What is this Gypsy Robe in Broadway music world?
The Gypsy Robe is a ritual robe used for the opening of a Broadway Musical. Broadway musical chorus members are referred to as gypsies to signify their continuous travel from job to job in show after show. The chorus member with the most Broadway credits wears the robe and circles the stage three times moving counterclockwise. Other cast members look on and touch the robe for luck. The ritual dates to 1950, when Bill Bradley, a chorus member in Gentlemen Prefer Blondes, sent a dressing gown from one of his fellow performers to a friend performing in Call Me Madam. A feathered rose from Ethel Merman’s costume was attached to the robe and it was then given to a chorus member in Guys and Dolls. The robe continued to be passed from one show to another, each time with a memento added on. The ritual is now more formal, with rules about how it is presented, worn, and displayed. When robes are full of artifacts, a new robe is started. Retired robes are kept at the Lincoln Center library, at th
Broadway Gypsy Robe Tradition What is a Gypsy Robe? It is a theatre tradition that started in October 12, 1950. The Gypsy Robe ceremony is performed on opening night of a new musical. The robe is presented to the gypsy chorus member with the most Broadway credits. The Gypsy Robe brings good luck to a new Broadway musical. To keep the tradition going the rules must be followed. 1. The Gypsy Robe goes only to Broadway musicals with a chorus. 2. The robe goes to a chorus member only, the one with the greatest number of Broadway credits. 3. It is to be delivered one-half hour before the opening night curtain to the member selected. 4. The new recipient must put on the robe and circle the stage three times while each cast member reaches out and touches the robe. Then the new owner of the robe must visit each dressing room while wearing the robe. 5. The new recipient will then add a memento from the show to the robe. 6. The opening night date is written on the robe near the memento and the c
The Gypsy Robe is a ritual robe used for the opening of a Broadway Musical. Broadway musical chorus members are referred to as gypsies to signify their continuous travel from job to job in show after show. The chorus member with the most Broadway credits wears the robe and circles the stage three times moving counterclockwise. Other cast members look on and touch the robe for luck. The ritual dates to 1950, when Bill Bradley, a chorus member in Gentlemen Prefer Blondes, sent a dressing gown from one of his fellow performers to a friend performing in Call Me Madam. A feathered rose from Ethel Merman’s costume was attached to the robe and it was then given to a chorus member in Guys and Dolls. The robe continued to be passed from one show to another, each time with a memento added on. The ritual is now more formal, with rules about how it is presented, worn, and displayed. When robes are full of artifacts, a new robe is started. Retired robes are kept at the Lincoln Center library, at th
Broadway Gypsy Robe Tradition What is a Gypsy Robe? It is a theatre tradition that started in October 12, 1950. The Gypsy Robe ceremony is performed on opening night of a new musical. The robe is presented to the gypsy chorus member with the most Broadway credits. The Gypsy Robe brings good luck to a new Broadway musical. To keep the tradition going the rules must be followed. 1. The Gypsy Robe goes only to Broadway musicals with a chorus. 2. The robe goes to a chorus member only, the one with the greatest number of Broadway credits. 3. It is to be delivered one-half hour before the opening night curtain to the member selected. 4. The new recipient must put on the robe and circle the stage three times while each cast member reaches out and touches the robe. Then the new owner of the robe must visit each dressing room while wearing the robe. 5. The new recipient will then add a memento from the show to the robe. 6. The opening night date is written on the robe near the memento and the c
