Actors who commute

[AC126748]

Posted: 6/14/16 at 12:21pm

Reading Rob McClure's post about Hamilton reminded me of something I've been curious about for a while. McClure lives in Philadelphia and commutes to NYC for work; I also remember reading that Justin Guarini lives in Bucks County, Pa., and commutes when he's in a show. These are easily 1.5-2 hour commutes on public transport or in a car. It seems like it would be exhausting to have to make that journey home after a performance (especially on a two-show day), then have to do it all over again.

Obviously people in many professions commute, but I'm wondering, how common is it for theater actors to commute a long (1-2 hours or more) distance to work? Are actors able to include transportation stipends or car service in their contracts, or do most pay out of pocket?

[RippedMan]

Posted: 6/14/16 at 12:27pm

I have nothing to add, but would love to know the answer to this. I had no clue they commuted so far. 

[HogansHero]

Posted: 6/14/16 at 12:38pm

Some people commute long distances into the city, and find it the only relax time in their day. That said, I think most actors who live in PA, distant NJ, upstate, CT etc make arrangements to stay in the city at least sometimes while in a run. You can negotiate to have anything paid in a contract if you are in a position to bargain. I've seen contracts that pay for a dog walker during tech and on 2 show days. 

[TheGingerBreadMan]

Posted: 6/14/16 at 12:44pm

The boy who played Gavroche in the opening cast of the Les Mis revival commuted an hour by bus from New Jersey every day. 

[RippedMan]

Posted: 6/14/16 at 12:57pm

I would imagine someone like Lupone/O'hara who have houses in CT could negotiate an apt in the city or might just have two places. But for someone like McClure, who, not to diminish him, isn't on that level yet, could he negotiate a car to drive him back to PA 7 nights a week? That seems like a lot. It's only 2 hours away and parts of BK/Queens might take that long to get home. 

[AC126748]

Posted: 6/14/16 at 1:07pm

I remember LuPone saying in an interview that when she was younger, she commuted from Connecticut, but as she's gotten older she stays at a place in the city when she's doing a show now. Not sure if she keeps a long-term apartment or takes a sublet/hotel suite.

Audra McDonald said that she and Will Swenson keep an apartment in the city as a crash pad although they primarily live in Westchester.

I would imagine that McClure uses public transit, since in his post from a few days ago, it sounded like him getting car service was not a regular occurrence. 

[neonlightsxo]

Posted: 6/14/16 at 1:36pm

If I remember correctly, the last time Justin Guarini was on Broadway, he posted often about NJ Transit.

[AC126748]

Posted: 6/14/16 at 2:07pm

I wonder if Guarini took NJ Transit to Trenton and then drove from there to New Hope, which is about 30 minutes away.

[ChiTheaterFan]

Posted: 6/14/16 at 2:09pm

When I saw McClure's tweet I assumed he headed back because Monday was an off day but it turns out something rotten did have a show!  Seems like it would be exhausting to have that commute every day. 

[DottieD'Luscia]

Posted: 6/14/16 at 2:10pm

An actor in a current Broadway show lives near my parents in CT, and commutes in.

[Marianne2]

Posted: 6/14/16 at 2:13pm

If I'm not mistaken,  I think you can get a train into Philly from Trenton as well. From what I recall, I think you actually can only get to the Atlantic City line of Nj Transit from there.  Like in Trenton you have to switch to SEPTA to get to that line. Very odd.

[phan24]

Posted: 6/14/16 at 2:13pm

James Monroe Iglehart and Jeremy Jordan live 'across the river in Jersey'

[neonlightsxo]

Posted: 6/14/16 at 2:15pm

I think AC126748 is correct.

[AC126748]

Posted: 6/14/16 at 2:22pm

Marianne2, yeah, you can catch the Septa train to Philly in Trenton. Perhaps that's what a Philly-based actor like McClure does. Since Guarini lives in New Hope, it's not a long drive to the NJ Transit station in Trenton.

You can catch the Atlantic City line from Philly or Cherry Hill. NJ transit also runs a bus (#319) from New York to AC, with a stop in Toms River.

