Diversity & Inclusion News Blog July 2018

It has come to our attention that the Actors’ Equity Association has recently decided to retire the name “Gypsy Robe,” from a ritual dear to them, a tradition that is over 60 years old. From today forward this ceremony that happens before the opening night of a Broadway musical will be called, “Legacy Robe.” The Roma Peoples Project at Columbia University welcomes the change of name initiated by the Actors’ Equity Association.

Equity's National Council voted to rename the Robe in April and wanted to give members the opportunity to weigh in on the new name. That decision was made following the recommendations of the Advisory Committee on Chorus Affairs (ACCA) and the National Equal Employment and Opportunity (EEO) Committee that the name should be changed.