Steps in Order:

Producer raises money, Director and creative team are contracted, actors are auditioned and hired, rehearsals begin, set load-in, cast starts rehearsing in the theater, Gypsy run-through (aka dress rehearsal), 2-4 weeks of previews, Opening, and, eventually, closing.


Maxismylove is correct.

Like every member of a Broadway cast, they've been paid every week since rehearsals began.

Previews started on July 24th, performed for a paying audience. A show during previews is considered to be a work-in-progress, as they are still in rehearsals during the day. From what I've heard, loads and loads and loads of rehearsals (and they get paid for overtime per union rates, I'm sure).

Then, the show is "frozen," which means they're done making changes. This occurs a few days before the "official" opening night. The critics see the show after it's frozen, in the 2-3 days leading up to the opening. Critics used to see the shows on opening night (hence, the early curtain time). However, that was eventually changed to give them more time to write their reviews (they only had about an hour or two from the final curtain call to get to their office and write the review by the print deadline).