Iglehart and Jordan both live in Hoboken, if I'm not mistaken, which is basically like living in Astoria these days. It's not much of a commute compared to guys like McClure and Guarini who travel 2+ hours for work.

Updated On: 6/14/16 at 02:22 PM

[Marianne2]

Posted: 6/14/16 at 2:37pm

Yeah, anywhere in NJ where you can get the light rail to the Path train or even just the path train is like taking the subway.  The public transit from where I live is a joke.  But, now you have me wondering if there are any actors who would take my bus line. I think Lady Gaga did when she was 1st starting out and took the bus from NYC to Parsippany and walked to the recording studio from route 46.

[givesmevoice]

Posted: 6/14/16 at 3:03pm

AC126748 said: "Obviously people in many professions commute, but I'm wondering, how common is it for theater actors to commute a long (1-2 hours or more) distance to work? Are actors able to include transportation stipends or car service in their contracts, or do most pay out of pocket?"

I wouldn't consider a 1 hour commute very long. I live in Bay Ridge and work on 42nd and 5th and my commute is about an hour door to door.

[AC126748]

Posted: 6/14/16 at 3:10pm

Givesmevoice, you're probably right that a lot of people wouldn't consider an hour much of a commute. Personally, I've never had longer than a half hour commute (even in New York) and I really wouldn't want to. But some things can't be helped I suppose.

[mc1227]

Posted: 6/14/16 at 3:46pm

There are many ensemble performers who live outside the city.  Understandable with the ridiculous rents in NYC.  The two that I know live about a 40-50 minute train ride from northern NJ. 

[neonlightsxo]

Posted: 6/14/16 at 3:52pm

The OP specifically asked about 1-2 hours or more. Not 40 minutes. All the outer boroughs can be 40 minutes.

[HSky]

Posted: 6/14/16 at 4:14pm

I believe McClure may take Amtrak straight into Philly rather than NJ Transit, which does require the transfer at Trenton. NJ Transit NEC has 2-3 trains that run later but the last connection at Trenton on SEPTA is just past midnight, so if you need to get into the city, departures from Penn Station are almost identical.

I live in Bucks County and it is around 2 hours on average for me to get from my front door to NY via Hamilton Station on NJT. From 44th Street, it's quite convenient. Walking down the block and catching the A/C/E to Penn, I've caught a 7pm Something Rotten show and been home by midnight. Considering the track work on the subways and general transit times, sometimes it doesn't feel like I'm much further away than some of my friends who don't live in Manhattan. There are tons of Bucks County to NY commuters plus those from Philly.

 

ETA: The other rail connection at Trenton is the RiverLine light rail that runs to Camden and serves South Jersey towns along the Delaware River, but the hours are much shorter.

Updated On: 6/14/16 at 04:14 PM

[SnoopyQc]

Posted: 6/14/16 at 4:14pm

It's a chosen lifestyle. When you've have a wife/husband and/or children, it's can be difficult to move in NYC for a role (change school, workplace, etc). And you don't always know when the show will close.

I commuted 1:45-2 hours when I go to University. It's a lot easier when you can read/sleep in public transportation. And I know people who drive more than 2 hours to go to work (not theater related). Some people can afford to live in the city and other just don't like to live in it.

 

[Dollypop]

Posted: 6/14/16 at 4:23pm

I read sun article about Christopher Seiber living in a small island in the Hudson River.

[MyLife]

Posted: 6/14/16 at 4:25pm

phan24 said: "James Monroe Iglehart and Jeremy Jordan live 'across the river in Jersey"

I've heard everything is legal there

[KathyNYC2]

Posted: 6/14/16 at 4:39pm

Dollypop said: "I read sun article about Christopher Seiber living in a small island in the Hudson River.

 

"

I believe Chris lives (or lived?)  in a small island in the middle of New Jersey...no where near the Hudson River...but yes certainly a longer commute than the norm. If it's the same article that I remember reading (which is quite old), they only live there for about half the year when the weather is decent.

[neonlightsxo]

Posted: 6/14/16 at 4:47pm

Amtrak is much more expensive than NJ Transit.