Bway Salaries

[NYUstud]

Posted: 8/9/04 at 12:52am

I have always wondered how much Broadway actors make. I want to know how much the biggest name stars (Idina, Hugh, Nathan Lane, Donna Murphy, Cheno) make, and also I want to know how much the actors/dancers in the Ensembles make. Does anyone have any insight?

Updated On: 8/9/04 at 12:52 AM

[timote316]

Posted: 8/9/04 at 12:56am

I sometimes wonder the same thing. However, before Wicked, I don't think Idina would be in the same pay bracket as Nathan Lane or Hugh Jackman, but she certainly is now!

[NYUstud]

Posted: 8/9/04 at 1:23am

But what is that pay bracket? Like a million a year. Or like per show, or what?

[Thoroughly_Modern_Rockette]

Posted: 8/9/04 at 1:29am

They make a lot. Even chorus memebers. I had a friend in Stomp & I forgot what he started at, but basically every few months or so, you get a raise, plus they give you spending money on top of that...that could be just for the tour though...he wasn't in the tour, but that was what he was explaining...I forget all of it, but I do remember it was a nice lifestyle.

[MargoChanning]

Posted: 8/9/04 at 1:51am

This was what half all of those threads about the potential Equity strike dealt with about a month ago. Broadway Equity minimum is $1352 plus benefits. This would be for chorus members, walk-ons, swings and understudies (star understudies make more). Featured players (and actors with more name, reputation and experience playing smaller roles) would make a bit more than that ($2000 - 3000+ per week).

Star salaries range VERY widely. For example, Tonya Pinkins is apparently making $2000/week (plus a few very significant perks -- daily limos, hair & makeup for TV, rent allowances -- her producers were adamant about keeping costs down for the show); Donna Murphy is making around $25,000/week; Hugh Jackman, $50K/week; Nathan and Matthew -- an unprecedented $100,000/week each). Bernadette Peters reportedly made $50K/week plus profit participation for "Annie Get Your Gun" and "Gypsy" (the same deal Nathan and Matthew made during their original run in "The Producers"). Bebe Neuwirth had a slighly smaller, but similar deal for "Chicago."

Members of national Equity touring companies make at least the minimum plus a per diem for travel and hotel costs.

Updated On: 8/9/04 at 01:51 AM

[NYUstud]

Posted: 8/9/04 at 12:27pm

Thanks for the info, Margo. You rock!

[WiCkEd4LyFfE]

Posted: 8/9/04 at 2:09pm

How much do you think Idina makes? She just won a tony and now the demand is high for her because of Wicked. Same with Cheno.

[timote316]

Posted: 8/9/04 at 2:22pm

I say pay braket because I couldn't think of the right term lol. I meant that I don't think Idina made as much at Nathan and Matthew at the beginning of the run of Wicked. I'd bet she makes comprable money now, tho!

[Rathnait62]

Posted: 8/9/04 at 2:28pm

No. There is no way that Idina's salary in WICKED is comparable to Broderick and Lane in THE PRODUCERS. Their salaries were anomalies.

[BlueWizard]

Posted: 8/9/04 at 2:36pm

Exactly. There's absolutely no way Idina and Kristen are making $100000/wk; Broderick and Lane received that salary because there were in a very unique situation.

I would estimate Idina and Kristen make $25000 (on par with Donna Murphy), or a bit more.

[Rathnait62]

Posted: 8/9/04 at 2:39pm

If every person who won a Tony was bumped up to $100,000/wk, the producers would be voting for all the OTHER shows! That's just not feasible.

[insomniak]

Posted: 8/9/04 at 2:40pm

Being the obsessive fangirl I am, could anyone give me an estimate for what someone like Adam Pascal or Raul Esparza make? I doubt it's as much as Idina, but ballpark figure.

Posted: 8/9/04 at 2:54pm

I am in the WRONG line of work, apparantly.

[Bret]

Posted: 8/9/04 at 3:30pm

I read that Idina and Cheno were making $20000 a week, but if one of them won the tony, itd become $25000 a week. So Idina is making $25000 a week.

[Rathnait62]

Posted: 8/9/04 at 3:32pm

Well no WONDER Kristin hates her!!!!

[BlueWizard]

Posted: 8/9/04 at 3:53pm

Is it right to financially reward an actor for winning an award? It makes her or him seem more like a racehorse.

[MargoChanning]

Posted: 8/9/04 at 4:11pm

It's actually a very typical thing on Broadway -- most actors get a raise after winning a Tony. It makes sense -- they are now a more valuable commodity and the show is going to gear marketing around and sell tickets because of that win ("Starring Idina Menzel in her Tony Award-winning role......") so why shouldn't she be compensated (it's no different in Hollywood -- winning an Oscar typically doubles or even triples an actor's asking price).

[Fair 2 Middlin]

Posted: 8/9/04 at 5:11pm

Mind you, the salaries you're talking about are not their take home pay. As an actor you're paying 15% for an agent & 10% for a manager (unless you work both into your contract). You're also shelling out for an accountant, lawyer, publicist etc.

[MyNameInLights]

Posted: 8/9/04 at 5:16pm

Margo, you are so amazing. I wish I knew as much as you.

[Rathnait62]

Posted: 8/9/04 at 5:17pm

10% for the agent, 15% for the manager. And they don't all have accountants and publicists. Some work their assistants to the ground doing everything for very minimal money so they don't have to pay accountants, publicists, etc.

[millie_dillmount]

Posted: 8/9/04 at 6:11pm

Now I wish I could sing and act.

[Plum]

Posted: 8/9/04 at 6:16pm

But millie, what you're forgetting is that after your show ends, you could be out of work for months. It pays pretty well, even if you're not a star, but it's not a steady line of work.

[Zola Q. LaPlaya]

Posted: 8/9/04 at 6:26pm

And, Margo, now tell them about the changes the latest deal between Equity and the producers has wrought on tours. There are some big ol' problems brewing when you go out on the road.

[Rathnait62]

Posted: 8/9/04 at 6:57pm

Yes, Plum is absolutely right. That's what ultimately kept me from trying performing as a profession once I got here and saw that. My whole life I KNEW I was going to be on Broadway - but once I got to NYC and worked in the offices and saw how insecure the performers' lives were, I decided it wasn't worth it, even though I love being onstage and singing more than anything. Listen up, kiddies - even Tony awards are no guarantee that you'll get another job.

Updated On: 8/9/04 at 06:57 PM

[NYUstud]

Posted: 8/9/04 at 7:04pm

What is the new deal with Tours? Don't big stars also get a percentage of the ticket sales?