Are Broadway plays profitable?
Statistically, some reports say that 1 out of every 5 shows recoups its money. There are some producers with a much healthier track record, with maybe 2 or 3 out of 5 recouping their money. There is an old showbiz motto that you can't make a living on Broadway, but you can make a killing.
How much do you get paid to be in a Broadway play?
Generally, the average Broadway salary for non-celebrity actors is between $45,000 and $220,000 per year, depending on the run of the show or their contract length in an ongoing production. The current Equity weekly minimum salary for Broadway actors is $2,439 per week.
Do Broadway actors make good money?
The minimum salary for an actor on Broadway is $2,034 a week, according to Playbill. While salaries of Broadway stars are rarely disclosed, it's generally believed that lead actors in major shows can earn anywhere from $5,000 to $10,000 per week.
What is the most profitable Broadway play?
The Lion King sits at the top, with a Broadway gross of $1.8 billion. Dates refer to original Broadway productions, with notes added for future productions that outran the Broadway run.
Do most Broadway shows lose money?
Broadway musicals typically cost at least $10 million to produce — and most end up losing money. Winning a Tony can mean the difference between being in the black or red.
What percentage of Broadway plays make a profit?
Only about 25% of Broadway shows are profitable. But the ones that are -- like "Hamilton" -- typically make A LOT of money. That's why investors keep going back.
Who is the highest paid Broadway actor?
Right now the highest-paid performer on Broadway is Richard Chamberlain, who is playing Captain von Trapp in 'The Sound of Music.” The actor, production sources say, pulls down about $50,000 a week. That figure is a combination of a guaranteed base salary, plus a percentage of the gross box-office receipts.
How do Broadway performers make money?
Theater actors are paid on a weekly basis. Broadway performers: $2,439/week. On Broadway, under the production contract, the minimum weekly salary for an actor is $2,439 a week; pay increases are also available depending on the requirements of the role.
How do Broadway shows make money?
The lead producer of a Broadway show raises financing from investors to pay for production costs and to establish a reserve. Once the show starts performances, box office and other revenues are first used to pay the show's weekly operating costs and royalties.
What are the disadvantages of being a Broadway actor?
Disadvantages of being a Broadway actor include the high level of competition for roles, the uncertain and inconsistent nature of work, and the physical and emotional demands of performing.
How hard is it to get on Broadway?
It's a rigorous selection process. You've got to be in top 10% to get hired and cast in a show. What many people don't realize is that getting hired for a Broadway show isn't just about raw talent.
Do Broadway actors get paid for rehearsals?
Under SAG-AFTRA and Equity contracts, actors are guaranteed a set rate of pay for both rehearsal and performance. The rate changes over time as union contracts are renegotiated, and it's influenced by the details of the production.
What is the #1 Broadway show of all time?
The Lion King is the highest-grossing Broadway show of all time. Since its opening on Nov. 13, 1997, The Lion King has earned $1,539,318,552 and counting. The average ticket price is $104.29, and the top ticket price is $251.25.
What is the #1 Broadway show?
1. The Lion King: The Highest-Grossing Show On Broadway.
What is the number 1 show on Broadway?
The Great White Way has been struggling with rising costs and smaller audiences. Attendance numbers are down by 17% from before the pandemic (see chart), and box-office returns were down by 27% in real terms in 2022-23 compared with 2018-19 (theatre seasons start in the summer).
Why is Broadway struggling?
Plus, the statistic that 80% percent of shows don't make their money back means even the 20% that do aren't necessarily hits. They just made enough to turn a profit. Although maybe with how hard that is to do on Broadway, that alone is enough to consider something a hit.
How many Broadway shows fail?
A Broadway “flop” does not earn enough through ticket sales to cover the cost of the production and make a reasonable profit.
What makes a Broadway show a flop?
Only 1 in 3 Broadway shows recoup their costs. If you're going to make the move, it'll cost you — and sometimes in a very big way. You'll need a lot of cash upfront to make an investment, and not every show is the same, cost-wise. For some, you might only need $25,000 as the lowest amount to invest in a show.
Are Broadway shows a good investment?
An estimated 20 to 30 percent of Broadway shows including musicals, dramas and comedies fail to turn a profit, according to Tim Donahue and Jim Patterson in their 2010 book “Stage Money: The Business of the Professional Theater.”
