Exclusive Photo Coverage: Inside ELF's Gypsy Robe Ceremony
By: Walter McBride Nov. 19, 2012
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The company of Elf just celebrated their opening with the Gypsy Robe ritual with the company's recipient Timothy J. Alex. BroadwayWorld was on hand for the event and brings you full 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 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.
Photo Credit: Walter McBride/Retna Ltd.
Theatre Marquee
Theatre Marquee
Carlos L. Encinias recipient for Scandalous
Carlos L. Encinias recipient for Scandalous
Carlos L. Encinias recipient for Scandalous
Carlos L. Encinias recipient for Scandalous
Beth Leavel & David Westphal
Making their Broadway Debuts: Mitchell Sink, Jason Eric Testa & Rory Donovan
Mark Jacoby, Beth Leavel & Mitchell Sink
Michael Mandell, Beth Leavel, Mitchell Sink & Mark Jacoby
Timothy J. Alex, Eric Lajuan Summers & Ariel Reid
Timothy J. Alex, Eric Lajuan Summers & Ariel Reid
Timothy J. Alex & Eric Lajuan Summers & Ariel Reid
David Westphal, Carlos L. Encinias & Timothy J. Alex
Carlos L. Encinias & Timothy J. Alex
David Westphal, Carlos L. Encinias & Timothy J. Alex
Timothy J. Alex with Michael Mandell, Beth Leavel, Mitchell Sink, Mark Jacoby, Jason Eric Testa & Rory Donovan
Timothy J. Alex with Michael Mandell, Beth Leavel, Mitchell Sink, Mark Jacoby, Jason Eric Testa & Rory Donovan
Timothy J. Alex with Wayne Knight & Company
Timothy J. Alex with Leslie Kritzer, Carlos L. Encinias, David Westphal, Eric Lajuan Summers, Ariel Reid & Company
Timothy J. Alex with Michael Mandell, Beth Leavel, Mitchell Sink, Mark Jacoby, Jason Eric Testa
Timothy J. Alex with Wayne Knight & Company
Timothy J. Alex with Leslie Kritzer, Carlos L. Encinias, David Westphal, Eric Lajuan Summers, Ariel Reid & Company on 11/18/2012
Timothy J. Alex with Jordan Gelber, Michael Mandell, Beth Leavel, Wayne Knight
Timothy J. Alex with Beth Leavel
Timothy J. Alex with Jordan Gelber, Michael Mandell, Beth Leavel, Wayne Knight, Mark Jacoby & Leslie Kritzer
Timothy J. Alex with Mitchell Sink, Jordan Gelber, Michael Mandell, Beth Leavel, Wayne Knight, Mark Jacoby & Leslie Kritzer
Timothy J. Alex with Beth Leavel
Timothy J. Alex with Beth Leavel, Wayne Knight, Mark Jacoby & Leslie Kritzer
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