What are the main reasons the original cast leaves?
What are the main reasons the original cast leaves?
#1What are the main reasons the original cast leaves?
Posted: 1/8/17 at 6:35am
Just curious as to why the original cast leaves a successful show. I am often disappointed when the original cast leaves a show that I love. I would think if you were part of a successful show, you would hang on to the job as long as you could. In the entertainment industry, jobs are not easy to come by. Often I see cast members leave and never to be heard of again. Other times, you do see actors reappear elsewhere.
Is it simply getting tired of performing the same part 8 shows per week? Is it looking for the next big role? Or is it the producers not renewing contracts for various reasons? From a producer standpoint, I would do my best to keep the original cast, but I am sure there is the business of actors wanting too much or producers being too greedy.
On a side note, it appears Disney is successful in keeping actors for many years. Have to think Disney pays much better than other producers
Not to be confused with Dave19.
Updated On: 1/8/17 at 06:35 AM
aaaaaa15
Broadway Legend Joined: 8/31/15
#2What are the main reasons the original cast leaves?
Posted: 1/8/17 at 6:41am
Various reasons but the main one is to progress in their careers. You're right that jobs in the entertainment industry are hard to come by so if you were part of a successful show, wouldn't you want to take the opportunities that were being offered to you whilst your career was at its peak?
#4What are the main reasons the original cast leaves?
Posted: 1/8/17 at 6:47am
aaaaaa15 said: "Various reasons but the main one is to progress in their careers. You're right that jobs in the entertainment industry are hard to come by so if you were part of a successful show, wouldn't you want to take the opportunities that were being offered to you whilst your career was at its peak?
"
I guess that is the double edged sword. You could stay employed or take the next big risk. I guess the other question to that is when an actor leaves, you very rarely ever see them return. Is it simply pride, or producers have just moved on and not willing to pay more?
Not to be confused with Dave19.
#5What are the main reasons the original cast leaves?
Posted: 1/8/17 at 6:50am
PThespian said: "All of the above plus a million other reasons
Maybe they have a TV series that is going to resume shooting or are going to make a movie.
Maybe the role is just too physically demanding to maintain (I don't think any Dewey in SOR will last more than a year).
Plus, as a producer, I'm sure you're aware that there are reasons other than salary demands for you wanting a performer to leave a show.
"
True. There is the "unwelcome back" part of it.
Not to be confused with Dave19.
#7What are the main reasons the original cast leaves?
Posted: 1/8/17 at 8:29am
Yes but you make more money on the road than you do on Bway. Also SOR doesn't have years of time left in it. A tour most likely it a longer contract.
trpguyy
Broadway Legend Joined: 2/25/05
#8What are the main reasons the original cast leaves?
Posted: 1/8/17 at 8:36am
Famebroadway2 said: "Yes but you make more money on the road than you do on Bway. Also SOR doesn't have years of time left in it. A tour most likely it a longer contract. "
No you don't. If the tour is a Full Production contract (very few are), you make just about the same as you do on Broadway. If you get rid of your NYC apartment and are frugal with your per diem, you can *save* more money than if you're working on Broadway, but you're not earning more. It may seem like I'm being bit-picky here, but it's an important distinction. Salaries are not higher on tour, and most of the time they're much, much lower.
#9What are the main reasons the original cast leaves?
Posted: 1/8/17 at 8:38am
I think the reasons are different between Ensemble and leading roles. Those actors that have already made names for themselves move on to other projects. Those might still be in developing stages, so we might not even know about them yet. I assume that's the case for Jessie Mueller leaving Waitress for example.
The leads in the real long-running shows like Phantom or Wicked probably leave because they look for other opportunities. Those might not be leads again, but I often feel like actors who stay with one show for too long have it harder to find other jobs. Because their resume is short, even if they have worked consistently in that one show. As an actor you need to show versatility, and you can only do that by playing different parts, even if that means going out on tour or taking a smaller part in another show. Plus they want to grow as actors and tackle new challenges. With every new job they take they also make new connections, work with different actors, directors, producers etc who see their talent which might help them get the next job. This would also apply for ensemble members I guess.