What percent of Broadway shows fail to turn a profit?
What are the different types of tickets that I can purchase? Broadway shows offer tickets at many different price points. Regular Price tickets generally range from $20 to $145. You can expect to pay higher prices for the best seats to hit shows on weekend nights.
What is the average cost of a Broadway show?
Hugh Jackman and Daniel Craig reportedly received a base salary of $40,000 per week for their roles in A Steady Rain. Broadway actors' earnings can also include a percentage of box office sales.
How much does Hugh Jackman make on Broadway?
That said, there is confirmation that each main cast member made at least $3,400 a week for their actors' salaries (and even more after a crucial deal was signed.) According to The New York Times, Broadway actors make a union-mandated minimum of $1,900 a week, which would amount to $116,300 a year.
How much do Hamilton actors get paid?
Yes, actors in Broadway shows can make money from royalties. Actors in Broadway shows are typically paid a weekly salary, and they may also receive a percentage of the show's gross box office sales in the form of royalties.
Do Broadway actors get royalties?
Hours/Travel
Often work long hours. Once a show opens, stage actors usually work about 30 hours a week. Travel when shows are “on the road.” May work part time or full time.
How many hours a week do Broadway actors work?
You don't need an agent to get on Broadway—but having one helps. Unrepresented actors can search casting notices for advertised auditions. If you're Equity, you can sign up for ECCs and EPAs. However, many Broadway gigs are not posted publicly; instead, they're cast exclusively through agent submissions.
How much does Aladdin on Broadway make?
Once a show has recouped, the net profits are usually split 50/50 between the producers (both the lead producers and co-producers) and the investors. Investors also usually share in the ancillary income from the show (merchandise, licensed productions, etc.)
How do actors get on Broadway?
According to industry reports, the average salary of a Broadway producer ranges from $50,000 to $200,000 per year. However, it is important to note that this figure represents a wide range, and top producers can earn significantly more.
Who makes money from Broadway shows?
Pay for a Broadway actor depends on their fame, experience, and the demands of the role they're playing. And everyone usually has to start at the bottom and work their way up. Pay for a Broadway actor depends on their fame, experience, and the demands of the role they're playing.
Do Broadway producers make a lot of money?
Generally, the average Broadway salary for non-celebrity actors is between $45,000 and $220,000 per year, depending on the run of the show or their contract length in an ongoing production. The current Equity weekly minimum salary for Broadway actors is $2,439 per week.
Do you get paid to do musicals?
Broadway musical stars are in their 20s, usually. So get a good five years of training with a coach.
Can you make a living on Broadway?
Performing as a tour dancer, singer, and actor on a Broadway show proves difficult already: traveling long days to getting acquainted to new performance venues, to being away from friends and family, let alone adding an understudy assignment to focus on.
How old is the average Broadway actor?
It is never too late to become an actor. I've taught actors who start at sixteen years-old as well as sixty who went on to have flourishing careers in commercial, theater, television, and film. There is no age limit or threshold to becoming an actor.
Do Broadway actors travel?
Because of their prime locations, Broadway shows have a greater chance to attract tourists and other theatre-goers, and as such, have long since been known to have much larger budgets and production values than other musicals and stage shows in New York City.
How well do Broadway actors get paid?
Right now the highest-paid performer on Broadway is Richard Chamberlain, who is playing Captain von Trapp in 'The Sound of Music.” The actor, production sources say, pulls down about $50,000 a week. That figure is a combination of a guaranteed base salary, plus a percentage of the gross box-office receipts.
Is it too late to become a Broadway actor?
Like any other job, you have counted 'sick days' which you will be paid for. Once those are up, any performance you miss... you don't get paid. Period. Like most jobs, actors have to 'clock in'/sign-in when they arrive for work and also when they leave.
Is Broadway a big deal?
There's also the rehearsal time prior to a show going into production vs. doing performances once the show is up and running. Rehearsals may not have all the actors present for every rehearsal. You might rehearse 6 - 8 hours a day, Tuesday - Saturday anywhere from 3 - 6 weeks prior to previews.
Who is the highest paid Broadway actor?
The Lion King sits at the top, with a Broadway gross of $1.8 billion. Dates refer to original Broadway productions, with notes added for future productions that outran the Broadway run.
