Everything You Wanted to Know About Broadway by MrE1111

MrE1111 · Guru

Everything You Wanted to Know About Broadway by MrE1111

Max Star · Veteran Member

Putting aside how exhausting it must be to perform on stage live day after day, how many hours is the typical work week for a actor in an on-going show. Is there any extra compensation for the charity events, etc? Are the extra events mandatory?

TUKEE GAL · Veteran Member

What are a few of the typical ways a play might get to Broadway now? Oh... and would you please repeat the Broadway, off-Breadway etc. definitions that are in some other thread as a beginning so we don't get mixed up in what we're talking about. And thanks...

greatwhiteway · Senior Member

How long do actors normally stay in a play that has a long run? Do they tend to stay in a hit show or move? That is do they get bored, or better offers, and move on?

-- Edited by greatwhiteway at 04:34, 2007-09-14

DogsandBirds · Guru

Max Star wrote:

Putting aside how exhausting it must be to perform on stage live day after day, how many hours is the typical work week for a actor in an on-going show. Is there any extra compensation for the charity events, etc? Are the extra events mandatory?

If there are no rehearsals for some, like the Christmas album or what is known as a put in (rehearsals for the covers of various roles) the actors have to be there about an hour before each show for the call. They can leave as soon as they want after the show.

Pay for charity work? Seems like that would hardly be charity. Not sure if they are mandatory, but actors do the charity work for free and willingly as it helps worthy causes or other evens (Broadway on Broadway) because it publicizes their shows, which means more ticket sales, which means a longer run.

MrE1111 · Guru

Yup. As I've heard, they don't get paid for "out-of-theater" appearances.

What are a few of the typical ways a play might get to Broadway now? Oh... and would you please repeat the Broadway, off-Breadway etc. definitions that are in some other thread as a beginning so we don't get mixed up in what we're talking about. And thanks...
Typically:
Broadway - 500+ seats (also located on the street called "Broadway")
Off-Broadway - 100-499 seats
Off-Off Broadway - 1-99 seats

There are 39 Broadway theaters, the bulk of which are located from 41st Street to 54th Street. The last one is located at Lincoln Center.

A show can get to Broadway by
a) transfering from London (currently very popular)
b) a non-profit company enjoys the script and decides to produce it (Manhattan Theater Club, Roundabout Theater Company, etc.)
c) a show gets great reviews in a regional production and they decide to bring it in (like the revival of Company that recently closed).
d) a show gets rave reviews Off-Broadway and they decide to transfer it (Spring Awakening, Grey Gardens)
e) a group of intrepid producers come across a script and want to put it on Broadway

How long do actors normally stay in a play that has a long run? Do they tend to stay in a hit show or move? That is do they get bored, or better offers, and move on?
Trained, experienced actors can figure out ways to make fresh every night. Marian Seldes did all (roughly) 1500 performances of a play called Deathtrap and set a Guinness World Record. Actors are either on 6-month (with option to extend) or year-long (from the day they start rehearsals and/or out-of-town tryout) contract.

Do they get bored? I imagine they do. Some get better offers and move on (Mara Davi went from A Chorus Line to The Drowsy Chaperone recently). Others stay until they get another gig, others choose to leave thinking they'll get better work and get stuck with nothing.

koko3 · Veteran Member

Wow, who knew we would all learn so much in this process! I love it, I appreciate all this great info.
On the subject of the actors keeping it fresh every night, I wonder if they all have little rituals or tricks to keep their spirits up and keep it fun every night. It would be fun to know what kinds of things keep Max and Laura's and the rest of the casts spirits up! I bet the chemistry between the cast members really helps and it seems like this Grease cast truly likes each other and gets along great! And I wonder if they know that someone special (friends, family or their number one fan are in the audience) if that helps! Just a thought!!
And one more thing I was wondering. How in the WORLD do they all afford the rent in NYC on that kind of pay??? I read in one article that Max and Laura live in a building fairly close to the theater (did I read that right?), that must be pricey. Yikes, the literal price of fame, but I know you can't put a price on following your dreams!! That info on their pay does put a realistic spin on the fantasy of Broadway.

MrE1111 · Guru

Most unestablished actors don't live in Manhattan. They live in the surrounding boroughs, Queens, Brooklyn...Astoria, Queens has a fairly large "actor" population. Others have two or three roommates.

