"The Legacy Robe ceremony serves as an anchor for me. It calms me and reminds me of our purpose. As I took in our Camelot company, each person in the building who helps bring this story to life, it did that and more. We have 13 Broadway debuts in our company and it was a gift to witness them experiencing this tradition for the first time."
Photo by Jeffrey Bateman.
Name: Ann Sanders
Show: Camelot
Opening Night: April 13, 2023
Hometown: Chicago, IL
Broadway Debut: Beauty and The Beast in 2001
Professional Training: Texas Tech University, Mary and John Gillas, Tim Keller, Craig Carnelia
Year Joined Equity: 2001
How I Got My Equity Card: When I joined the company of Beauty and The Beast I was told I would also get my Equity card! In speaking with my company manager, Randy Meyer, he explained that I might not be able to use the name “Ann Sanders” if someone else had already claimed it in the union, and to start thinking on what I might want my name to be if that were the case. He must have seen the look of concern on my face as I went into rehearsal because he immediately walked over to the Equity building and secured my name for me. By the time I got out of rehearsal it was all done! It is a gesture I will never forget. Fifteen years later, I was able to reconnect with Randy (then the general manager for Frozen). This is a small example of the kind of people, the community, that is live theatre.
Broadway Chorus Credits: Beauty and The Beast, Avenue Q, Leap of Faith, If/Then, The King and I (2015 revival), Frozen, The Music Man (2022 revival, Legacy Robe Recipient)
Fun Fact: When I got engaged, my beautiful, hilarious Korean mother told my soon-to-be husband that it was a Korean tradition for the groom to eat a fish head kimchee wrap before marrying.
This is not a tradition.
I miss her.
Ann Sanders visits Dakin Matthews backstage when blessing the company. Photo by Jeffrey Bateman.
Ann Sanders circles the stage to bless the company of Camelot. Photo by David Thorn.
Watch the video of the ceremony
