Leslie Odom Jr Leaving Hamilton - Page 2

[MinervaMoon]

Posted: 6/19/16 at 3:45pm

nsguy45 said: "Leslie said a few nights ago on Andy Cohen that he would definitely wish to stay with the show beyond his contract ending July 9th if the money was right."

Is he really getting paid so little for the show that it's not worth his while to stick around a little longer? (6 mo, a year? I don't know how contracts work.) Because it it was about money, you'd think it means he has something lined up that would be immediately more lucrative, that Hamilton is preventing him from doing. Television/film? I know he has said he wants to work on music but I have no idea how much that would pay compared to a regular salary from appearing on stage.

[dramamama611]

Posted: 6/19/16 at 3:49pm

And yet, if the producers arne't willing to pay them what they are worth they owe it to their own dignity to walk away.   Of the three that are leaving, the only one we know not of what they have next is Leslie.  That doesn't  mean he doesn't have something. Just becaue the offers aren't what they might have been for a white actor, doesn't mean he doesn't have options. Or maybe he WANTS a break.

 

I don't think its ever our to say whether one should or shouldn't leave.  It's their careers and lives.

[MinervaMoon]

Posted: 6/19/16 at 3:55pm

You're right about that. I personally wasn't questioning his right/decision to leave and hope he does something that he feels good doing. He's great and I only wish him the best. And it's true, I hadn't really thought that maybe it's not that moving on to earn more immediately, but that he doesn't feel obligated to stay if he feels he isn't getting paid what he's worth.

[BroadwayMomma]

Posted: 6/19/16 at 3:57pm

I really hope it works out so he can be in the filmed performances.  Not only because it would be a shame to have him absent as part of the OBC, but also because that presumably means he'll miss two performances between now and July 9.  

[Dave13]

Posted: 6/19/16 at 3:57pm

Considering the show is sold out until May 2017 with or without the current cast,  there is no incentive for producers to give raises to the current cast.  It sucks but that's show business. 

[Cupid Boy2]

Posted: 6/19/16 at 4:00pm

Hellob said: "he admitted that he hasn't been getting offers that white actors would have - the last admission likely hurt his position in negotiations."

I think it's important he spoke out about that during the Hollywood Reporter's roundtable, though. Sometimes people put causes they believe in before financial gain, and I admire the choice he made to share what he's up against even if it was off-putting to some people. 

It seemed especially necessary given all of the white men he was surrounded by and their self-congratulatory talk of how diverse this season was. How long it took for him to get a word in amongst all of that made me even happier that he spoke up.

 

[brdwayjunkie1391]

Posted: 6/19/16 at 4:02pm

It is hard for creative people to be doing the same thing over and over again for years. They all deserve a break and I don't think Leslie's main goal is money. I have a feeling that he really wants to focus on his music and that he doesn't have anything "big" immediately lined up after July 9. He has a concert in my area in July that I am going to, so hopefully he'll sing a song or two from Hamilton since I'll be missing him on the Hamilton stage. 

[ClumsyDude15]

Posted: 6/19/16 at 4:05pm

Out of curiosity today I went and looked on StubHub for tickets and there is a pretty significant drop in price on tickets following July 9th. Sure, they're still priced hundreds of dollars above average price, but it's declined from the week leading up to July 9th. 

Leslie is hosting and performing as part of the Wawa Welcome America event here in Philadelphia in two weeks, so I'm not sure whether he'll be out that weekend or not. 

I adored Leslie as Aaron Burr and I'm very grateful to have gotten to see him both off-Broadway and Broadway. The last time I went a few weeks ago, I saw Austin Smith as Burr, and he did a wonderful job. Perhaps he'll be the one promoted to full time when Leslie leaves. 

Updated On: 6/19/16 at 04:05 PM

[SweetLips]

Posted: 6/19/16 at 4:17pm

I come from an era where there was no electronic chit chat just face to face, telephone and letter writing.

Today 'people' say too much and dig their own hole as a consequence.

What someone earns is a private matter but once you open your mouth it invites all types of speculation.

From a distance[mine] it seems that the financial success of this show is not being happily shared.

At this stage of the shows' success I don't think 90% of it's audience would care, or know, WHO is up there performing-they just want to see HAMILTON.

 

SL...............x

[MyFavoriteBrunette]

Posted: 6/19/16 at 4:40pm

I adored Leslie as Aaron Burr and I'm very grateful to have gotten to see him both off-Broadway and Broadway. The last time I went a few weeks ago, I saw Austin Smith as Burr, and he did a wonderful job. Perhaps he'll be the one promoted to full time when Leslie leaves. 

