Broadway Grosses: Week Ending 3/9/25- Page 2

[TotallyEffed]

Posted: 3/11/25 at 2:47pm

gibsons2 said: "TotallyEffed said: "And the majority of other very hard workingperformers are making Equity minimum while the producers rake in obscene amounts of cash from rich people. Lovely system!"

When every one of these hardworking performers is able to bringin 2.8 mil weekly, then you can complain about the unfair system."

 

The shows wouldn't exist without them, dear.

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 3/11/25 at 2:49pm

Well either way, glad I got the party started in here today lol

[TotallyEffed]

Posted: 3/11/25 at 2:50pm

Jordan Catalano said: "Well either way, glad I got the party started in heretoday lol"

 

You're just jealous!

 

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 3/11/25 at 2:54pm

TotallyEffed said: "You're just jealous!"

To quote Barbara Hershey in "Beaches" -  I was jealous. I was so jealous of you I couldn't see straight! You did everything you said you were going to do, everything! 

 

[gibsons2]

Posted: 3/11/25 at 2:58pm

TotallyEffed said: "gibsons2 said: "TotallyEffed said: "And the majority of other very hard workingperformers are making Equity minimum while the producers rake in obscene amounts of cash from rich people. Lovely system!"

When every one of these hardworking performers is able to bringin 2.8 mil weekly, then you can complain about the unfair system."



The shows wouldn't exist without them, dear."

The shows would not exist without money that people are willing to invest into them, dear. One successful juggernaut like Othello can potentially finance several risky shows in the future. 

 

[TotallyEffed]

Posted: 3/11/25 at 3:04pm

No ****. I don't think it's right that millionaires get richer and richer while actors are making 2K a week busting their ass and I think the wealth should be spread around if they are going to only allow wealthy people with cash to burn into the theatre. I think it's a shame students and younger and lower income people will be shut out of seeing this show if they don't win the lottery.

I understand how the system works and I don't think it's right. But if you support greedy extreme capitalism like this you are more than entitled to your opinion, just as I am to mine.

[uncageg]

Posted: 3/11/25 at 3:12pm

TotallyEffed said: "No ****. I don't think it's right that millionaires get richer and richer while actors are making 2K a week busting their assandI think the wealth should be spread around if they are going to only allow wealthy people with cash to burn into the theatre.I think it's a shame students and younger and lower income people will be shut out of seeing this show if they don't win the lottery.

I understand how the system works and I don't think it's right. But if you support greedy extremecapitalism like this you are more than entitled to your opinion, just as I am to mine."

 

^^^ That part.

 

[gibsons2]

Posted: 3/11/25 at 3:16pm

TotallyEffed said: "No ****. I don't think it's right that millionaires get richer and richer while actors are making 2K a week busting their assandI think the wealth should be spread around if they are going to only allow wealthy people with cash to burn into the theatre.I think it's a shame students and younger and lower income people will be shut out of seeing this show if they don't win the lottery.

I understand how the system works and I don't think it's right. But if you support greedy extremecapitalism like this you are more than entitled to your opinion, just as I am to mine."

There are over 20 shows currently playing on Broadway that don't sell out. You can walk into any of those box offices and get a very cheap rush ticket for this evening performance. 

Why are you so angry specifically about Othello? It's Kenny Leon, isn't it? 

[TotallyEffed]

Posted: 3/11/25 at 3:22pm

I'm not angry and it has nothing to do with Othello or Kenny in particular. I was proud of the Hamilton cast for standing up for themselves when they were being taken advantage of. Most actors aren't going to do this and risk getting blacklisted. I take full advantage of TDF and rush/lottery systems and I'm very blessed and lucky to be able to see so many shows. I stated my issues with the system and I don't have anything else to say. :)

Updated On: 3/11/25 at 03:22 PM

[RippedMan]

Posted: 3/11/25 at 3:34pm

On one hand, I think it's kind of cool that the hottest ticket is a Shakespeare play in 2025. And on the other hand, I do think it's gross that tickets are as high as they are. Denzel could have easily told them to set aside a certain amount of fairly priced seats, etc. But then there's also the gross beast that is resale. Why aren't we mad at the idiots paying $500 to see it? Or should Denzel and team asked for some of the overages to be passed back to the actors/crew? I mean they do it on AEA tours, so why not on Broadway? 

[binau]

Posted: 3/11/25 at 3:37pm

I do find this to be a more difficult issue than it seems...when the majority of shows flop and close early, losing investors millions (the majority of cases), do you think the actors should have taken a pay cut in those cases to help out those that have lost everything? No you'd still be defending they deserve their minimum pay.....on the flip side when shows are doing well you would rather they get paid more. The fact is that people literally risk and lose millions mounting these shows - the actors are not taking this risk. I agree there are some EXTREME circumstances where maybe it gets a bit much (Hamilton and maybe Othello to a certain degree). 