While I can't speak for Max and Laura (since I don't know the terms of their contracts), I will say that I wouldn't be surprised if they have living expenses thrown in, since they had no living arrangement in the City before the show.

Maxismylove · Senior Member

MrE1111 wrote:

While I can't speak for Max and Laura (since I don't know the terms of their contracts), I will say that I wouldn't be surprised if they have living expenses thrown in, since they had no living arrangement in the City before the show.

They were completely responsible for all expenses for thier move to NY.

MrE1111 · Guru

Ah, well that answers that question.

I think that fact is very interesting. I know people whose lifestyles are completely paid for by the production company - from rent to cell phone bill.

greatwhiteway · Senior Member

That's business, they take advantage when they can. Max and Laura were in no position to bargain, I don't think, so they more than likely had to take what was offered. But let it be a lesson to anyone, especially the shy or insecure, ask for the moon. When we had our first hiring seminar at work they told us to start people at the lowest rate we could possibly get them and keep them as low as long as we could. I was actually surprised. I thought we were offering people what they were worth. As a result some novices started at the same rate as some veterans because they apparently put a greater value on the skills they had to offer.

MrE1111 · Guru

And the worst part...the people who have complimentary lifestyles...they're actually established New Yorkers and Broadway actors!

Jo · Veteran Member

I have a question, Mr. E. How difficult is it for well-known actors to get around the city without being mobbed by fans? Can they go to a restaurant and enjoy a dinner without being interrupted by fans? Go for a walk? How difficult is it to live a normal life when one is famous? Many famous people live here in Palm Springs. I see them in restaurants, walking down Palm Canyon Drive, playing golf. As far as I know, our citizens treat them normally and there is an unspoken politeness that rules the day. You simply do not disturb except maybe to smile, wave, and occasionally blurt out, "Love ya!" Then again, celebs have been vacationing or living in this area since the early Hollywood days. I am guessing it is similar in NYC. Then there is the "overnight" celebrity, experienced by Max and Laura. They are suddenly thrust into the public with all eyes on their every move. I would think this type of fame would be most difficult to adjust to because it occurs so quickly and that there must be an occasion when one just wishes he/she could be treated normally. I watched one video where Max said, "It's just me" in response to screaming fans outside the stage door. An article mentioned that he had to dress incognito to leave for lunch to avoid young girls chasing him down the street. It made me think that the whole experience of sudden fame is a bit too overwhelming at times and that longing for a normal existence might persist, at least for awhile. I feel certain that there are mentors who can help them adjust by teaching "tricks of the trade" to help ease the conundrum of joy versus burden. Comments?

MrE1111 · Guru

I think in NY the philosophy is along the lines of "well they're people, too." I have never seen an actor get stopped in the middle of the street, though I do have some anecdotes about my own experiences.

Sat at the table next to Ethan Hawke and his family when he was doing The Coast of Utopia at Lincoln Center last winter (ironically I had just come from seeing the show). I don't think anybody recognized him, but when I mentioned it to the waitress, she kinda shrugged and said "oh yeah, he's here a lot."

Earlier in the year I was at the same restaurant and saw David Schwimmer walk by on his cell phone. I seemed to notice many people turn around, but none actually stopped him. Same with Hillary and Hayley Duff, who I saw walking through Times Square. A few girls noticed them, but nobody stopped them.

Many, many years ago I was sitting in Central Park with a few friends when Al Pacino and his twins sat next to me on the bench. Let's just say that he was very nice to talk to and happily signed an autograph, while tending to his children who were screaming how they wanted to go to Chuck E. Cheese. Nobody else recognized him.

The only times actors are truly hounded is when they're either at a Broadway stage door, or going in/out of one of the major talk shows. There's always a crowd of photographers outside the Letterman stage door. But even they treat the actors politely - all they want is a photo.

Another idea is the fact that, with hair in a ponytail and without makeup, most female actors are virtually unrecognizable. Same goes for male actors in a hat and sunglasses.