 

Austin played Washington at one of my performances and like I mentioned in an earlier/different thread post, he didn't have the stature that Chris Jackson has playing Washington but I was really happy when he sang "One Last Time".  I can totally see him playing Burr.

 

Updated On: 6/19/16 at 04:40 PM

[Hellob]

Posted: 6/19/16 at 4:42pm

What was the money situation? Getting the 1 percentage point of the grosses?
 

That's they ended up with but in the article he lets on that it was a lot of drama and he led the team. 

Cupidboy- I agree that things need to be said but there's a long list of people who do the right thing only to wind up being labeled difficult and get less work. I'm glad that he would rather be true to himself but it does have disadvantages when you try to renegotiate with the same people. I'll miss him so much but he will probably have club dates later this summer. 

[gregnyc2]

Posted: 6/19/16 at 4:49pm

No surprise w leslie leaving.   My gut says daveed will be next to announce.  Renee will stay six months (why not? All of those other tony winners will be gone!)

[MyFavoriteBrunette]

Posted: 6/19/16 at 4:49pm

SweetLips said: At this stage of the shows' success I don't think 90% of it's audience would care, or know, WHO is up there performing-they just want to see HAMILTON.

Yes, this happens.  When a friend of mine told me she got tickets to see Hamilton through her sister's job, I was so excited and was telling how how much she would love it, that I listen to the cast recording every day and have learned the entire storyline just from the cast recording and how I want to see it so badly, that she's so lucky...I later learned she didn't have Reneee at her performance and she didn't even know because she was just going to see Hamilton.  She wasn't invested in the cast like some of us are.  She was part of that 90%

 

Updated On: 6/19/16 at 04:49 PM

[theatregoer3]

Posted: 6/19/16 at 5:01pm

I also think the producers are distancing themselves from names. They don't want this to be another Producers situation where the ticket sales drop dramatically once the original cast leaves. They don't want the original cast to be the appeal, but rather have the show itself be the appeal.

[Wick3]

Posted: 6/19/16 at 5:25pm

theatregoer3 said: "I also think the producers are distancing themselves from names. They don't want this to be another Producers situation where the ticket sales drop dramatically once the original cast leaves. They don't want the original cast to be the appeal, but rather have the show itself be the appeal."

That's a very good point. When I first heard of Hamilton a year ago, I'll admit the only name I recognized was Lin-Manuel Miranda. Nowadays that has obviously changed.

[QueenAlice]

Posted: 6/19/16 at 5:39pm

Leslie is obviously leaving on July 9 because he asked for more money to stay than the producers were going to give him. That showbiz, the show is the star, and that's that.

 What's more interesting is his threat to not participate in the filming next week; I don't know if he is either asking for additional money to be included in those filmed performance, or if he was using that as a bargaining tool, to try to get more money for an extension to stay. 

 That's a tricky one, because frankly I think the only one who loses by not doing the filming in the long run is Leslie. As has already been pointed out, it could be years before the product is released in any format and it's doubtful any of the cast stands to get rich from such an enterprise. Choosing to opt out, won't affect public interest in the footage, All it means is that Leslie's performance won't be preserved for posterity, which would be a shame.

 

[samuellite34]

Posted: 6/19/16 at 5:42pm

What a shame. Leslie Odom is by far the best actor on that stage and deserves the respect from the producers. Leslie Odom has that special X-factor that you are immediately drawn to in this show. As much as I like Lin, I was ok with him leaving on July 9 because I thought Leslie was going to be sticking around. I connected with Leslie more than anyone else and it seems like everyone I've spoken with says the same thing. Hopefully, he will still be part of the film so that everyone that couldn't see the show gets to experience the Leslie Odom X-factor. 

[Hellob]

Posted: 6/19/16 at 5:46pm

I thought the price hike was to help keep the cast. They will be getting over a 1/2 million more per week. They can afford to pay the main players 50-75k/week and the support 30k without losing a dime. If they don't end up resigning cast members and keep the higher prices then f them. 