But as a general principle rule I don't see how actors in NYC are getting exploited - they work under what are likely the best working conditions of theatre artists anywhere in the world and they don't lose millions in flop after flop. 

[BroadwayRox3588]

Posted: 3/11/25 at 3:37pm

This is fun. Keep going! Give 'em the steel chair!

[JSquared2]

Posted: 3/11/25 at 3:41pm

TotallyEffed said: "I'm not angry and it has nothing to do with Othello or Kenny in particular.I was proud of the Hamilton cast for standing up for themselves when they were being taken advantageof. Most actors aren'tgoing to do this and risk getting blacklisted.I take full advantage of TDF and rush/lottery systems and I'm very blessed and lucky to be able to see so many shows.I stated my issues with the system and I don't have anything else to say. :)"

 

[TotallyEffed]

Posted: 3/11/25 at 3:43pm

It really wouldn’t be complete without binau playing devil’s advocate from the opposite end of the earth. You’ve never heard of a bonus at work? If a company doesn’t have a good year it doesn’t start subtracting from its employees paychecks so your argument is just dumb.

 

I’m guessing you’re not an actor and you’re not poor because you’d fly to Guam if Bernadette Peters toured ‘night, Mother there. The actor’s life in New York is not the glamorous lifestyle you’ve romanticized it to be.

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 3/11/25 at 3:50pm

Which role would Bernadette play, though? 

[TotallyEffed]

Posted: 3/11/25 at 3:51pm

Oprah.

[Bwaygurl2]

Posted: 3/11/25 at 4:15pm

The reality is some of y'all are mad because people are paying $$$ to see a BLACK MAN on that stage, but y'all aren't ready for that conversation I fear.

 

White Supremacy cannot and will not accept that affluent white folk are putting down big bucks to see Denzel in a play by one of the Great White men of all time, Mister Shakespeare. (To be clear, this comment is not aimed at totally effed in particular, but rather at the outrage here and reddit in totality). 

[SonofRobbieJ]

Posted: 3/11/25 at 4:21pm

Ah...BroadwayWorld. Never change. It always amuses me the number of 'theatre lovers' who will dig deep to hold up the one, true organizing principle of the American Theater - the most important people in the room must always be made to feel the most expendable. There are is only one group of people without which there would be no theater - the actors. You got a great set, but no actors? You have lovely art installation,. You have an amazing script, but no actors? You have some lovingly typed pages. You have some great choreography, but no actors? You have hieroglyphics.

It is of the utmost importance that actors...the only people who actually make theater theater...be kept in their place. I mean...those crazy, emotional actors! They're just too much to deal with! They really should know their place. Sure...it's mostly harmless...until you stretch it to its limits and you end in a hotel room with Harvey Weinstein. And producers, directors, designers, choreographers, lawyers, music directors and press agents all depend on the 'fans' of Broadway to help keep those actors in line. 

TotallyEffed is right...even as he's having that grossly misogynistic 'panties' line slung at him. The system is disgusting. And it's worse than you think.  

[gibsons2]

Posted: 3/11/25 at 4:26pm

RippedMan said: "On one hand, I think it's kind of cool that the hottest ticket is a Shakespeare play in 2025. And on the other hand, I do think it's gross that tickets are as high as they are. Denzel could have easily told them to set aside a certain amount of fairly priced seats, etc. But then there's also the gross beast that is resale. Why aren't we mad at the idiots paying $500 to see it? Or should Denzel and team asked for some of the overages to be passed back to the actors/crew? I mean they do it on AEA tours, so why not on Broadway?"

Did Hugh Jackman passed anything to the actors/crew? Did Josh Groban? People paid very high prices to see them both, especially Jackman. The Music Man was making over 3 mil a week and people stayed outside in the frigid cold in winter for a chance to buy a rush ticket. Both men were celebrated for selling out shows. 

If not, why Denzel should be doing that? Just curious about your train of thoughts.

[dshnookie]

Posted: 3/11/25 at 4:32pm

TotallyEffed said: "It really wouldn’t be complete without binau playing devil’s advocate from the opposite end of the earth. You’ve never heard of a bonus at work? If a company doesn’t have a good yearit doesn’t start subtracting from its employees paychecks so your argument is just dumb.



I’mguessing you’re not an actor andyou’re not poor because you’d fly to Guamif Bernadette Peters toured ‘night, Mother there. The actor’s life in New York is not the glamorouslifestyle you’ve romanticized it to be."

I love you. 

[Kad]

Posted: 3/11/25 at 4:33pm

Bwaygurl2 said: "The reality is some of y'all are mad because people are paying $$$ to see a BLACK MAN on that stage, but y'all aren't ready for that conversation I fear.

White Supremacy cannot and will not accept that affluent white folk are putting down big bucks to see Denzel in a play by one of the Great White men of all time, Mister Shakespeare. (To be clear, this comment is not aimed at totally effed in particular, but rather at the outrage here and reddit in totality)."