Of course it's a risk, but being in this business is a risk in itself. And taking the safe route and staying in one show for many years might end up being a risk too, if you have to leave eventually and you have nothing else to show on your resume.
dramamama611
Broadway Legend Joined: 12/4/07
#10What are the main reasons the original cast leaves?
Posted: 1/8/17 at 10:05am
Not too many actors go into acting for security. They go into to it to create. After some 400 performances, they crave change.
Like tech jobs, if you stay in one place/job too long, it's seen as stagnant...or that no one else would hire you.
Remember, the majority of the audience could care less about original cast status. If they did, shows couldn't run past a year or two.
If we're not having fun, then why are we doing it?
These are DISCUSSION boards, not mutual admiration boards. Discussion only occurs when we are willing to hear what others are thinking, regardless of whether it is alignment to our own thoughts.
Updated On: 1/8/17 at 10:05 AM
astromiami
Understudy Joined: 7/12/12
#11What are the main reasons the original cast leaves?
Posted: 1/8/17 at 12:11pm
trpguyy said: " No you don't. If the tour is a Full Production contract (very few are), you make just about the same as you do on Broadway.
For tours there is also a per diem on top of salary, so actors do actually make more on tour even if the salary is the same.
#12What are the main reasons the original cast leaves?
Posted: 1/8/17 at 12:15pm
And aren't the seta tours on a scale, so if the show earns more than normal the cast could potentially be getting a higher salary than their Broadway counterparts.
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trpguyy
Broadway Legend Joined: 2/25/05
#13What are the main reasons the original cast leaves?
Posted: 1/8/17 at 12:37pm
astromiami said: "trpguyy said: " No you don't. If the tour is a Full Production contract (very few are), you make just about the same as you do on Broadway.
For tours there is also a per diem on top of salary, so actors do actually make more on tour even if the salary is the same.
"
I addressed that in my post. Did you read the whole thing?
trpguyy
Broadway Legend Joined: 2/25/05
#14What are the main reasons the original cast leaves?
Posted: 1/8/17 at 12:38pm
Call_me_jorge said: "And aren't the seta tours on a scale, so if the show earns more than normal the cast could potentially be getting a higher salary than their Broadway counterparts
"
That has not ever happened. Overages on a successful tour might average out to a couple hundred dollars a week.
edit: after more thought, I believe the recent Les Mis tour did pay out enough overages to equal or exceed Broadway minimum salary, but that has not happened since nor will it happen again.
#15What are the main reasons the original cast leaves?
Posted: 1/8/17 at 1:05pm
^it may have happened with the newsies tour as well, especially when they were here in Chicago. I remember reading it broke a Chicago gross record with 2,000,000 dollars in one week.
My father (AIDS)
My sister (AIDS)
My uncle and my cousin and her best friend (AIDS, AIDS, AIDS)
The gays and the straights
And the white and the spades
trpguyy
Broadway Legend Joined: 2/25/05
#16What are the main reasons the original cast leaves?
Posted: 1/8/17 at 1:17pm
Call_me_jorge said: "^it may have happened with the newsies tour as well, especially when they were here in Chicago. I remember reading it broke a Chicago gross record with 2,000,000 dollars in one week."
Their overage for the 2-week engagement was nice - in the $1,700 range if I recall correctly, but that's quickly offset by the many, many weeks of <$100 overages or no overage at all. Cities like Buffalo or Vegas that virtually guarantee overages are always nice, but those are anomalies.
Also think if it this way - if it were cheaper for the producers to pay Full Production minimum and never have to pay out overages, they would.
ggersten
Broadway Legend Joined: 5/11/06
brian1973
Leading Actor Joined: 2/1/14
#18What are the main reasons the original cast leaves?
Posted: 1/8/17 at 3:17pm
This is such a stupid thread.
I might start one asking "Why do humans get upset?"
#19What are the main reasons the original cast leaves?
