Photo Coverage: Inside the Gypsy Robe Ceremony for A NIGHT WITH JANIS JOPLIN
By: Walter McBride Oct. 13, 2013
The company of A NIGHT WITH Janis Joplin, lead by Mary Bridget Davies, just celebrated their Oct. 10 opening night with the famed Gypsy Robe ritual. 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 ofEquity'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 toBroadwayveteran Adrian Bailey, can be viewed on the fourteenth floor Council lobby.
Photo Credit: Walter McBride
Angie Schworer ('Big Fish')
Angie Schworer ('Big Fish')
Angie Schworer (Big Fish)
Angie Schworer ('Big Fish')
Mary Bridget Davies and Director Randy Johnson
Mary Bridget Davies and Director Randy Johnson
Mary Bridget Davies and Director Randy Johnson
Angie Schworer ('Big Fish')
Mary Bridget Davies and Director Randy Johnson with Taprena Michelle Augustine
Taprena Michelle Augustine with Mary Bridget Davies and Randy Johnson
Taprena Michelle Augustine with Mary Bridget Davies and Randy Johnson
Taprena Michelle Augustine and Mary Bridget Davies
Choreographer Patricia Wilcox and Taprena Michelle Augustine
Choreographer Patricia Wilcox, Director Randy Johnson and Taprena Michelle Augustine
Mary Bridget Davies, Alison Cusano and Kacee Clanton
Mary Bridget Davies, Nikki Kimbrough, Alison Cusano and Kacee Clanton
Mary Bridget Davies, Nikki Kimbrough, Alison Cusano and Kacee Clanton
Mary Bridget Davies and Randy Johnson
Angie Schworer ('Big Fish') and Taprena Michelle Augustine
Taprena Michelle Augustine and Mary Bridget Davies
Emmy Raver- Lampman, Kacee Clanton, Alison Cusano, de'Adre Aziza, Allison Blackwell, Randy Johnson, Nikki Kimbrough, Taprena Michelle Augustine , Mary Bridget Davies and NaTasha Yvette Williams
Emmy Raver- Lampman, Kacee Clanton, Alison Cusano, de'Adre Aziza, Allison Blackwell, Randy Johnson, Nikki Kimbrough, Taprena Michelle Augustine , Mary Bridget Davies and NaTasha Yvette Williams
Emmy Raver- Lampman, Kacee Clanton, Alison Cusano, de'Adre Aziza, Allison Blackwell, Randy Johnson, Nikki Kimbrough, Taprena Michelle Augustine , Mary Bridget Davies, NaTasha Yvette Williams and Ross Seligman
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