Question About Understudies

[chrysler99]

Posted: 8/7/08 at 1:02pm

Do understudies on a Broadway show get paid a base weekly salary or just a portion of the weekly salary depending on if and how many performances they actually go on for? if anyone has any insight on this it would be very helpful.

[adamgreer]

Posted: 8/7/08 at 1:06pm

Well, an understudy plays another role in the show, so they are getting paid for that. They receive additional money when they go on for a larger role.

A standby is paid a weekly salary to be ready at a moment's notice to go on for a particular role (usually a lead role). They receive a paycheck every week whether they go on or not.

Being a standby or understudy is not a per diem job.

[Yero my Hero]

Posted: 8/7/08 at 1:06pm

They get a salary, plus a bonus if they go on.

I don't know the exact numbers, though.

[chrysler99]

Posted: 8/7/08 at 1:16pm

thanks to you both!

[JKlock]

Posted: 8/7/08 at 1:22pm

If you want to know specifics, I believe the equity website lists all of that information. I remember reading at some time that in addition to their weekly salary, actors recieve "x" amount of dollars for every role they understudy

[Fiyero13]

Posted: 8/7/08 at 1:26pm

so do the leads lose money if they get sick? are they alotted a limited amount of sick or vacation days like everybody else does

[TooDarnHot]

Posted: 8/7/08 at 1:43pm

they get a certain number of "sick days" per year (called SICK LEAVE for equity). I don't remember how many days... too lazy to look.

equity seems to be against SICK LEAVE, though.


from the website:

If you are unable to work because of your injury or illness, you may receive disability benefits from your employer's workers' comp insurance. In addition, you should apply for the Supplemental Workers' Compensation Insurance (SWCI) benefit provided by the Equity-League Health Trust Fund, which provides additional weekly benefits, subject to certain caps. Call the appropriate Equity office to learn how to start your claim. Even if you will miss only a few days, do not use your sick days for this. Instead, file with Equity for SWCI, which will cover you for those days even if your State Workers' Comp benefit does not pay you for those days.

[Phyllis Rogers Stone]

Posted: 8/7/08 at 1:48pm

That's talking about workman's comp.

[puppet]

Posted: 8/7/08 at 4:21pm

Understudies and standbys also have one day rehearsals each week. Injteresting facts about understudies etc. can be found in Jeffry Denman's book "A Year with the Producers". Excellent book on the creation of the show from the standpoint of a cast member who was also Matthew Broderick's understudy.