This take is so ****ing stupid I cannot believe it's real.

[TotallyEffed]

Posted: 3/11/25 at 4:35pm

double Updated On: 3/11/25 at 04:35 PM

[TotallyEffed]

Posted: 3/11/25 at 4:36pm

gibsons2 said: "RippedMan said: "On one hand, I think it's kind of cool that the hottest ticket is a Shakespeare play in 2025. And on the other hand, I do think it's gross that tickets are as high as they are. Denzel could have easily told them to set aside a certain amount of fairly priced seats, etc. But then there's also the gross beast that is resale. Why aren't we mad at the idiots paying $500 to see it? Or should Denzel and team asked for some of the overages to be passed back to the actors/crew? I mean they do it on AEA tours, so why not on Broadway?"

Did Hugh Jackman passed anything to the actors/crew? Did Josh Groban? People paid very high prices to see them both, especially Jackman. The Music Man was making over 3 mil a week and people stayed outside in the frigid cold in winter for a chance to buy a rush ticket. Both men were celebrated for selling out shows.

If not, why Denzel should be doing that? Just curious about your train of thoughts."

 

I thought that was disgusting then too, especially since both productions sucked. You can find my previous comments on this subject over many years on this board. This is not a new take for me and has nothing to do with Othello in particular. My issue is with greed, capitalism, and exploitation and has nothing to with the color of anyone's skin. Bwaygurl, I'm not on Reddit so I'm not sure what people are saying there.

[SonofRobbieJ]

Posted: 3/11/25 at 4:40pm

Kad said: "Bwaygurl2 said: "The reality is some of y'all are mad because people are paying $$$ to see a BLACK MAN on that stage, but y'all aren't ready for that conversation I fear.

White Supremacy cannot and will not accept that affluent white folk are putting down big bucks to see Denzel in a play by one of the Great White men of all time, Mister Shakespeare. (To be clear, this comment is not aimed at totally effed in particular, but rather at the outrage here and reddit in totality)."

This take is so ****ing stupid I cannot believe it's real."

Thank god you're here. I read it and I was like, 'White Supremacy kind of demands putting the famous black guy in front of affluent white folks so they can spend insane money and think they've done something.' 

[binau]

Posted: 3/11/25 at 4:40pm

TotallyEffed, I do find your post quite funny and quite astute that I often take the devil's advocate position - but come on this is a discussion board not a religious cult do we not enjoy...discussing? I do, so yes, I like to find things to discuss and I appreciate the challenge. And unlike some of the trolls on this board everyone knows that I always try to be sincere. And I try to AVOID being rude or personal but I can't say I am often given the same courtesy. 

But to your point ‘have you ever heard of….’, well Broadway theatre is such an odd industry I find it hard to compare it to anything really. What I am saying is that I think Broadway is more complex on so many levels than the typical scenario of ‘capitalism is bad and the rich are exploiting the poor!!11’ - this is not a typical industry where money is often flowing into the pockets of rich people. To the contrary it’s shocking and staggering how many shows actually lose money. Someone has to pay for this! It doesn’t come from no where. 

So as a general principle/rule I don’t see how actors can feel they deserve or demand more when in most scenarios they actually are making more money than the investors of the same shows (who usually lose money paying for them and others), AND are getting paid higher than the free market would dictate because of the very strong union regulation - one only needs to look at how poorly actors are treated and paid in London to see what happens with relatively unregulated/unchecked capitalism in this industry. 

So, when finally an unusual show comes around where the investors have won the lottery I do think they need to be rewarded for this otherwise why would people keep gambling in this industry? 

I still agree with you that there are SOME cases where a nice ‘bonus’ if you will to the actors would be a nice gesture when shows can truly afford it, such as Hamilton or perhaps in this case Othello. However, I think these should be very unusual and exceptional cases. 

I just don’t think there is enough money to be made in this industry anymore for people to keep demanding more and more - have you ever heard of an industry in a capitalist society where as a general rule the front-line employees get paid more than the investors? I haven’t. Broadway is like a freak exception to capitalism where the industry still survives despite net losses year after year thanks to some altruistic investors (e.g. the Producer of “The Visit” said explicitly when he went for cash collection he did not promise investors they’d ever see any of it back - and they didn’t) or people willing to play Russian roulette theatre hoping they will get the next Wicked, Book of Mormon or Hamilton. 

I still wince at the Othello ticket prices myself, I don't like it either. I just think we can't have our cake and eat it always. It's give and take, and on Broadway we mostly take from investors who keep giving and getting little in return. 

As for Bernadette in ‘Night, Mother! Yes, I’d fly to Guam to see it. And Jordan, of course she needs to play BOTH ROLES AT THE SAME TIME.

Updated On: 3/11/25 at 04:40 PM