Leslie Odom Jr Leaving Hamilton — Page 3

Another thing Leslie needs to consider, it's probably best not to burn any bridges with the show. Lin is well known to keep his core actors on his projects. It's only a matter of time before Lin writes his next musical. It would be nice to see Leslie be a part of it.

I'm not surprised Odom is leaving, as it was clear he was going on tour in support of his album. The album seems more like a vanity project than something that's going to seriously advance his career, but he seems very passionate and excited about it, and there's certainly an audience for standards.

While scrupulously polite, Odom has made the most pointed remarks about the clash with the producers over Hamilton profits (which is probably the reason he suggested he might not be in any filmed version of the musical; sounds like they're still negotiating), about the difficulty black actors have in getting good parts, et cetera. None of this is probably all that good for his career, as producers might decide he's too difficult.

Likewise, I agree the Hamilton producers don't really have an incentive to pay him to stay. The show is sold out through next May, and the goal is obviously to keep everyone's focus on the show and not the original cast. The selection of Yorktown as their Tony performance made sense for other reasons, but it also had the side benefit of not emphasizing any of their individual Tony winners. ("The Room Where it Happens" would have brought down the house, but then everyone would have been talking about Odom.) The average person who wants to see Hamilton is focused on the show; they're not as preoccupied as we are on individual performers.

All that said, Odom's performance was just spectacular. He (along with Diggs and Goldsberry) were the people I really would have been most disappointed not to see. I hope things get worked out over the filmed version, because if it isn't, that suggests much bigger problems and basically would cheat people like me who otherwise would be happy to pay for a filmed OBC performance someday.

In the end, Odom will probably be just fine. He backed out of a network TV show to be in Hamilton in the first place. Now he's a Tony Award winner in the biggest hit musical in years. And he's only 34.

Updated On: 6/19/16 at 06:15 PM

HAMILTON is a brand that is in no way cast-dependent. Lin was a very special case, because he was the creator and star, and his absence was news beyond the industry. As much as we all feel Odom earns whatever he wants, this is another business decision entirely. From the other side of the table's standpoint, a brilliant one. The show will never need to hire stars, or necessarily even issue extensive, detailed cast replacement announcements (does anyone else remember that CHORUS LINE quietly moved on, once the originals departed, and they departed relatively early, in light of the whole run.) HAMILTON will always be the event, not X or Y in HAMILTON, unless it's Miranda in the title role. This was likely a precedent setting decision, and smart. Considering how long it took Odom to make a decision, we can certainly imagine many back/forth negotiations, a last big round post Tony's. Ultimately, the show moves ahead, and Odom will too.

Updated On: 6/19/16 at 06:18 PM

It's a natural bitterness in any job to see the money piling up and you're getting next to nothing. For example, if you get a new job and become the best seller and double the bottom line then see the boss drive up in a Bentley and gives you a fruit basket you would be upset.

I get that Hamilton would have been a success anyway but the fact is that Odom, Goldsberry and Diggs were constantly praised by critics and audiences. I suspect that subsequent actors will be basing their performances on the original performers. It's standard practice in all the other entertainment areas to be low paid in the beginning and be overpaid for the next round. I don't know why it's not like that in this situation since they know they are not losing money. Him saying he wants to stay and the producers milking an extra 500/k profit is just not looking kosher. All I see is greed and how a rich white guy is treating a Tony winning POC as throwaway. I know we aren't supposed to discuss pay bc it's rude or something but seriously, how much can he really be asking for that they can't come around? Even 100k/wk for 6 months doesn't seem unreasonable to me. Him saying he's not sure about the filming indicates that he's mad as hell, feels disrespected and has likely felt like this for a long time.

QueenAlice said: " 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.



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It may be unprecedented but I think if LMM can get his father 1% for some title then the cast splitting 1% 32 ways is nothing.

Well lin has more leverage.



And to to be honest I do think lowly of the producers. As much as people talk about the diversity of Hamilton most of the people making money off its success are already rich white men. I understand that they want the show to be the star and not any actor but if Leslie or any of the tony winning stars were willing to stay longer with more money they should have given it to them.

Something shady is obviously going on behind the scenes if he is threatening to not be in the filmed shows. Lin should use his power to stick up for the actors of the show but I guess he doesn't want to make enemies out of Jeffrey Seller.

