Photo Coverage: Inside the NEWSIES Gypsy Robe Ceremony!

By: Apr. 02, 2012
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A long-standing opening night tradition on the Great White Way, the fabled Gypsy Robe is bestowed upon a veteran Broadway chorus member for each opening production. In what has now become a theatrical ritual, originating on Broadway 60 years ago, the latest receipient was NEWSIES cast member Aaron J. Albano at the Nederlander Theatre in New York City.

At the song and dance ceremony, cast members who were making their Broadway debuts were acknowledged at the center of the stage, and then Kobak proceeded to circle the room in the robe in celebration with the entire cast.

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.

Tickets are available for purchase through NewsiesTheMusical.com, by calling Ticketmaster's Disney on Broadway hotline at 866-870-2717 , or in person at the Nederlander Theatre box office (208 W. 41st Street). The Nederlander Theatre box office will be open Monday through Saturday 10:00am - 8:00pm through March 11th. Beginning March 12th box office hours will be Monday through Saturday 10:00am - 8:00pm and Sunday 11:00am - 7:00pm.

Photo Credit: Walter McBride

Photo Coverage: Inside the NEWSIES Gypsy Robe Ceremony!

Photo Coverage: Inside the NEWSIES Gypsy Robe Ceremony!
Jeremy Jordan

Photo Coverage: Inside the NEWSIES Gypsy Robe Ceremony!
Kara Lindsay & Jeremy Jordan

Photo Coverage: Inside the NEWSIES Gypsy Robe Ceremony!
Ben Fankhauser & Kara Lindsay

Photo Coverage: Inside the NEWSIES Gypsy Robe Ceremony!
Alan Menken

Photo Coverage: Inside the NEWSIES Gypsy Robe Ceremony!
Jeremy Jordan & Alan Menken

Photo Coverage: Inside the NEWSIES Gypsy Robe Ceremony!
Jeremy Jordan & Andrew Keenan-Bolger

Photo Coverage: Inside the NEWSIES Gypsy Robe Ceremony!
Matthew J. Scjechter & Harvey Fierstein

Photo Coverage: Inside the NEWSIES Gypsy Robe Ceremony!
Recipient Mark Cassius from Jesus Christ Superstar

Photo Coverage: Inside the NEWSIES Gypsy Robe Ceremony!
Recipient Mark Cassius from 'esus Christ Superstar

Photo Coverage: Inside the NEWSIES Gypsy Robe Ceremony!
Cast Maembers making their Broadway debuts

Photo Coverage: Inside the NEWSIES Gypsy Robe Ceremony!
Aaron J. Albano with Tommy Bracco, Ben Fankhauser, Alex Wong, Kyle Coffman, Andy Richardson, Kara Lindsay, Jeremy Jordan & Company

Photo Coverage: Inside the NEWSIES Gypsy Robe Ceremony!
Aaron J. Albano with Tommy Bracco, Ben Fankhauser, Alex Wong, Kyle Coffman, Andy Richardson, Kara Lindsay, Jeremy Jordan & Company

Photo Coverage: Inside the NEWSIES Gypsy Robe Ceremony!
Aaron J. Albano with Tommy Bracco, Ben Fankhauser, Alex Wong, Kyle Coffman, Andy Richardson, Kara Lindsay, Jeremy Jordan & Company

Photo Coverage: Inside the NEWSIES Gypsy Robe Ceremony!
Aaron J. Albano with Ryan Steele, Tommy Bracco, Ben Fankhauser, Alex Wong, Kyle Coffman, Andy Richardson, Kara Lindsay, Jeremy Jordan & Company

Photo Coverage: Inside the NEWSIES Gypsy Robe Ceremony!
Aaron J. Albano with Tommy Bracco, Ben Fankhauser, Alex Wong, Kyle Coffman, Andy Richardson, Kara Lindsay, Jeremy Jordan & Company

Photo Coverage: Inside the NEWSIES Gypsy Robe Ceremony!
Aaron J. Albano with Andy Richardson, Kara Lindsay, Jeremy Jordan & Capathia Jenkins

Photo Coverage: Inside the NEWSIES Gypsy Robe Ceremony!
Aaron J. Albano & Recipient Mark Cassius from Jesus Christ Superstar

Photo Coverage: Inside the NEWSIES Gypsy Robe Ceremony!
Aaron J. Albano

Photo Coverage: Inside the NEWSIES Gypsy Robe Ceremony!
Harvey Fierstein

Photo Coverage: Inside the NEWSIES Gypsy Robe Ceremony!
Harvey Fierstein

Photo Coverage: Inside the NEWSIES Gypsy Robe Ceremony!
Aaron J. Albano with Andy Richardson, Kara Lindsay, Jeremy Jordan & Company

