I can't speak for Max and Laura, but I say in complete, brutal honesty that I'm not at all surprised they don't have vacations scheduled. The producers and other contract negotiators know how hot a commodity Max and Laura are, thereby not writing scheduled time off into the contract.

HOWEVER, all Equity members are entitled to a one-week vacation for every 6 months they work. Whether or not they choose to use their vacation time is another story.

Is it possible their contracts were written for a year, and that year was specified as 50 straight weeks of work followed by 2 weeks of paid vacation?  Based on what Rachel said about Max's contract being over at the end of next May, and Jane saying Laura didn't get paid until rehearsals started, it might work out about right... they would be committed to the show through the end of next May, but be paid through mid June.

So Broadway performers can starve going on vacation?  Ouch...  Shows how little I know...  The Sunday NY Times had an interesting piece a few weeks ago about how poorly paid most actors are and how they have to plan on dry spells between roles, commercials to pay the rent, and never-ending auditions, etc.  I figured they had to be financially "creative" to survive for long in the profession unless they got very, very lucky, but I didn't expect them to be so poorly paid for "vacations."

MrE1111... maybe you should do a thread of your own educating us about the ins and outs of working on Breadway, not just the actors, but the huge support mechanism that has to exist just to get them on stage every night.  I would find it fascinating and think others would also.  The others who also seems to be "in the know" can chime in. 

Yes, we love Grease, and "our kids" but we are learning so much also...

Tukee - That's partially why a lot of actors are also acting teachers, voice teachers, college professors...

Greatwhiteway - the exact phrasing is "4% of contractual salary." Contractual salary, I've heard, goes by "$/wk" not "$/year."

Yep, there's only one thing you can infer...actors don't do Broadway 'cause the pay is good...unless of course you're name is Nathan Lane.

"Starting salary" is roughly $1500/wk. Really not enough to survive on, once you deduct agency fees, manager fees, union dues...

Sounds like "leave without pay" to me.  Maybe it reflects an industry structure that is more geared to "pay for performance", and time off certainly isn't encouraged.

Just to clear this up:
The vacation 4% is accrued. For example if I make $1500 a week, and took a week of vacation after 6 months I would be paid 1440 for the week I was off.

4% of $1500 is $60 multiplied by 24 weeks (six months).

If I choose not to take the vacation week, at the end of my contract I still get the $1440 extra check.

We have bought tickets to the Feb. 16th performance.  Does anyone know how to obtain Laura & Max's performance schedules?  My girls will be truly disappointed not to see them.

FANSNNC wrote:

---

We have bought tickets to the Feb. 16th performance....

---

You'll see Max!... Surely, that will be enough to satisfy your girls.

Laura will be on vacation. The notice is in small print on the Feb.16 page at ticketmaster.
If you bought your tickets BEFORE the notice was posted, you can probably get a refund or exchange for another date.

-- Edited by Ray at 02:08, 2008-02-04

I hope people still go! After all, there are other actors who need the work in the show too :)

Mistyblu wrote:

---

I have the worse luck of anybody, ever. I have tickets for April 9th. I started planning this trip to see Grease and Spamalot back in January. Took money from savings, bought tickets, made hotel and airline reservations. I would not have bought tickets to Grease unless I thought Max would be there. I am not interested in seeing plays really; I'm interested in seeing specific actors. Now all I need is for Clay Aiken to call in sick on the 8th when I am scheduled to see Spamalot and it will be a total waste of time.

---

You know, the rest of the cast is immensely talented and they deserve as much recognition as Max does. It's really hard when you go see a Broadway show specifically for one actor because they're people just like us. They get sick, hurt, and have vacations. If you're not at all interested in seeing the actual show and giving the hard working cast the kudos they deserve you might as well save your money and stay at home.

Maybe this sounds harsh but I find your attitude rather insulting and I wouldn't be overly surprised if the people who do hold the people in the show not named Max in high regard would concur with me.

I like Max as much as the next person, except for maybe Andy, but he can't go out on that stage every night without the talent and the support of his castmates.  Without them there is no show.  It's just Max wandering around on stage pointing at people who aren't there while saying "Weird chick".  Max needs his cast and they deserve respect.

-- Edited by Eris at 21:23, 2008-02-20

Living in the midwest and knowing the sacrifice it takes to plan a trip that includes airfare, very expensive hotels and meals, expensive theatre tickets, Mistyblu's disappointment is not hard for me to understand. I don't think there's any need to be harsh with her disappointment. An understanding answer might have done more to encourage her to still try to enjoy the show with an understudy than being harsh with her does. I don't think anyone in the cast would support blasting a disappointed fan. Mistyblu, I'm sorry for your disappointment. It is true that actors do get sick at times and rarely take vacations. I took my 84 year old mother in November to see the show and didn't get to see it all because of the strike. I know your disappiontment.

Laura's Mom

I had heard, after I made arrangements and bought tickets, that Max might be taking a vacation in April. I was hoping and praying it would not be the week I am going to be there. I am very disappointed.

Thank you for your understanding Laurasmom and Ray.

See the show! Laura will still be in and there is a cast of talented actors who work with great energy to make this show as much fun as it is and i have seen it four times now and I enjoyed myself it each time and every time!

Mistblu, I definitely understand your disappointment. The fact is that many of us are not regular Broadway show attendees and due to logistics we never will be. We are willing to commit the $$ because we want to see Max and Laura specifically. So if they are not performing it is a huge disappointment. I wish there was a solution for you! (I share your pain, as I have for all here who have had the "bad luck". It still bothers me that Laura's grandmother did not get to see her perform! She was "practicing walking" and all!)

As you indicated, there are a lot easier options for seeing shows than going to Broadway if that is what one is looking to do. We plan on seeing more shows now like Wicked in LA and Jersey Boys in Las Vegas, but I'm not sure when I'll see another Broadway show. And this means no disespect to the other cast members. It's just the reality of things.

Max Star wrote:

---

We plan on seeing more shows now like Wicked in LA and Jersey Boys in Las Vegas, but I'm not sure when I'll see another Broadway show. And this means no disespect to the other cast members. It's just the reality of things.

---

As long as you are in NYC at least take a look at what is available for 1/2 price at TKTS - you may be surprised at how reasonable some of the shows they sell are. On one hand there will likely be at least a few "big name" shows with great seats for around $60. However, there will also be other lesser known shows for less than that and almost all of their tickets are for really good seats. Whichever works best for you is what you should do but if you are a "theater junkie" there really is something special about seeing shows on (or off) Broadway. I've seen many, many traveling shows over the years but it still doesn't quite feel the same as seeing a show in NY - if you are there take advantage of it and you wont be sorry.