Idina reportedly highest paid actress in West End History

[bwayfan3]

Posted: 5/1/06 at 7:44pm

Disclaimer: I couldn't find the other idina in London thread and the search feature is coming up blank for me right now.

Anyway, just found this article. Here's the link:
http://news.independent.co.uk/people/pandora/article361347.ece

Here's a snippet:
"It's the sort of pay deal you'd expect to grease the palms of a Premiership footballer. In a blow for female equality, Idina Menzel is set to become the highest-paid actress in West End history. Although little known in the UK, Menzel, whose performance garnered a Tony for "best actress" in New York, will command a truly jaw-dropping fee. Potential investors tell me her package is budgeted at $30,000 per week, plus accommodation. That dwarfs the probable record for a leading lady, held by Jerry Hall, who got an estimated £10,000 a week for The Graduate."

The spokesman for the show goes on to say that nothing's been finalized yet, but you get the general idea...

[RentBoy86]

Posted: 5/1/06 at 7:46pm

Wow, good for her. Now I can see why she took the deal. I sort of wish she didn't though, I would have liked a new recording.

[Yankeefan007]

Posted: 5/1/06 at 7:48pm

Of course she'd take the deal. All expenses paid trip to London doing something you obviously enjoy?

She'd be an idiot not to.

[Sparklesss]

Posted: 5/1/06 at 8:20pm

30,000 a week is the highest anyone's gotten paid?? i thought i heard kristin got 35,000 for glinda...guess i heard wrong :)

[theatreguy]

Posted: 5/1/06 at 8:22pm

That's $30,000 for a West End run. I'm sure there are actresses on Broadway who've gotten more that that.

[BroadwayGirl107]

Posted: 5/1/06 at 8:26pm

Do they mean dollars or pounds? Because they keep changing the symbols they use, and it makes a pretty big difference...

[LeaGirl]

Posted: 5/1/06 at 8:26pm

And actually, if you look at that as the "package" - the 30,000 AND the fact that they're covering her accomodations, which I'm sure will be lovely, it's MORE than 30,000.

[Auggie27]

Posted: 5/1/06 at 8:29pm

And why? I admired her performance, but as everyone has learned since she departed, the show is the star. Will Brits other than show queens give a damn? Isn't the show a pre-sold family event, like ANNIE? Well, more power to her.

Will she play it 8 times a week there?

[bwayfan3]

Posted: 5/1/06 at 8:34pm

Even though they mess up the symbols, I'm pretty sure it's pounds. (which is more) + like mentioned above, expenses.
Sweet deal.

[StephanietheStar]

Posted: 5/1/06 at 8:39pm

£30,000!!! POUNDS?!?!

If she saves that and uses it in the US, she'll have about $50,000 a week.

I need to get me a Tony, and then a gig in London. :)

AND accomodations!!? London is the most expensive city to live in...that is one sweet ass deal.

[senortenor]

Posted: 5/1/06 at 8:41pm

No wonder ticket prices get so outrageous!

[mrkringas]

Posted: 5/1/06 at 8:53pm

Elaine Paige seems to have a going rate of £25k for her last outings in King and I and Sunset Boulevard. So the whole things about Jerry Hall holding the record at £10k is inaccurate.

Just think how luck you are with US Equity. Our London ensemble minimum is just under £400 and a Phantom or Valjean is looking at £1500 if lucky.

[everythingtaboo]

Posted: 5/1/06 at 8:54pm

Go Idina. Considering she got a third of Kristin salary when Wicked first started, she has every right to get a nice chunk of change. And don't forget, she's only doing the West End for only three months!

[bwayfan3]

Posted: 5/1/06 at 9:05pm

Yeah...I'm actually second guessing my earlier posting about her salalry being in pounds. I converted it and that's a lot of money/. It's more likely it's 30,000 US dollars, But plus acommodations still a nice chunk of change to bring back across the pond to hubby.

[BroadwayGirl107]

Posted: 5/1/06 at 9:10pm

I don't get why they would put it in dollars. Especially since they're comparing her salary to other salaries in pounds. Confusing.

[CFK]

Posted: 5/1/06 at 9:51pm

One hell of a deal. Good for her!

[emo_geek]

Posted: 5/1/06 at 10:04pm

I new it had to be a lot. They are worried about how her reviews will be???? I am sure they will be like the New York reviews. I dont know how the shows reviews are going to be but her reviews wont suprise me.

[JerseyGirl2]

Posted: 5/1/06 at 10:08pm

I heard (not from a reliable source, so who knows) that Idina was making like 50k per week when she left. I would HIGHLY doubt that she would go to West End for less. 54k+ in US dollars sounds about right.

[pippin2]

Posted: 5/1/06 at 10:20pm

Although I think this is a wonderful opportunity for her, frankly I'm worried for Idina's voice. This role wreaked havok on her chords the first time around, whats to say it wont happen again. And if she does lose it again, as she did around the middle of her B'way run, I'm afraid that London critics and audiences wont be anywhere near as forgiving as US audiences were. Of course, these fears may all be totally unnecessary, but I think theyre valid points to consider.

[PJ]

Posted: 5/1/06 at 10:24pm

She was definitely making 50K the last third or so of her run in New York. So I'd imagine it would be that, and then some.

[KJisgroovy]

Posted: 5/1/06 at 10:25pm

This was already said but I'll echo it. Why? Idina Menzel doesn't really mean much in the UK... and her take on the role is not really definitive... does a Tony mean that much? Are there no belters in England?

kmc

[I <3 NY]

Posted: 5/1/06 at 10:26pm

yeah, she sounds bad.

send shosh to london and make them poop their pants.

[PJ]

Posted: 5/1/06 at 10:27pm

By doing the show across the pond, she is cementing the fact that she owns the role. She owns Elphaba the way Jennifer owns Effie, Barbra owns Fanny, Carol owns Dolly, etc., etc.

[mrkringas]

Posted: 5/1/06 at 10:33pm

There are plenty of belters in London! And quite a few fine names in the running to take over. So no shortage for recasting in a years time either

[PitPro2004]

Posted: 5/1/06 at 10:47pm

"Elaine Paige seems to have a going rate of £25k for her last outings in King and I and Sunset Boulevard. So the whole things about Jerry Hall holding the record at £10k is inaccurate. "

I was thinking the exact same thing. Idina beat Elaine Paige in terms of salary??

Oh...my ....gods!