bless" the show. A decorative panel representing their show is then sewn onto the Robe, which is passed on to a recipient in the next chorus musical that opens.

This ritual began in 1950 when Bill Bradley, a Chorus member of Gentlemen Prefer Blondes, persuaded fellow Chorus member Florence Baum to give him her dressing gown. As a lark, he sent it to a friend, Arthur Partington, a Call Me Madam Chorus member, on opening night, telling him it had been worn by all the Ziegfeld beauties. Arthur added a rose from star Ethel Merman's gown and sent it to a chorus member on the next opening night of Guys and Dolls.

It was then passed from show to show and was often presented to a friend of the previous recipient or awarded to a chorus member based on popularity. Through the decades, the passing of the Robe became a specific ceremony with official rules stating how it is to be presented, worn and paraded on stage. Three retired Robes are at the Lincoln Center Library of the Performing Arts; there are also Robes at the Smithsonian Institute in Washington, DC, and at the Museum of the City of New York. All others are with Actors' Equity.

Photo Credit: Walter McBride

Jenifer Foote during the Broadway Opening Night Actors' Equity Legacy Robe Ceremony honoring Jenifer Foote for "Tootsie" at The Marquis Theatre on April 22, 2019 in New York City.

Katerina Papacostas and Jenifer Foote during the Broadway Opening Night Actors' Equity Legacy Robe Ceremony honoring Jenifer Foote for "Tootsie" at The Marquis Theatre on April 22, 2019 in New York City.

Jenifer Foote, Santinio Fontana, Reg Rogers, Michael McGrath, Sarah Stiles, Lilli Cooper, John Behlmann, Andy Grotelueschen and Julie Halston with cast during the Broadway Opening Night Actors' Equity Legacy Robe Ceremony honoring Jenifer Foote for "Tootsie" at The Marquis Theatre on April 22, 2019 in New York City.

Santinio Fontana, Reg Rogers, Michael McGrath, Sarah Stiles, Lilli Cooper, John Behlmann, Andy Grotelueschen and Julie Halston with cast during the Broadway Opening Night Actors' Equity Legacy Robe Ceremony honoring Jenifer Foote for "Tootsie" at The Marquis Theatre on April 22, 2019 in New York City.

Katie Webber during the "Tina - The Tina Turner Musical" Legacy Robe honoring Katie Webber at the Lunt-Fontanne Theatre on November 7, 2019 in New York City.

Daniel J. Watts, Katie Webber and Adrienne Warren during the "Tina - The Tina Turner Musical" Legacy Robe honoring Katie Webber at the Lunt-Fontanne Theatre on November 7, 2019 in New York City.

Katie Webber, Adrienne Warren and Daniel J. Watts with cast during the "Tina - The Tina Turner Musical" Legacy Robe honoring Katie Webber at the Lunt-Fontanne Theatre on November 7, 2019 in New York City.

T. Oliver Reid during the Actors' Equity Legacy Robe Ceremony honoring T. Oliver Reid for "Hadestown" at the Walter Kerr Theatre on April 17, 2019 in New York City.

Bahiyah Hibah during the Broadway Opening Night Legacy Robe Ceremony honoring Bahiyah Hibah for "Moulin Rouge! The Musical" at the Al Hirschfeld Theatre on July 25,2019 in New York City.

Bahiyah Hibah, Aaron Tveit, Karen Olivo, Danny Burstein, Sahr Nguajah, Tam Mutu, Ricky Rojas and Robyn Hurder with cast during the Broadway Opening Night Legacy Robe Ceremony honoring Bahiyah Hibah for "Moulin Rouge! The Musical" at the Al Hirschfeld Theatre on July 25,2019 in New York City.

Bahiyah Hibah, Aaron Tveit, Karen Olivo, Danny Burstein, Sahr Nguajah, Tam Mutu, Ricky Rojas and Robyn Hurder with cast during the Broadway Opening Night Legacy Robe Ceremony honoring Bahiyah Hibah for "Moulin Rouge! The Musical" at the Al Hirschfeld Theatre on July 25,2019 in New York City.

Bahiyah Hibah, Aaron Tveit, Karen Olivo, Danny Burstein, Sahr Nguajah, Tam Mutu, Ricky Rojas and Robyn Hurder with cast during the Broadway Opening Night Legacy Robe Ceremony honoring Bahiyah Hibah for "Moulin Rouge! The Musical" at the Al Hirschfeld Theatre on July 25,2019 in New York City.

Erica Mansfield during the Broadway Opening Night Legacy Robe Ceremony honoring Erica Mansfield for "Kiss Me, Kate" at Studio 54 on March 14, 2019 in New York City.

Erica Mansfield during the Broadway Opening Night Legacy Robe Ceremony honoring Erica Mansfield for "Kiss Me, Kate" at Studio 54 on March 14, 2019 in New York City.

Erica Mansfield during the Broadway Opening Night Legacy Robe Ceremony honoring Erica Mansfield for "Kiss Me, Kate" at Studio 54 on March 14, 2019 in New York City.

Erica Mansfield, Will Chase, Kelli Oâa??a??Hara, Corbin Bleu and the cast during the Broadway Opening Night Legacy Robe Ceremony honoring Erica Mansfield for "Kiss Me, Kate" at Studio 54 on March 14, 2019 in New York City.

Jill Abramovitz during the Broadway Opening Night Actors' Equity Legacy Robe Ceremony honoring Jill Abramovitz for "Beetlejuice" at The Wintergarden on April 25, 2019 in New York City.

Jill Abramovitz, Rob McClure, Leslie Kritzer, Sophia Anne Caruso, Adam Dannheisser, Danny Rutigliano, Kelvin Moon Loh and Alex Brightman with cast during the Broadway Opening Night Actors' Equity Legacy Robe Ceremony honoring Jill Abramovitz for "Beetlejuice" at The Wintergarden on April 25, 2019 in New York City.

Jill Abramovitz during the Broadway Opening Night Actors' Equity Legacy Robe Ceremony honoring Jill Abramovitz for "Beetlejuice" at The Wintergarden on April 25, 2019 in New York City.

E. Clayton Cornelious during the Legacy Robe honoring E. Clayton Cornelious for "Ain't Too Proud" at the Imperial Theatre on 3/20/2019 in New York City.

E. Clayton Cornelious during the Legacy Robe honoring E. Clayton Cornelious for "Ain't Too Proud" at the Imperial Theatre on 3/20/2019 in New York City.

Derrick Baskin, Ephraim Sykes, Jeremy Pope, E. Clayton Cornelious, James Harkness and Jawan M. Jackson during the Legacy Robe honoring E. Clayton Cornelious for "Ain't Too Proud" at the Imperial Theatre on 3/20/2019 in New York City.

James Harkness, Derrick Baskin, Jeremy Pope, E. Clayton Cornelious, Jawan M. Jackson and Ephraim Sykes during the Legacy Robe honoring E. Clayton Cornelious for "Ain't Too Proud" at the Imperial Theatre on 3/20/2019 in New York City.