Do Broadway actors get sick days?
The Dutch called it the Heeren Wegh or Heeren Straat, meaning "Gentlemen's Way" or "Gentlemen's Street" – echoing the name of a similar street in Amsterdam – or "High Street" or "the Highway"; it was renamed "Broadway" after the British took over the city, because of its unusual width.
Do Broadway actors rehearse every day?
The most famous example is George Lee Andrews, who is the world record holder for most performances in a single Broadway show. He was part of the original cast of PHANTOM and played 9382 performances over 23 years.
What is the most profitable Broadway show?
$854 million – The gross revenue so far for Broadway performances of “Hamilton,” from 2,674 shows since its 2015 opening.
Why is Broadway called Broadway?
Broadway is still recuperating from the pandemic, but audiences are more diverse But the Broadway League said — in its first full demographics report since before the pandemic — that New York City's celebrated tourism draw has still not fully rebounded to pre-COVID levels.
Who is the longest running Broadway actor?
It's a rigorous selection process. You've got to be in top 10% to get hired and cast in a show. What many people don't realize is that getting hired for a Broadway show isn't just about raw talent.
How much has Hamilton made on Broadway?
There are more swings on Broadway than you think.
This is because the longer that a show runs, the more likely that an actor will be out of the building due to vacations, medical leave, or personal days.
Is Broadway still popular?
Broadway musicals typically cost at least $10 million to produce — and most end up losing money. Winning a Tony can mean the difference between being in the black or red.
What was the biggest flop on Broadway?
Only 1 in 3 Broadway shows recoup their costs. If you're going to make the move, it'll cost you — and sometimes in a very big way. You'll need a lot of cash upfront to make an investment, and not every show is the same, cost-wise. For some, you might only need $25,000 as the lowest amount to invest in a show.
What is the most played Broadway?
The producer's financial remuneration consists of a share of the profits of the production, a weekly royalty of 2%-3% of the gross weekly box office receipts (generally calculated pursuant to a royalty pool formula), and a cash office charge (which might be $2,000 per week for a Broadway musical) designed to cover the ...
How hard is it to make Broadway?
An estimated 20 to 30 percent of Broadway shows including musicals, dramas and comedies fail to turn a profit, according to Tim Donahue and Jim Patterson in their 2010 book “Stage Money: The Business of the Professional Theater.”
Why do actors leave Broadway shows?
New musicals are generally the only type of theater investment that can make for financially high-quality investments. With the exception of Chicago, all the long-running blockbuster shows on Broadway are musicals in their original production, and these have returned colossal profits to their investors.
Do most Broadway shows lose money?
On Broadway, you'll experience the pinnacle of theatrical artistry. With performances by some of the most talented stars in the entertainment industry, you are sure to be captivated. There is truly nothing like it. Award-winning sets and costumes provide a fantastic backdrop for each story.
Are Broadway shows a good investment?
Do Broadway investors make money?
How do Broadway shows make money?
What is the average cost of a Broadway show?
What percent of Broadway shows fail to turn a profit?
How many Broadway musicals make a profit?
Why do people invest in Broadway?
Only 1 in 3 Broadway shows recoup their costs. If you're going to make the move, it'll cost you — and sometimes in a very big way. You'll need a lot of cash upfront to make an investment, and not every show is the same, cost-wise. For some, you might only need $25,000 as the lowest amount to invest in a show.
Why is Broadway a big deal?
An estimated 20 to 30 percent of Broadway shows including musicals, dramas and comedies fail to turn a profit, according to Tim Donahue and Jim Patterson in their 2010 book “Stage Money: The Business of the Professional Theater.”
Are Broadway shows a good investment?
According to industry reports, the average salary of a Broadway producer ranges from $50,000 to $200,000 per year. However, it is important to note that this figure represents a wide range, and top producers can earn significantly more.
What percent of Broadway shows fail to turn a profit?
Broadway Producer Musical Theatre Salary
As of Feb 5, 2024, the average annual pay for a Broadway Producer Musical Theatre in the United States is $123,552 a year. Just in case you need a simple salary calculator, that works out to be approximately $59.40 an hour. This is the equivalent of $2,376/week or $10,296/month.