Riedel: 'Moon' and Star

[NathanLaneStalker]

Posted: 1/10/07 at 10:43am

"January 10, 2007 -- WHEN it comes to Broadway salaries, "A Moon for the Misbegotten" star Kevin Spacey is shooting for, well, the moon.

The acclaimed actor is demanding such a hefty paycheck, some people involved in the show worry that there won't be anything left for the backers.

Spacey, who's bringing the show to New York from his theater company in London, is said to be angling for a guaranteed weekly salary of $25,000, plus 10 percent of the weekly gross receipts over $350,000."

READ ON:
http://www.nypost.com/seven/01102007/entertainment/theater/moon_and_star_theater_michael_riedel.htm

Why does this even matter to Riedel?

[bjh2114]

Posted: 1/10/07 at 10:49am

"Why does this even matter to Riedel?"
Because Spacey's demands are absolutely rediculous. Although, that part of the article doesn't catch my attention as much as the statement that the Grease producers want to move it to the Palace. GOOD GOD! They are asking their show to flop.

[NathanLaneStalker]

Posted: 1/10/07 at 10:52am

But Legally Blonde will be playing there, so how could they get it?....unless LB will flop as badly as High Fidelity...

[NathanLaneStalker]

Posted: 1/10/07 at 10:55am

WOOPS!

Yankeefan already posted it. I didn't see it. Sorry!

[Neverandy]

Posted: 1/10/07 at 11:14am

Remember that post a few weeks ago saying that the Wicked leads were getting 40K? HAHAHA
Makes you think, right?

[lildogs]

Posted: 1/10/07 at 12:39pm

That's not so crazy--Nathan and Matt got WAY more than that for Producers and I think Bernadette got a very similar deal with ANNIE GET YOUR GUN...

[Jimmcf]

Posted: 1/10/07 at 12:57pm

I would say Nathan and Matthew in "The Producers" was an event - remember that was the first of the 'premium' Broadway ticket prices.

Ms. Peters is considered the first lady of Broadway musical theatre - her name above the title does put butts in seats (although 'Gypsy' did run for a year, but did not recoup).

Mr. Spacey in 'The Iceman Cometh' a few years ago also was considered an event. But I am not sure 'Moon' will have the same luster - it was just done very well a few years ago on Broadway, and Mr. Spacey is not as much in the public eye here as previously. If he can get it, all the power to him.

Updated On: 1/10/07 at 12:57 PM

[Rathnait62]

Posted: 1/10/07 at 12:58pm

Well, lildogs, those are musicals, with great tourist draw. This hardly falls into that category.

[lildogs]

Posted: 1/10/07 at 1:39pm

Well, what did Julia/Denzel/Julianne get? That's a better gauge I guess

[orangeskittles]

Posted: 1/10/07 at 2:14pm

Didn't Denzel Washington take a huge paycut for Julius Ceasar and everyone was hailing him as this martyr for lowering himself to...the average salary of every other Broadway actor?

[Thesbijean]

Posted: 1/10/07 at 3:19pm

Denzel was getting roughly $10,000 a week for Julius Caesar. But, the production also paid for him to fly back home to LA every sunday night and fly him in every Tuesday morning.

[Rathnait62]

Posted: 1/10/07 at 3:25pm

That's CRAZY. Not just the money that alone would cost, but you can't be at the top of your game if you're flying to and from LA every week.

[Thesbijean]

Posted: 1/10/07 at 3:28pm

Did you see his performance? I would certainly say that he was NOT at the top of his game.

[papalovesmambo]

Posted: 1/10/07 at 3:31pm

i wouldn't pay $.50 to see spacey in anything. well, maybe in a noose.

[Rathnait62]

Posted: 1/10/07 at 3:32pm

I did not, Thesbi, but I'm certainly not surprised, with that schedule.

What were the producers/director thinking?

[Thesbijean]

Posted: 1/10/07 at 3:42pm

$$$

[Jimmcf]

Posted: 1/10/07 at 5:02pm

I am not sure Kevin Spacey is in the same Julia/Denzel/Julianne realm. Julia Roberts is arguably the biggest movie star in the world...and Mr. Spacey's last few films have not exactly set the world on fire (although I guess Superman was a hit, but I have not seen it).

[Cape Twirl of Doom]

Posted: 1/10/07 at 6:06pm

I remember seeing Spacey in The Iceman Cometh 8 years ago and reading about how that was the first straight play to sell tickets at $100. At the time I remember the show being a big event and though I want to see A Moon for the Misbegotten, I don't know if it'll really bring in the crowds like Iceman did.

[MargoChanning]

Posted: 1/10/07 at 6:23pm

NICHOLAS NICKLEBY back in 1981 was the first straight play to charge $100 for tickets.

[Cape Twirl of Doom]

Posted: 1/10/07 at 7:41pm

Oh, I didn't know that. Hmm, why did the papers make such a big deal about the price for Iceman then? I know I read about that somewhere.

[MargoChanning]

Posted: 1/10/07 at 7:50pm

Actually, now that I think about it, "NIC NIC" was the first show period -- play or musical -- to charge $100. It wasn't until after THE PRODUCERS went from $90 to $100 the day after it opened in 2001 (to rave reviews) that the $100 top price became common for musicals.

[Rathnait62]

Posted: 1/10/07 at 7:53pm

Cape, I would imagine it was because ICEMAN is your everyday 2.5 hour play, whereas NICKLEBY was a marathon experience.

[Mr Roxy]

Posted: 1/10/07 at 7:54pm

Saw the 2000 revival With Brynne , Jones & Dotrice & it was great

No need to see this one

[theaterdude87]

Posted: 1/10/07 at 7:58pm

The Legally Blonde thing makes no sense...its at the Brooks Atkinson where Grease is slated to open. It is only doung a ten week run so it won't overlap.

LB is at the Palace.

[Corine2]

Posted: 1/10/07 at 7:59pm

Spacey is worth it. He is an incredible actor. Does anyone know if he can sing? I would love to see him as Edna Turnblad.
Updated On: 1/10/07 at 07:59 PM