standbys & understudies?

[RentBoy86]

Posted: 4/17/05 at 6:48pm

Do the understudies/stand bys get paid the same as the other members in the cast?

[melissa errico fan]

Posted: 4/17/05 at 7:04pm

Usually, they make scale.

[eslgr8]

Posted: 4/17/05 at 7:29pm

What does "scale" mean in this case? Does an ensemble member make extra for being an understudy? Does a supporting cast member make extra for understudying a lead role? Does a standby make the same as an understudy?

[whatyouown223]

Posted: 4/17/05 at 7:40pm

Don't they get paid for like, each time they go on? They also get the benefits of house seats etc. when they go on.

[jonartdesigns]

Posted: 4/17/05 at 8:39pm

i believe it was explained at some point as thus
the standby makes less than the lead but more than the ensemble
the understudy gets paid an additional ammount each time they go on
a swing makes out best, getting paid to be a swing plus for each part they cover/go on for

[Juliet2170]

Posted: 4/17/05 at 9:22pm

how much are leads and others making? 100k? i have no idea and was curious. is there a big diff between broadway and off-broadway? i mean some broadway shows aren't making sales too well compared to off-broadway, does that affect salaries?
Updated On: 4/17/05 at 09:22 PM

[bjivie2]

Posted: 4/17/05 at 9:24pm

I think I remember minimum on Broadway being $1370? Some Equity person help me out here.

[NYC_or_Bust]

Posted: 4/17/05 at 9:25pm

$1381

[Joshua488]

Posted: 4/17/05 at 9:34pm

Yes, the Equity minimum for Broadway is $1381 a week.

Leads can make much more than that. For instance, Idina Menzel was, reportedly, making around $14,500 a week in WICKED after she won her Tony. I forgot where I heard this from, and it might not even be accurate, but it seems like it makes sense.

[melissa errico fan]

Posted: 4/17/05 at 9:36pm

It all depends on how big of a name you are. Bernadette Peters and Hugh Jackman made $50K each for GYPSY and THE BOY FROM OZ, respectively.

However, that is not always the case. Sean Combs only made around $2,400 for RAISIN.

[Joshua488]

Posted: 4/17/05 at 9:41pm

Well, Puffy... I mean, P. Diddy... I mean, Sean Combs didn't need to be making $50k a week anyway... He's got plenty. Didn't he co-produce the show or something?

[NYC_or_Bust]

Posted: 4/17/05 at 9:45pm

What would someone like Nadine Isenegger have been pulling in a week for "42nd Street"? I mean she was an excellent talent, and the female star of the show. But outside the theatre community she's really not known at all. I just wonder how much she was making.

Idina was the star of wicked pulling in close to $15,000 (post tony), what was she pulling in (pre tony)?

[Joshua488]

Posted: 4/17/05 at 9:47pm

Reportedly, she was making around $3,000 a week prior to her Tony win. That's a nice little raise! Hell, I'd yell and scream and blow my voice out eight times a week, too, if I had $14,500 a week and a Tony Award on my mantle.

[Juliet2170]

Posted: 4/17/05 at 9:53pm

wow i had no idea there was such big money i mean even with Tonys...that's amazing!

[Rathnait62]

Posted: 4/17/05 at 10:12pm

There is not a constant standard for standbys - it all depends on what your agent can negotiate for you. I would imagine that a higher profile standby such as Karen Mason would make far above minimum.