EXCLUSIVE Photo Coverage: Inside ANNIE's Gypsy Robe Ceremony

By: Nov. 09, 2012
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Last night, November 8, the company of Annie celebrated their opening night with the Gypsy Robe ritual with the company's recipient- Merwin Foard.  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


Lisa Gajda (recipient for 'Chaplin')


Katie Finneran & Anthony Warlow


Lilla Crawford


Liz McCartney & Katie Finneran


Lilla Crawford & Sunny


Lilla Crawford & Sunny


Lilla Crawford & Sunny


Lilla Crawford & Sunny


Lilla Crawford & Sunny


Katie Finneran, Anthony Warlow & Nick Wyman


Cast members making their Broadway debuts


Cast members making their Broadway debuts


Lisa Gajda (recipient for 'Chaplin')


Lisa Gajda (recipient for 'Chaplin')


Merwin Foard & Family


Merwin Foard & Company


Lisa Gajda (recipient for 'Chaplin') with David Westphal & Merwin Foard


Lisa Gajda (recipient for 'Chaplin') with David Westphal & Merwin Foard


Katie Finneran & David Westphal with Merwin Foard


David Westphal with Merwin Foard


Merwin Foard


Merwin Foard


Anthony Warlow with Merwin Foard & Company


Amanda Lea La Vergne, Anthony Warlow, Andy Blankenbuehler, Clarke Thorell, Katie Finneran, J. Elaine Marcos & Company


Clarke Thorell, Katie Finneran, J. Elaine Marcos with Merwin Foard & Company


Junah Jang, Anthony Warlow, Amanda Lea La Vergne, Andy Blankenbuehler & Company


Liz McCartney with Merwin Foard & Company


Bill Berloni & Sunny with Company


Clarke Thorell, Katie Finneran, J. Elaine Marcos with Merwin Foard & Company


Bill Berloni, Lilla Crawford & Sunny with Merwin Foard & Company


Merwin Foard


Katie Finneran, Merwin Foard, Anthony Warlow


Merwin Foard & Clarke Thorell


Merwin Foard & Clarke Thorell


Merwin Foard & Clarke Thorell


Merwin Foard & Brynn O'Malley


Merwin Foard & Brynn O'Malley


Merwin Foard & Nick Wyman


Merwin Foard & Nick Wyman


Katie Finneran, Merwin Foard, Anthony Warlow


Katie Finneran, Merwin Foard, Anthony Warlow & Lilla Crawford


Katie Finneran, Merwin Foard, Anthony Warlow & Lilla Crawford


Merwin Foard



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