Don’t Call It Broadway If You’re Paying Tour Wages

[macbeth]

Posted: 10/12/25 at 7:02am

https://www.onstageblog.com/broadway/2025/10/9/dont-call-it-broadway-if-youre-paying-tour-wages

agreed, even if I don't love agreeing with him. 

[Jonathan Cohen]

Posted: 10/12/25 at 12:55pm

Are the actors performing Beetlejuice on Broadway making less than the Actors' Equity minimum for a Broadway actor? Based on reading Chris Peterson's article, I got the impression that he was raising a lot of concerns about how those actors are getting compensated, but has not talked to any relevant parties about what those contracts actually say. 

Updated On: 10/12/25 at 12:55 PM

[Kad]

Posted: 10/12/25 at 1:12pm

Jonathan Cohen said: "Are the actors performingBeetlejuice on Broadway making less than the Actors' Equity minimum for a Broadway actor? Based on readingChris Peterson's article, I got the impression that he was raising a lot of concerns about how those actors are getting compensated, but has not talked to any relevant parties about what those contracts actually say."

Because Peterson is an opinion blogger and not at all anything resembling a competent journalist, regardless of how he presents himself. There's a reason he's not included in the legit Broadway media and press. 

AEA AGMA SM- who, as their username suggests, knows a thing or two about union contracts- explained here that these productions get a pay bump to near parity with the Production contract for their Broadway runs. 

Updated On: 10/12/25 at 01:12 PM

[The Distinctive Baritone]

Posted: 10/12/25 at 1:14pm

I love how this guy continues to try to be the self-appointed moral compass of the theater industry. It's so obnoxious. Anyway, it is not that unusual for tours to make a "stop" on Broadway, and given the horrific economics of New York commercial theater, if this is the only viable option in some cases, I don't see a problem with that. I don't see anyone complaining about non-profit theaters like Roundabout and MTC having Broadway productions and not using the Production Contract.

[TheatreFan4]

Posted: 10/12/25 at 1:43pm

The Distinctive Baritone said: "I love how this guy continues to try to be the self-appointed moral compass of the theater industry. It's so obnoxious. Anyway, it is not that unusual for tours to make a "stop" on Broadway, and given the horrific economics of New York commercial theater, if this is the only viable option in some cases, I don't see a problem with that. I don't see anyone complaining about non-profit theaters like Roundabout and MTC having Broadway productions and not using the Production Contract."

I mean... there is a very clear reason for that and you included it in your post. Non-Profit. Beetlejuice and Mamma Mia are both very much for profit and backed by very large producing companies. The idea that the only way these are tours will profit is if they nickel and dime the people working on it is a bit silly. People go "but the contract!" Yeah, the contract sucks. "Near Parity" isn't Parity.

[theatreguy]

Posted: 10/13/25 at 1:29pm

Why does the contract suck? Is it just the difference in minimum salary (about $50 per week, according to the post Kad linked)?

[JSquared2]

Posted: 10/13/25 at 2:48pm

theatreguy said: "Why does the contract suck? Is it just the difference in minimum salary (about $50 per week, according to the post Kad linked)?"

 

It really doesn't "suck" in relation to a full Production Contract -- but it's still being used as a dog whistle to rile up the base -- especially on social media.

[sinister teashop]

Posted: 10/13/25 at 3:33pm

macbeth said: "https://www.onstageblog.com/broadway/2025/10/9/dont-call-it-broadway-if-youre-paying-tour-wages

agreed, even if I don't love agreeing with him."

Yes, I appreciate the coverage especially since more legit orgs aren't covering it. 

The touring contract also appears to have different collective bargaining rights attached to it and, if I am reading the Playbill article below correctly, would not go on strike should one be called. So this does sound plausibly strategic...

https://playbill.com/article/broadway-musicians-have-voted-to-authorize-a-strike

Updated On: 10/13/25 at 03:33 PM

[Broadway61004]

Posted: 10/13/25 at 4:03pm

Honestly, the big issue is that we need to stop looking at Broadway as being automatically better than other NY theatre. A show running in a Broadway house is a Broadway show. But that doesn’t mean it's the top of the line in terms of quality theatre. 

Look at London--the Donmar Warehouse is one of the most successful and critically one of the most acclaimed London theatres, but it's off-West End. The fact that it's not West End doesn’t make a difference. We should be looking at NY theatre the same way.