Exclusive Photo Coverage: Inside the IF/THEN Gypsy Robe Ceremony!

By: Apr. 02, 2014
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The company of If/Then just celebrated their opening with the 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 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 14th floor Council lobby.

Photo Credit: Walter McBride

If/Then
Idina Menzel, LaChanze and Jenn Colella

If/Then
Idina Menzel and LaChanze

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Idina Menzel and LaChanze

If/Then
Idina Menzel and Jenn Colella

If/Then
Curtis Holbrook

If/Then
Curtis Holbrook

If/Then
AEA's David Westphal, Curtis Holbrook and Manuel Herrera

If/Then
AEA's David Westphal, Curtis Holbrook and Manuel Herrera

If/Then
Curtis Holbrook and Manuel Herrera

If/Then
Curtis Holbrook

If/Then
Curtis Holbrook

If/Then
Idina Menzel and company

If/Then
Anthony Rapp and Jenn Colella

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Curtis Holbrook with Anthony Rapp, Jenn Colella and company

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Curtis Holbrook with Anthony Rapp, Jenn Colella and company

If/Then
Curtis Holbrook with Idina Menzel, Anthony Rapp, Jenn Colella and company

If/Then
Curtis Holbrook with Idina Menzel, Anthony Rapp, Jenn Colella and company

If/Then
Curtis Holbrook with Idina Menzel, Anthony Rapp, Jenn Colella and company

If/Then
Idina Menzel

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Anthony Rapp and Jenn Colella

If/Then
Curtis Holbrook

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Curtis Holbrook

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Curtis Holbrook

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Idina Menzel, Curtis Holbrook and James Snyder

If/Then
Idina Menzel, Curtis Holbrook and James Snyder

If/Then
Idina Menzel, Curtis Holbrook and James Snyder

If/Then
Curtis Holbrook and Jenn Colella

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Curtis Holbrook and Jenn Colella

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LaChanze and Curtis Holbrook

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LaChanze and Curtis Holbrook

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Curtis Holbrook and Tom Kitt

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Jerry Dixon, Curtis Holbrook and Tom Kitt

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Michael Greif and Curtis Holbrook

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Idina Menzel and Curtis Holbrook

If/Then
Curtis Holbrook

If/Then
Curtis Holbrook

If/Then
Curtis Holbrook

If/Then
Curtis Holbrook



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