The [REDACTED] Robe Leaves Broadway

April 20, 2018 8:07 AM

Broadway is full of funny old traditions handed down over the decades, but one is about to be retired. The "Gypsy Robe" is handed down from musical to musical, honoring the members of the chorus. It wasn't named after the Sondheim-Styne-Laurents musical (in fact, it predates that show by nearly a decade), but after the idea that the robe "travels" from show to show, like the itinerant Romani people. Actors Equity, the union that sponsors the Robe, recently admitted that "the words we use have an impact beyond their intent, and we cannot appropriate someone else's identity without their voice attached to it." The tradition will continue, but the Robe will be renamed based on a vote by Equity members.
posted by Etrigan (40 comments total)

Robey McRobeface. Obviously.
posted by Naberius at 8:10 AM on April 20, 2018 [30 favorites]

Barney Robe-all.
posted by Capt. Renault at 8:20 AM on April 20, 2018

The Redacted Robe would be a good name for something, if not that robe itself.
posted by wanderingmind at 8:21 AM on April 20, 2018 [5 favorites]

Waiting for a-Robe
posted by Stonestock Relentless at 8:21 AM on April 20, 2018

The Legacy Robe. And I love that they're doing this.
posted by elsietheeel at 8:24 AM on April 20, 2018 [8 favorites]

Oh, for Pete's sake:

DREAMCOAT. IT'S A DREAMCOAT.

*makes dusting off hands motion*
posted by mandolin conspiracy at 8:24 AM on April 20, 2018 [64 favorites]

Mr. Roboto
posted by bwvol at 8:24 AM on April 20, 2018 [3 favorites]

The Singerhood of the Traveling Robe.
posted by letourneau at 8:25 AM on April 20, 2018 [3 favorites]

Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants was in 2005. Get it together, Broadway. How are you 13 years behind Hollywood on this one?
posted by explosion at 8:25 AM on April 20, 2018

Oh, for Pete's sake:

DREAMCOAT. IT'S A DREAMCOAT.

I just contacted an actor friend to say that since I'd let my own Equity membership lapse, would he please mind voting for this for us.
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 8:29 AM on April 20, 2018 [13 favorites]

If "Traveling Robe" is too generic, append a random suffix like Diablo or WoW loot.

"Traveling Robe of the Flashfire" or "Traveling Robe of the Peerless" should do nicely.
posted by explosion at 8:29 AM on April 20, 2018 [4 favorites]

The Robe Where it Happens
posted by bondcliff at 8:30 AM on April 20, 2018 [15 favorites]

Alain Robe-Grillet

The Dressing Gown of Vecna

The Gown of Thrones

Robesapoppin

Auntie Gownie

(puns are much easier with "gown" than "robe")
posted by zompist at 8:39 AM on April 20, 2018 [2 favorites]

Paul Robe-son.
posted by dr_dank at 8:43 AM on April 20, 2018 [7 favorites]

This is theater. It's obviously the Ward Robe.
posted by fings at 8:43 AM on April 20, 2018 [28 favorites]

There's No Business Like Robe Business
posted by Faint of Butt at 8:47 AM on April 20, 2018 [3 favorites]

The tradition of giving it to the chorus member with the most chorus credits seemed kinda like a back-handed compliment when I first heard about it. "Congratulations, you will never be a lead!" But I've seen a few videos of this ceremony and it always seems really heartfelt and the recipient always seems thrilled. I guess by that point in their career, they know their niche, and if they're performing on Broadway that much, they're doing pretty damn well.
posted by lunasol at 8:47 AM on April 20, 2018 [1 favorite]

Robespierre
posted by bwvol at 8:50 AM on April 20, 2018 [3 favorites]

I was SO excited to vote on the new name, but alas, it is not a freeform field.

Our (stupendously boring) choices are:
The Baum Bradley Robe (to honor the creators of the tradition)
The Legacy Robe
The Chorus Robe
The Robe
The Rose Robe

I could write paragraphs on how my union routinely finds the least inspirational way to do something, but I actually need to get ready for an audition.
posted by minervous at 8:56 AM on April 20, 2018 [22 favorites]

Robey Robington III, Esq
posted by Holy Zarquon's Singing Fish at 9:01 AM on April 20, 2018 [1 favorite]

out of the boring choices I like The Rose Robe the best.
posted by Annika Cicada at 9:11 AM on April 20, 2018

Our (stupendously boring) choices are:
The Baum Bradley Robe (to honor the creators of the tradition)
The Legacy Robe
The Chorus Robe
The Robe
The Rose Robe

Boo. Hiss.

