Do creative teams benefit from successful shows?

[thez914]

Posted: 4/14/06 at 11:27pm

I was just wondering...with the recent success of WICKED (which currently has productions on Broadway and in Chicago, one soon to open in London, and possible sit-down productions in LA, Germany, Japan, and Australia...), do the creative teams behind it get a cut of the boisterous ticket sales? Or are they merely paid a set amount for their time and contributions? This is just one example (the same question applies to shows like Miss Saigon, Les Miz, Phantom of the Opera, etc. that have seen widespread success) but it seems to me like Eugene Lee, Kenneth Posner, and Susan Hilferty are the main catalysts behind the appeal and success of the show, not to mention Mr. Schwartz and Winnie Holzman, and especially Joe Mantello for creating the concept and staging for the production.

Are these people rewarded based on the show's success, or do they do their thing and then "whatever happens, happens"? Also, who monitors the distribution of profits? Do producers (most likely) get the largest cut, since they submitted the funds to make the production possible from the start?

Just curious...

[thez914]

Posted: 4/15/06 at 2:52pm

BUMP...

[bjivie2]

Posted: 4/15/06 at 4:19pm

I'm pretty sure that the designers get a flat fee, and then a percentage of the profits, just as a director would get.

And yes, producers get the largest cut.

[blaxx]

Posted: 4/15/06 at 4:24pm

If you're talking about international and out-of-town productions, the producers of those pay rights for the show, so that's what they get, a part of what they pay for the rights.

If they decide to use the original staging / design, then the creative team gets paid too, although for international productions they are sometimes given the option to come up with their own staging and design (waiving those fees).

Updated On: 4/15/06 at 04:24 PM

[Katurian2]

Posted: 4/15/06 at 4:29pm

Street Cred is also gained when a show does well. No one wants to hire a designer for flops.