Broadway actors Salaries

[Stagerage2003]

Posted: 3/12/05 at 2:38pm

Does anyone know on average how much an actor on broadway makes? I read somewhere it is like $1000 a week for ensemble? Is that true....Im just being curious...you guys rock

[broadwaybelter]

Posted: 3/12/05 at 2:46pm

for lead actors who are really well known...for instance...pop stars who go into a broadway show usually get paid $10,000 a week, and then usually around $5,000-$10,000 depending on the role, and chorus of course is $1,345 or something like that....

[Stagerage2003]

Posted: 3/12/05 at 2:52pm

That is incredible, anyone else have a take. I had know idea it was that much money. What about someone like...Idina Menzel, what would she make...compared to someone like...Brooke Tansley in Beauty and the Beast.....u know more popluar shows to less popular shows.

[Joshua488]

Posted: 3/12/05 at 2:52pm

The Equity minimum is $1381 per week.

That is for ANY actor on Broadway, including the tiniest chorus role. Updated On: 3/12/05 at 02:52 PM

[Stagerage2003]

Posted: 3/12/05 at 2:55pm

wow, good money in stage acting. But really in NYC is that enough?

[~Jer~]

Posted: 3/12/05 at 3:13pm

yup, $1381 for chorus...Leads can get around $10,000... Matthew Broderick and Nathan Lane made $20,000 a week when The Producers began. In their return engagement they made $100 000 per week. so yes, GOOD money..and its pretty good for NY

[kangaroo]

Posted: 3/12/05 at 3:14pm

realistically? Probably not... but if you want to live in the city, then you sometimes have to receive city wages. I think it's insane the prices of grocery items in NYC... everything is much more expensive and they come in smaller packages too.

[MargoChanning]

Posted: 3/12/05 at 3:20pm

No.

Remember you have agents and managers who take a percentage, plus the costs of voice, acting and dancing lessons (to the extent you keep those up while still in a show).

Most, if not all of the Broadway chorus people I've ever known have still needed to have roommates in order to afford to live in New York.

And don't forget, only a TINY percentage of Actor's Equity is making $1381+/week and few of them make that 52 weeks out of the year. About 80 - 90% of Broadway shows fail financially and close early -- the long-running hit is the exception not the rule. Nearly all Equity members HAVE to supplement their incomes by doing commercials, voiceover work, industrials and trade shows, special appearances, tv, film, cruise ships, etc ......

Updated On: 3/12/05 at 03:20 PM

[SamIAm]

Posted: 3/12/05 at 8:21pm

Actually Jer both Broderick and Lane have stated a number of times that the $100K a week they were reported to pull down during the 2nd run was far overstated...as was the amount Lane was reported to be making in London for that run. The press loves to run with these things without verifying them. They did make good money for Broadway but when you consider the salaries of movie stars and the fact that they aren't doing LIVE theater 8 times a week, it isn't really comparable at all. The average actor on Broadway isn't making anything close to that and agents tke a huge chunk

[JKM2159]

Posted: 3/12/05 at 8:46pm

There is also, in some cases, an "equity extra" contract for actors who really don't do much in the show, like are in one scene and have no lines. This is a very low salary and is probably rarely done.

[everythingtaboo]

Posted: 3/12/05 at 8:56pm

For you Wicked fans, I heard that Kristin was making approx 130% more per week than Idina when the show started...I'm sure that changed post-Tonys though. My question is, what about people like Charlotte D'Amboise, who return to a role like Chicago time and again, can she possibly ask for more? And what would the difference be in salary from Chicago to her current Standby/now Star status in Sweet Charity?

[Jazzysuite82]

Posted: 3/12/05 at 9:52pm

Who did you hear that from Taboo? I'm almost positive it's wrong. 130%? And then changing the contract after the Tonys? I don't think that would generally be happening when 2 females share equal billing.

[JKM2159]

Posted: 3/12/05 at 10:41pm

I also heard that both Kristin and Joel Grey both received more money than Idina, I think it was due to the fact that they had Tonys. I'm sure when Idina renewed her contract there was a significant pay increase.

[Corine2]

Posted: 3/12/05 at 10:48pm

NYC is the greatest place in the world but it is very tough to make it here. Very tough. And you have to take the rejection and ask for more. It is not just tough on Broadway.
Everything is tough in New York.
But it is worth it.
Go for your dreams. Kill yourself and someday your dreams may come true. Some of mine have.
Updated On: 3/12/05 at 10:48 PM

[Princeton78]

Posted: 3/12/05 at 11:34pm

*sniff*tear*snif*snif* CLAP CLAP CLAP