Updated On: 6/19/16 at 06:38 PM

Hellob said: "He kept Chris, Javier and Seth from ITH unless I'm missing someone. So working with him once doesn't mean you are in his posse."

We have no idea if others were offered parts in Hamilton or not and chose to turn it down. He does work continually with the same people. Not only those you mentioned, but Jeffrey, Tommy, Alex, Andy. He is working with Phillipa again on Moana. He has worked with Karen Olivo numerous times.

I don't see the point in talking about what Leslie, Lin or the producers should have done when we have no idea what has actually been negotiated or said. Maybe Leslie's demands were too much, maybe the producers aren't giving enough, maybe Lin has spoken out, maybe he hasn't. We don't know.

Hellob said: "Dave13 said: "Another thing Leslie needs to consider, it's probably best not to burn any bridges with the show. Lin is well known to keep his core actors on his projects. It's only a matter of time before Lin writes his next musical. It would be nice to see Leslie be a part of it.



"

He kept Chris, Javier and Seth from ITH unless I'm missing someone. So working with him once doesn't mean you are in his posse.

I'm not sure if LMM pulling the Switzerland play is smart or not. He has a lot of power and could have been more vocal about pay/ticket costs. Maybe it's in his best interest to be in the dark but at this point, any producer would work with him, he could even produce his own show. He doesn't need Seller & co like he did.



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He and Groff were friends. Daveed was in his freestyle group. Didn't Leslie and him do that tick...tock...boom thing together? Phillipa is doing Moana. He even got Anthony to do that 21 Chump Street thing with him. He likes working with the same people.

And I agree Lin should use his power that he has. He either doesn't care or wants to stay neutral so he doesn't make enemies out of the producers, which is dumb because like you said any producer would work with him at this point.

Updated On: 6/19/16 at 06:44 PM

since when was he paid "next to nothing"? no matter what the specific salary, if you are starring in a Broadway show you aren't making next to nothing.

And sometimes an agent gets greedy and makes impossible demands feeling their client's participation is more essential than it is. Somebody here posted that story about LaChanze's agent holding out for more money for her to do the cast recording of COMPANY (she wasn't even a Tony winner then) and the producers said 'thanks, we'll just use the understudy.' Needless to say the demand for more money was dropped and La Chanze showed up for the recording session.

Hellob said: He kept Chris, Javier and Seth from ITH unless I'm missing someone. So working with him once doesn't mean you are in his posse.

I'm not gonna go check every member of the ensemble but I know that Morgan Marcell worked on two tours of In the Heights and that involved working with Andy Blankenbuehler at the very least. Carleigh Bettiol was also in a tour of In the Heights. I don't know if this is how they met, but Anthony Ramos was in this production, written by Lin. Jon Rua met Lin while auditioning for In the Heights, they seem to have been friends in the meantime, and they were both involved in Bring It On. Ariana DeBose also worked on Bring It On (Lin recently posted this picture). And that's only of the people I know about.

Hellob said: "gypsy101 said: "since when was he paid "next to nothing"? no matter what the specific salary, if you are starring in a Broadway show you aren't making next to nothing.



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Next to nothing relative to the bounty.





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But yet the producers will be able to find a talented young actor to replace him who would absolutely leap at the chance to probably be paid half of that.

ukmusicalfanatic said: "Hellob said: "gypsy101 said: "since when was he paid "next to nothing"? no matter what the specific salary, if you are starring in a Broadway show you aren't making next to nothing.



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Next to nothing relative to the bounty.





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But yet the producers will be able to find a talented young actor to replace him who would absolutely leap at the chance to probably be paid half of that.



"

But what kind of person does that? It's ok because it's entertainment? I'm guessing you don't feel the same about the people who say that about regular people's jobs. Is it ok if you ask for a raise and your boss says I don't need you, I can get someone for 1/2 your salary. Acting is their career and to hold the fact that someone else would die for their job so they can eat it is not cool.

To the replies about previous LMM coworkers, I knew about the creative teams but thanks for informing me about the others. I was very uninformed about the repeat players. : )

With full acknowledgement of the posts saying that we don't know what really happened- I still find it interesting (does ironic work here? Lol) that the behind the scenes is beginning to mirror the show prewar. Rich King and his put upon subjects. If only I had a Hercules Mulligan to get me some scoop! I hope I live long enough to read the true behind the scenes book!!