I do, however, applaud them for moving to change the name.
posted by mandolin conspiracy at 9:13 AM on April 20, 2018 [1 favorite]

honestly, if you're stuck with those dull choices, The Robe is probably the best of a boring lot.
posted by halation at 9:14 AM on April 20, 2018 [4 favorites]

There should also be a drinking vessel, passed from show to show, honoring members of the crew. And it should be named the May Cup.
posted by fings at 9:16 AM on April 20, 2018 [1 favorite]

There should also be a drinking vessel, passed from show to show, honoring members of the crew.

HELLO YES THIS
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 9:28 AM on April 20, 2018 [2 favorites]

Céci n'est pas une robe.
posted by Quindar Beep at 9:52 AM on April 20, 2018

The use of the word 'gypsy' is a bit complicated over here in the UK... there are Irish Travellers (and dependents of Irish Travallers born in other other countries) in the UK, who are a different ethic group to Roma, who call themselves Gypsies. You'll often see 'Gypsies, Roma and Travallers' as away to describe all travelling folk (which includes New Age Travellers) in the press, government documents etc.
posted by fearfulsymmetry at 10:13 AM on April 20, 2018 [1 favorite]

Honestly though it kind of feels like giving such uninspiring choices means that people will keep using the old name unofficially since the new one sucks.
posted by nebulawindphone at 10:18 AM on April 20, 2018 [3 favorites]

I'd wager that's intentional. People are really reluctant to relinquish traditions that were hurtful but weren't intended as such. Therefore, they'll make the change publicly, while ensuring the tradition lives on behind closed doors.
posted by explosion at 10:28 AM on April 20, 2018 [1 favorite]

When the Red Red Robe-in Comes Bob-bob-bobbin' Along
posted by Halloween Jack at 10:31 AM on April 20, 2018

The Long and Winding Robe
posted by Chrischris at 11:10 AM on April 20, 2018 [5 favorites]

A robe by any other name.
posted by Pinback at 11:46 AM on April 20, 2018

The Robe goes ever on and on
posted by GenjiandProust at 11:48 AM on April 20, 2018 [2 favorites]

The Robe
The Rose Robe

Bette Midler's been in my damn head all day because of this. ALL DAY. Because of meetings I haven't been able to put on my headphones.

But now. Now, I'm going to chase her off with some Pantera.
posted by mandolin conspiracy at 12:02 PM on April 20, 2018 [1 favorite]

You know, given that my instinctive initial reaction to the main post was "can I print this out and glue it to the forehead of every DC Football Team fan who whines about 'aw but tradition'," I find the immediate knee-jerk skepticism of "I bet they don't really mean it" baffling.

Yes, the alternative names sound boring to me; it's also not my professional history or tradition so I have no idea what those names could be referring to but I will bet they are references. How about we wait until the ceremony next year and see what everyone does call it then before we rush to condemn a professional group that is at least trying, maybe even without being asked to, publicly and loudly and for years? Because see also, the DC Football Team.

mandolin conspiracy is right though it should be the Dreamcoat
posted by seyirci at 12:55 PM on April 20, 2018 [2 favorites]

So I sent this thread to my husband and as I got home from work tonight and was unlocking the door, I could hear him belting out "Everything's Coming Up Roses" from Gypsy.

So I started whistling "The Rose" as I walked in because of course that's back in my head now despite the attempt at a metal brain-flush.

Dammit.
posted by mandolin conspiracy at 3:00 PM on April 20, 2018

Disrobe. Soon to be followed by Datrobe.
posted by Frayed Knot at 3:15 PM on April 20, 2018 [5 favorites]

Broadway Danny's Robe
posted by The Underpants Monster at 6:37 PM on April 20, 2018

A Chorus A-line
posted by Chrischris at 6:50 PM on April 20, 2018

Macbeth's Robe.
posted by boo_radley at 8:49 AM on April 21, 2018 [2 favorites]