Posted: 1/8/17 at 6:07pm
There are many reasons - one being that actors need to develop their careers and explore new types of roles. They can't stay forever. However, some choose to stay because they love the show, the character, the cast member culture, per say. Lesli Margherita stayed with Matilda, but she took time off to take on new roles. I was so happy when she came back for the final months! She's amazing! It's healthy to leave. Actors need to dip their feet in everything in order to expand their career.
yankeefan7
Broadway Legend Joined: 4/14/12
#20What are the main reasons the original cast leaves?
Posted: 1/8/17 at 10:07pm
I think the obvious would be to expand yourself as an actor/actress by doing different roles. Even the most professional actor/actress must get tired of doing the same role night after night for extended period of time. I understand it is a steady paycheck but I believe after 6 months to a year it is best to move on.
#21What are the main reasons the original cast leaves?
Posted: 1/8/17 at 10:18pm
The longest run I've ever worked was a lovely little production of THE SOUND OF MUSIC in summer stock. It ran for 3 months and by the third month I had a calendar on my bedroom wall where I was marking off the days like a kid waiting for Christmas. I can only imagine what a run of 12 or 24 months would be like!
But I also know plenty of actors who would love to have the security of the money they could save during a year on Broadway.
ETA I should add that, while it isn't my favorite show, I don't hate TSOM. I was just tired of stage managing it. We should remember that, in most cases, actors and crew are hired to do EXACTLY the same thing 8 times per week. We've all had boring jobs, but no clerk-typist is forced to type the same document every day for months on end. A long run is better compared to assembly line factory work: a little more interesting for awhile, but ultimately just as repetitive.
#22What are the main reasons the original cast leaves?
Posted: 1/8/17 at 10:30pm
I'm not an actor but I've left a couple jobs in my career because I didn't care for or believe in the skills of my management. I assume it is the same for actors, you may like the role and paycheck, but the environment may not be great.
Phantom4ever
Broadway Legend Joined: 9/17/07
#23What are the main reasons the original cast leaves?
Posted: 1/8/17 at 10:43pm
I disagree that this thread is stupid. Although I do enjoy the philosphical questions raised by posting in a thread that one deems stupid. Does that make said poster, in fact, stupid too? A question for the ages.
I often hear people remark that if an actor gets a job in a long running show, then they would never want to leave because it's a steady paycheck. A lot of people can't fathom leaving a steady gig for something unknown. I wonder what it is about Chicago that makes it have people stay longer than the typical Broadway show.
#24What are the main reasons the original cast leaves?
Posted: 1/8/17 at 11:52pm
The question isn't stupid. What's stupid is that the answered was supplied in the first sentence of the first response: "various reasons." Everybody has their own reason (and yes we have listed all of the legitimate ones and, this being BWW, a few illegitimate ones from people who say things they don't know anything about.
#25What are the main reasons the original cast leaves?
Posted: 1/8/17 at 11:54pmIsn't Mercury poisoning a frequent reason?
LaneBryant
Understudy Joined: 12/20/15
#26What are the main reasons the original cast leaves?
Posted: 1/9/17 at 12:10am
No you don't. If the tour is a Full Production contract (very few are), you make just about the same as you do on Broadway. If you get rid of your NYC apartment and are frugal with your per diem, you can *save* more money than if you're working on Broadway, but you're not earning more. It may seem like I'm being bit-picky here, but it's an important distinction. Salaries are not higher on tour, and most of the time they're much, much lower.
Ummm LOTS of full production contract salaries are TWICE as much as Broadway Contracts....without the per diem. I speak from full experience.
LaneBryant
Understudy Joined: 12/20/15
#27What are the main reasons the original cast leaves?
Posted: 1/9/17 at 12:13am
You're only focusing on what you see. You dont see how people are being treated, how taxing a show can be on an actor physically, mentally, psychologically, the amount of sacrifice that accompanies doing 8 shows a week. Also, every actor doesn't have the same dream. There are some actors at Lion King who have been there since it opened.....doing the same track for 18 years - they dont long for film and tv, they have bills and kids who need to go to college. Not everyone is looking for the same destiny.
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