Photo Coverage: Inside the NEWSIES Gypsy Robe Ceremony!
Aaron J. Albano with Ben Fankhauser, Tommy Bracco, Alex Wong, Andy Richardson, Kara Lindsay, Jeremy Jordan, Capathia Jenkins & Company

Photo Coverage: Inside the NEWSIES Gypsy Robe Ceremony!
Aaron J. Albano with Andy Richardson, Kara Lindsay, Jeremy Jordan & Company

Photo Coverage: Inside the NEWSIES Gypsy Robe Ceremony!
Andy Richardson, Kara Lindsay, Jeremy Jordan & Company

Photo Coverage: Inside the NEWSIES Gypsy Robe Ceremony!
Aaron J. Albano with Harvey Fierstein & Company

Photo Coverage: Inside the NEWSIES Gypsy Robe Ceremony!
Aaron J. Albano with Andrew Keenan-Bolger & Harvey Fierstein

Photo Coverage: Inside the NEWSIES Gypsy Robe Ceremony!
Aaron J. Albano with Company

Photo Coverage: Inside the NEWSIES Gypsy Robe Ceremony!
Aaron J. Albano with Company

Photo Coverage: Inside the NEWSIES Gypsy Robe Ceremony!
Lewis Grosso, Andrew Keenan-Bolger & Matthew J. Schechter & Harvey Fierstein

Photo Coverage: Inside the NEWSIES Gypsy Robe Ceremony!
Aaron J. Albano, Lara Lindsay, Jeremy Jordan & Company

Photo Coverage: Inside the NEWSIES Gypsy Robe Ceremony!
Aaron J. Albano with Tommy Bracco & Company

Photo Coverage: Inside the NEWSIES Gypsy Robe Ceremony!
Aaron J. Albano with Andy Richardson, Kara Lindsay, Jeremy Jordan & Company

Photo Coverage: Inside the NEWSIES Gypsy Robe Ceremony!
ichardson, Kara Lindsay, Jeremy Jordan & Company

Photo Coverage: Inside the NEWSIES Gypsy Robe Ceremony!
Aaron J. Albano with Andrew Keenan-Bolger, Harvey Fierstein & Company

Photo Coverage: Inside the NEWSIES Gypsy Robe Ceremony!
Aaron J. Albano & Company

Photo Coverage: Inside the NEWSIES Gypsy Robe Ceremony!
Aaron J. Albano & Company

Photo Coverage: Inside the NEWSIES Gypsy Robe Ceremony!
Aaron J. Albano & Company

Photo Coverage: Inside the NEWSIES Gypsy Robe Ceremony!
Aaron J. Albano, Harvey Fierstein & Nick Wyman

Photo Coverage: Inside the NEWSIES Gypsy Robe Ceremony!
Aaron J. Albano, Harvey Fierstein & Nick Wyman

Photo Coverage: Inside the NEWSIES Gypsy Robe Ceremony!
Aaron J. Albano & Harvey Fierstein

Photo Coverage: Inside the NEWSIES Gypsy Robe Ceremony!
Aaron J. Albano, Actors Equity Executive Director Mary McColl & Nick Wyman

Photo Coverage: Inside the NEWSIES Gypsy Robe Ceremony!
Kara Lindsay, Aaron J. Albano

Photo Coverage: Inside the NEWSIES Gypsy Robe Ceremony!
Kara Lindsay, Aaron J. Albano

Photo Coverage: Inside the NEWSIES Gypsy Robe Ceremony!
Kara Lindsay & Jeremy Jordan

Photo Coverage: Inside the NEWSIES Gypsy Robe Ceremony!
Kara Lindsay, Aaron J. Albano & Jeremy Jordan

Photo Coverage: Inside the NEWSIES Gypsy Robe Ceremony!
Ben Fankhauser, Kara Lindsay, Aaron J. Albano, Jeremy Jordan, Lewis Grosso, Andrew Keenan-Bolger & Matthew J. Schechter

Photo Coverage: Inside the NEWSIES Gypsy Robe Ceremony!
Ben Fankhauser, Kara Lindsay, Aaron J. Albano, Jeremy Jordan, Lewis Grosso, Andrew Keenan-Bolger & Matthew J. Schechter

Photo Coverage: Inside the NEWSIES Gypsy Robe Ceremony!
Ben Fankhauser, Kara Lindsay, Aaron J. Albano, Jeremy Jordan, Lewis Grosso, Andrew Keenan-Bolger & Matthew J. Schechter

Photo Coverage: Inside the NEWSIES Gypsy Robe Ceremony!
Ben Fankhauser, Kara Lindsay, Aaron J. Albano, Jeremy Jordan, Lewis Grosso, Andrew Keenan-Bolger & Matthew J. Schechter

Photo Coverage: Inside the NEWSIES Gypsy Robe Ceremony!



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