BROADWAY GYPSY ROBE
On the opening night of every Broadway musical since 1950, a "Gypsy Robe" is presented to the company by a representative of the last show that opened previously.
Singers and dancers - chorus members - are known as "Gypsies" because they move from show-to-show. The robe is "given" to the chorus member with the most Broadway credits.
Before the audience arrives, cast members gather on stage in a circle, where the robe is "delivered" to the company by the last recipient.
The new recipient runs around the stage three times so cast members can touch the robe.
Each show adds decoration to the robe until it is completely covered. Then it's retired and a new robe is built. Retired robes live at the Smithsonian in Washington D.C., The Museum of the Performing Arts at Lincoln Center, and at The Museum of the City of New York.
These photos were taken at the opening of Soul Doctor in August, 2013.