The stage door scene at Grease is unlike anything I've ever seen. Max and Laura aren't the biggest celebrities in the world, yet their crowds rival ones I've seen waiting for Julia Roberts, Denzel Washington, P. Diddy, and Nathan Lane/Matthew Broderick. I personally wouldn't recognize Max or Laura walking down the street (it was much easier when one of them sat in front of me at a show a few months ago),

I think the only "trick of the trade" that a mentor can truly teach is "take as few absences as possible." If you're above the title (and people paid to see you), it's very tacky if you don't show up because you have a cold, or a hang-over, or just don't feel like going in. As I said, look at Marian Seldes. She mustered 1500 performances. Some young actors today can't even muster 300.

greatwhiteway · Senior Member

Being as old as I am I actually saw Deathtrap when it was on Broadway. I remember it being really, really good....and only 25 dollars for seats I think were in the first few rows. I did not know the woman was a star but I do remember her performance looking back so many years ago. I guess that says a lot. My question is...My memory for some reason thinks it was Christopher Reeve playing one of the male leads but he would have had to be pretty young then...at least I remember a completely gorgeous actor playing one of the male leads. But I tried to look it up and he is not mentioned. Was it him? Anyone know?

MrE1111 · Guru

A website for everyone with Broadway cast questions:

www.ibdb.com

It's like IMDb, but for Broadway.

Greatwhiteway, a search there showed that it wasn't Chris Reeve. You may want to search there...you could recognize the name. I'd be interested in hearing who it was.

gramps3 · Senior Member

What happened to "Laura's Answers" scheduled to be posted today. All I can pull up is the piece requesting questions.

Stan/gramps

-- Edited by gramps3 at 02:59, 2007-09-15

MrE1111 · Guru

Broadway.com is notoriously slow for that stuff.

Give it another week or 2.

MaxFan · Veteran Member

greatwhiteway wrote:

My question is...My memory for some reason thinks it was Christopher Reeve playing one of the male leads but he would have had to be pretty young then...at least I remember a completely gorgeous actor playing one of the male leads. But I tried to look it up and he is not mentioned. Was it him? Anyone know?

Christopher Reeve was in the movie version in the early 80s with Michael Caine and Dyan Cannon. That could be why you are thinking of him. I do not know if he ever played the role on Broadway.

greatwhiteway · Senior Member

Thanks for the site listing. It was Victor Garber. I actually recognized him, but not from the play. He was in Titanic. And Christopher Reeve it turns out was in the movie Deathtrap, not the play.

Maxismylove · Senior Member

Christopher Reeves played in the movie with Michael Cane and Diane Cannon. I think that is her name.

Jo · Veteran Member

Thanks, Mr. E, for your indepth explanation about coping with fame in NYC.
It is good to know that our stars can move about freely.

Max Star · Veteran Member

Do Max, Laura and cast receive a cut of the revenue from the Cast Recording?

MrE1111 · Guru

No, I don't believe they get a cut of the profit.

However, they do get a week's salary for the first 8 hours they're in the recording studio. If they go overtime, they get paid about 1/8th of their contractual salary per extra hour.

There are other provisions, as well, but that's all boring legal jargon.

Maria15 · Veteran Member

Do u know when the Grease cast will change?, I mean please tell me, it's not before christmas

XOXO MARIA

MrE1111 · Guru

No, don't worry.

singingdoc · Veteran Member

MrE,
In the past you talked about "the weekly nut" for a show. Do you have any idea the range of weekly rents theater owners charge (I'm sure it varies with theater size) for use of their theaters? What does this rent cover? Does it include salaries for stage managers, ushers and maybe even the stage crew?

MrE1111 · Guru

All of the "back stage" and "front of house" jobs are unionized.

Stage Managers are members of Actors Equity, so they are paid under the rules and regulations of that union. Ushers have their own union (Local 306), as do musicians (Local 802), and stage crew (IATSE).

I believe theater's are rented for a separate cost (one lump sum?), and then the producers must pay the power, lighting, heating, water, etc. bills. That long with the salaries for everyone involved with the show, royalties, etc.

The weekly running cost for a show like Wicked and Legally Blonde is believed to be about $650,000.

In the contracts for theater rentals, there is usually the stipulation "if the show's grosses fall below a certain level for 2 weeks in a row," the owners have the right to close the show.

When that's not enacted, the show must give (I believe) 2 weeks notice when it's closing.

Jo · Veteran Member

Mr. E, Do you have any inkling as to why the theater chosen for Grease is so

small? It has a homey feel but I've wondered whether that was the only available theater on Broadway. confused

It is adequate for the musical but a larger

stage could certainly be used for the group dance numbers.

MrE1111 · Guru

Grease is being produced in conjunction with the Nederlanders, so they needed to use a Nederlander theater. All of them were taken except the Atkinson. As I understood it, they were hoping to use the Palace, where they held the televised auditions, but, as we all can see, Legally Blonde has surpassed nearly everyone's expectations.