[Wick3]

Posted: 6/19/16 at 5:53pm

samuellite34 said: "What a shame. Leslie Odom is by far the best actor on that stage and deserves the respect from the producers. Leslie Odom has that special X-factor that you are immediately drawn to in this show. As much as I like Lin, I was ok with him leaving on July 9 because I thought Leslie was going to be sticking around. I connected with Leslie more than anyone else and it seems like everyone I've spoken with says the same thing. Hopefully, he will still be part of the film so that everyone that couldn't see the show gets to experience the Leslie Odom X-factor. "

I saw the show with Sydney Harcourt as Burr since Leslie was away and felt Sydney had an X-factor as well. I've now seen it with Leslie as well and both have their own X-factors in different ways. Either way, I wish Leslie the best on his new endeavours!

 

[QueenAlice]

Posted: 6/19/16 at 5:53pm

Leslie is fabulous, but don't let idealism cloud your judgment. There are many other equally talented actors who could (and will) play that part.   In truth, Im sure these kind of negotiations are likely humbling experiences for the actors involved. Because as much as they may have contributed to what made the show great; it's no doubt the best interest of the producers to now disengage; and let the show be the focus.

 The best example here, probably isn't "The Producers," but Wicked. People felt like Idina and Kristen were indispensable; and the producers realized keeping them around only enforced that belief.  That show has a habit now of never renewing contracts for lead performers, and it is only ever now about the title selling tickets. That is what I suspect will be the template for Hamilton. 

They may even decide they don't want to renew any principle's contract and that it's in the best interest of the show to have a completely new set of leads take over in July

Updated On: 6/19/16 at 05:53 PM

[chi-town_bwayfangirl]

Posted: 6/19/16 at 5:54pm

QueenAlice said: What's more interesting is his threat to not participate in the filming next week; I don't know if he is either asking for additional money to be included in those filmed performance, or if he was using that as a bargaining tool, to try to get more money for an extension to stay. 

 That's a tricky one, because frankly I think the only one who loses by not doing the filming in the long run is Leslie. As has already been pointed out, it could be years before the product is released in any format and it's doubtful any of the cast stands to get rich from such an enterprise. Choosing to opt out, won't affect public interest in the footage, All it means is that Leslie's performance won't be preserved for posterity, which would be a shame.

 ^^ THIS ^^

I think it's a little tacky to even mention he "might not" be in the filming...I'm surprised that's even a top 3 question he's been getting - I just assumed the OBC (minus Groff) was all going to be in it since that's what LMM reported. 

[gypsy101]

Posted: 6/19/16 at 5:55pm

Bettyboy72 said: "These folks are crazy to be distancing themselves so quickly from this cash cow. Outside of this show they are nobodies. Does Leslie really think his album will be a hit? Ask Idina and all the tired old Rent original cast how easy it is. Leslie and Daveed will be begging to do the Hamilton 20th Anniversary tour. "

I actually thought about this recently and I hope it's not true. obviously Idina has since had great success but most of them probably wished they stayed.

I don't understand what he said about not being in the recording...I haven't seen the live Facebook video but why wouldn't he be in it.

[belrowley]

Posted: 6/19/16 at 5:56pm

I have no idea what the contract negotiations have been like, but I'm kind of disgusted with the producers. They're making more money than they know what to do with - they surely can afford to pay their Tony-winning lead better. I can't help but think that Leslie leading the protest for profit-sharing has something to do with it.

I really hope they come to terms at least for the OBC recording - it would be a shame if petty negotiations get in the way of preserving such a great performance for posterity. 

[BwayinVan]

Posted: 6/19/16 at 6:05pm

gypsy101 said: "Bettyboy72 said: "These folks are crazy to be distancing themselves so quickly from this cash cow. Outside of this show they are nobodies. Does Leslie really think his album will be a hit? Ask Idina and all the tired old Rent original cast how easy it is. Leslie and Daveed will be begging to do the Hamilton 20th Anniversary tour. "

I actually thought about this recently and I hope it's not true. obviously Idina has since had great success but most of them probably wished they stayed.

I don't understand what he said about not being in the recording...I haven't seen the live Facebook video but why wouldn't he be in it.

 

"

Idina only really found mainstream success in the last couple years largely helped by Frozen. My friends who aren't into theatre only know her from that...if at all. Wish them all luck and do hope they find success 

[QueenAlice]

Posted: 6/19/16 at 6:07pm

 I doubt it has anything to do with retaliation for the cast asking for a profit share. However that went down, the producers agreed to it  without a lot of public fuss, and that is unprecedented.  This has more to do now with how the producers perceive is best for moving forward with marketing the show. It really isn't in the best interest of the musical to pay the original cast more money to stay, because that takes away from the branding that the show is the star.