Running cost to Broadway shows per week

[BwayTday]

Posted: 6/29/09 at 7:45pm

Does anyone know where I can get a rough estimate as to the running cost of shows on Broadway now, I am curious. Any show will do, but I am particularly interested in: Wicked, Next to Normal, God of Carnage, Shrek, Jersey Boys, and any others like
I mentioned before.


Thanks

[CurtainPullDowner]

Posted: 6/29/09 at 9:29pm

Even people close or working on shows can't give you perfect numbers, size of house, number of cast, crew (very important, because local oners are the highest paid, besides stars) musicians, and it can vary week to week depending on advertising.
Plays have a much smaller nut.
I don't think any musical on Broadway is under a $400 or $500 weekly cost these days.

[CATSNYrevival]

Posted: 6/29/09 at 9:39pm

$400 or $500 thousand, correct?

[singtopher]

Posted: 6/29/09 at 9:43pm

Thats gotta be what CPD meant. I'd love to know too. Or at least see the weekly budget for a show (even one that is closed).

[CurtainPullDowner]

Posted: 6/29/09 at 9:44pm

yeah, sorry.

[inick122492]

Posted: 6/29/09 at 9:52pm

On the Behind the Emerald Curtain Tour, they said Wicked run around 700k a week so you could estimate from there.

[defyingravity07]

Posted: 6/29/09 at 9:53pm

Shrek is either $650 or $750.

[CyCoSpAz2]

Posted: 6/29/09 at 9:54pm

I was always under the impression that Avenue Q was around $275, I think I read it in the Times or something

[Barney Stinson]

Posted: 6/29/09 at 9:57pm

A show with a small cast and a small theater, like N2N is definitely under $400K per week. Probably more like $300K or maybe a little less.

But it's not just the weekly operating costs (nut) you have to factor in, it's the % of gross costs like the credit card/ticketmaster costs/box office costs and variable theater % of gross, which can altogether range anywhere from 10-20% of gross gross. Those variable costs aren't in the weekly nut.

Then the royalty pool as well has to be factored in. Even if you know a show's weekly nut, you can't just compare that # to the grosses and tell how the show is doing.

[WOSQ]

Posted: 6/30/09 at 9:40am

The minute anything flies or slides on and off stage, that is money. Stagehands are required for these and to me, that doomed something like Reasons to be Pretty with all the things that moved within the settings.

God of Carnage has no moving scenic parts. That keeps the cost down.

Avenue Q with a small cast and has nothing that flies and a small orchestra. That has helped keep their running costs way low.

I haven't seen a budget for any show published for years.

[proptart101]

Posted: 6/30/09 at 11:25am

An article from 2007, not completely sure of the sourcing but it seems to be accurate from my observations over the last 15 - 20 years on B'way.

http://thehopefultraveler.blogspot.com/2007/04/broadway-ticket-buyers-where-does-money.html

The bottom line (or "nut" as the weekly expenses are referred to)
ranges from $300k - $600k (in 2007)
(today I would estimate more along $300k - $750k)

in descending order (out of a $100 ticket)
$24.75 RETURN OF CAPITAL TO PRODUCERS
$15.70 ROYALTIES
$11.20 ADVERTISING/MARKETING
$9.90 UNION BENEFITS/PAYROLL TAXES
$6.90 SALARIES (CREW)
$6.70 THEATER RENT
$5.30 SALARIES (CAST)
$4.50 THEATER UTILITIES AND MISCELLANEOUS EXPENSES
$4.10 BOX-OFFICE COMMISSIONS
$4.10 RENTALS
$2.00 SALARIES (MUSICIANS)
$1.40 SALARIES (OTHER)
$1.25 THEATER FACILITY FEE
$1.20 UPKEEP OF COSTUMES
$1.00 INSURANCE/ACCOUNTING

[snowskittle]

Posted: 6/30/09 at 11:45am

Which is the most expensive show on Broadway right now? I'd guess Wicked, given all the flying and moving parts.

[Mark_E]

Posted: 6/30/09 at 12:17pm

I would say Wicked, Shrek or WSS

[Tag]

Posted: 6/30/09 at 12:21pm

All three of the Disney shows are way up there too.

[CSonBroadway]

Posted: 6/30/09 at 12:21pm

Is WSS so expensive because they have a large cast? The set is nice, but I don't think it is as expensive as Wicked's or Shrek's.

[ljay889]

Posted: 6/30/09 at 12:29pm

WSS has a 40 person cast and a 30 piece orchestra, so yes that is not cheap.