I don't have answers to any of your questions but I found the timing of this new lawsuit very funny. Of course Julie WOULD pick the couple of days before the show opens to file a complaint...
I don't think she is trying to close the show down. She just wants her royalties. This show has been grossing pretty well, and it will continue to make more money over the summer as tourists come in. I don't see this closing any time soon.
"There’s nothing quite like the power and the passion of Broadway music. "
The show might be grossing "pretty well" but it's not selling out which it needs to do (for what, something like every performance for 8 years) if it's just going to break even so it's not doing "that" great.
I wonder if royalties are just being set aside until it is decided who is entitled to what amount given the change in directors and other elements of the show.
It's interesting because the huge SPIDERMAN sign above the theater still credits Julie as the director.
The playbill still credits Julie as the director as well. McKinley is only listed as a creative consultant so unless further negotiations change that the sign above the theatre is technically accurate.
If they are still using some of her ideas after she was fired and not paying her, of course she should take action-especially after spending years developing it. I am surprised she waited this long. Arachne shall get her revenge. This show is a gonner anyway. At least the cast got a full year's work.
Did she actually sign a contract? Wasn't that the problem with the Writer's Guild? The ego is just kicking herself in the butt now over and over. She certainly is deserving of something but if she thought she was above being fired and didn't sign anything, she screwed herself. Her directing royalties could be huge and certainly help drain the nut on top of McKinley's fees. And two choreographer's salaries? I pity the poor bookepper.
I get why some have not been thrilled (to put it mildly) by Julie's actions with Spider-man, but I think she definitely has every right to sue for royalties--there still is a LOT of her work in the show, from the masks to direction, and frankly I would find it crazy is she didn't try to get royalties (not to mention this whole fiasco has probably made it much less likely for her to find major work anytime soon--as well as the complete flop of her Tempest movie back in Dec...)
"According to Penn, the union filed a grievance a month ago with the Broadway League, the trade association of legit producers and presenters, in accordance with the collective bargaining agreement between the union and the League." Variety article
This Reuters article sheds some light and shows how little Taymor has been paid so far out of a $70 million budget:
"Julie Taymor... is seeking an estimated $300,000 in unpaid royalties from producers, the union representing her said on Thursday. ... "Taymor has given nine years of her life to this project," Laura Penn, executive director of the Stage Directors and Choreographers Society...
"The producer has absolutely no right, legally and ethically, to withhold royalties that are due to her," the statement said.
... Taymor received only her original director's fee of $125,000 about five years ago, but has not received any of the royalties owed to her since preview tickets went on sale last November." Reuters articleUpdated On: 6/10/11 at 01:32 AM
Another $300,000 is NOTHING to the Producers now. Just pay her. It will be another foot into the red zone. This show will be gone by mid November possibly mid January if they try to hold out for the Holidays. They have yet to make a gross over their nut (from what its recorded to be.)
"Life in theater is give and take...but you need to be ready to give more then you take..."
Wow I'm an idiot. I only saw the $300,000 bit but didnt see that she was SEEKING about that much more. So as far as we know...she could be claiming a multi million dollar lawsuit and want another $300,000
"Life in theater is give and take...but you need to be ready to give more then you take..."