Get to Know the Robe Recipients April 2017

“The Gypsy Robe to me symbolizes longevity and versatility. As ensemble members you are called on to do so many things and to be lucky enough to win the robe means you've lasted, and you are a versatile performer.

I felt tremendously humbled to have the robe placed on my shoulders. I've been in the business over 15 years and have been lucky enough to witness six robe ceremonies. There is A LOT of wonderful history wrapped up in that robe, and you feel like you become a small part of that when you wear it.”

“The Gypsy Robe, to me, symbolizes a community celebrating all the hard work gypsies do. They are extraordinary people, morphing into all types of characters, doing it all, singing, dancing, acting, bringing shows to life. ‘What [we] did for love.’

Being presented with the robe is so special, especially when you look up to previous recipients so much. To have it be presented to me is sort of unbelievable. I feel like Diana in A Chorus Line, thinking ‘I'll never be that old’ ...I'll never be in that many shows to receive the robe. I feel so honored, and feel so much love!”

“The Gypsy Robe is magical! It symbolizes the commitment ensemble members have made to be the backbone of Broadway. To be included in something so deeply rooted in tradition and legacy is the highest honor. And, although it is awarded to one person per show, it represents all of us.”

“Hello, Dolly! has been such a special show from top to bottom, so receiving the Gypsy Robe for this production feels like the sparkliest cherry on top of an already perfect Broadway sundae. The Gypsy Robe ceremony is truly my favorite of Broadway traditions. It was a particularly special ceremony because our company has five Gypsy Robe recipients within our cast. It is an honor that will never be lost on me to be among the legacy of performers who don the robe and make those three counter-clockwise circles around the stage. How lucky am I to represent both Holiday Inn and Hello, Dolly! on this season's robe.”

“The Gypsy Robe ceremony is when the ensemble takes center stage for a few moments. The members of the ensemble are rarely mentioned in reviews and aren't the first people interviewers seek out, but they are a huge part of what makes a big Broadway musical a big Broadway musical. They work really hard, and many have been doing it for a long time. It was such a thrill to hear my name called. I didn't actually know who it was going to be, and I remember thinking that no matter what we had been through during previews (set troubles, an injury), I just wanted everyone to feel the excitement of opening a Broadway show. There is nothing else like it.”

"The Gypsy Robe tradition symbolizes two very important ideas for me: the first is that it celebrates the importance and the hard work of the ensemble. Very often the ensemble is not recognized for the day-to-day amazing dancing, singing and acting that they do, without which a show would in no way be complete. The second is that it is a way to appreciate that a particular actor/ensemble player has continued to work and make a living in the business! That is no small feat. So thank you for that recognition. I felt very honored and humbled to be among the extraordinary list of men and women who have gone before me. Many I know, and many, of course, I don't, but we are all part of an incredible family of devoted, hard-working creatives!"

It connects me back through a lineage of Equity Chorus Members stretching back over a half a century. That’s humbling.