Minor yet memorable roles and salaries for actors
Minor yet memorable roles and salaries for actors
northlandfan
Stand-by Joined: 4/20/14
#1Minor yet memorable roles and salaries for actors
Posted: 1/17/16 at 4:27pm
I was just curious if anybody in the theater world understands salaries for actors for the roles that they play. For example having recently seen Hamilton I thoroughly enjoyed the role of King George played by Jonathan Groff. When you consider that he is on stage for probably 10 minutes maximum throughout the whole show I was wondering how an actor makes a decision to accept such roles and if they are compensated adequately for their minimum time on stage. His role in the show was so memorable I hope he is paid very well and wonder how it compares to the salaries of thethe other actors who are on stage for most of the show......
By the way does anybody know how well paid actors are in general for a megahit show like Hamilton.....
Are they paid a weekly salary or per show. Just curious to know if they are millionaires already. Knowing that the show brings in almost $2 million per week I can just imagine how well pay they are.
Having met the main characters after the show such as Christopher, Daveed ,Leslie and the three Schuyler sisters who were so wonderful and unforgettable in their roles, I'm just wondering if they're all paid equal and what type of salary they may be earning..........
I'm sure Lin feels as though he won the Powerball lottery!
Anybody have a clue how that is determined.....
Updated On: 1/17/16 at 04:27 PM
#2Minor yet memorable roles and salaries for actors
Posted: 1/17/16 at 4:38pm
No one in the cast of Hamilton is a millionaire. Not even Lin.
northlandfan
Stand-by Joined: 4/20/14
#3Minor yet memorable roles and salaries for actors
Posted: 1/17/16 at 4:43pm
How could Lin not be a millionaire!
I figure he must earn 1 million a week being so involved and every aspect of the creative process and acting in the show as well as all the memorabilia and CDs sold to date!!!
if not he certainly needs a better agent! LOL
#4Minor yet memorable roles and salaries for actors
Posted: 1/17/16 at 4:46pm
Jonathan Groff is definitely a millionaire and he would be compensated for his name, not the time he is on stage. Lin Manuel is also about to be a millionaire if he's not already. If you or I were to take over either role, we would be paid roughly $2000-$2500. It would go up from there depending on the amount of fame the actor taking over had plus how good of an agent. The minimum for an equity actor on Broadway is about $1800 weekly.
northlandfan
Stand-by Joined: 4/20/14
#5Minor yet memorable roles and salaries for actors
Posted: 1/17/16 at 4:51pm
Are you telling me an actor such as Leslie odom Junior or Daveed diggs who are so outstanding in their roles earn approximately 3000 a week or 3000 a show .
Who then is earning the bulk of the profits for this type of a show. The producers? If so what a killing they are making!
TheGingerBreadMan
Broadway Legend Joined: 12/7/12
#6Minor yet memorable roles and salaries for actors
Posted: 1/17/16 at 4:57pm
Hamilton absolutely does not make $2 Million per show. It might make that in a week, but not one single performance.
I can also guarantee that Lin is not making a million a week. I'm sure he is well compensated for his performance and his writing, however it is not that much.
#7Minor yet memorable roles and salaries for actors
Posted: 1/17/16 at 5:00pm
Every actor on the stage is paid a minimum of $1917 per week. That's the equity minimum. Unless a producer or cast member chooses to disclose their salary, all we know is what they are minimally required to be paid.
#8Minor yet memorable roles and salaries for actors
Posted: 1/17/16 at 5:03pm
There were also articles about the cast asking for a bigger cut of the profits and the producers not obliging. The contracts they are in now were signed before the popularity of the show could be predicted. Agents negotiating the next set of contracts will make sure they get a fairer cut.
yankeefan7
Broadway Legend Joined: 4/14/12
#9Minor yet memorable roles and salaries for actors
Posted: 1/17/16 at 5:11pm
"Jonathan Groff is definitely a millionaire and he would be compensated for his name, not the time he is on stage."
I think Jonathan Groff is great, have seen him in "Spring Awakening" and "Hamilton". That being said, I can't imagine his name really means that much to a show like "Hamilton" and would command a higher salary for a short part in the show. Even with his brief time on "Glee", I don't think he is that well known outside the Broadway community.
Updated On: 1/17/16 at 05:11 PM
dramamama611
Broadway Legend Joined: 12/4/07
#11Minor yet memorable roles and salaries for actors
Posted: 1/17/16 at 5:23pm
He has experience...he's getting paid well enough. It's still considered a full time job.
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.
#12Minor yet memorable roles and salaries for actors
Posted: 1/17/16 at 5:27pm
Not only Frozen, but Looking and The Normal Heart.
Tag
Broadway Legend Joined: 11/19/05
#13Minor yet memorable roles and salaries for actors
Posted: 1/17/16 at 5:54pm
This was reported by Rieldel in September:
A revolution’s brewing at “Hamilton.” I hear the cast is demanding at least 1 percent of the show’s profits because of its success and the effort they put into the workshops. Writer-star Lin-Manuel Miranda supports them, and helped them draft a letter setting forth their demands. Fortunately, it wasn’t in rhyming couplets.
Sources say the producers offered each actor a $35,000 bonus, but that the cast is holding out for more. (The producers refused to comment.) Stay tuned.
FindingNamo
Broadway Legend Joined: 7/22/03
#14Minor yet memorable roles and salaries for actors
Posted: 1/17/16 at 6:18pm
Jon Groff gets $2.17 an hour and works for tips, basically. Jeffrey Seller takes 20% of his tips for "uniform rental."
Twitter @NamoInExile
Instagram none
#15Minor yet memorable roles and salaries for actors
Posted: 1/17/16 at 7:55pm
I would imagine Lin and his wife combined would be millionaires. With her being a lawyer and him being apart of the cast/creative team of the most popular show on Broadway it could add up easily to a million. And groffsauce is not a millionaire. He's more of an 800,000aire
In our millions, in our billions, we are most powerful when we stand together. TW4C unwaveringly joins the worldwide masses, for we know our liberation is inseparably bound.
Signed,
Theater Workers for a Ceasefire
https://theaterworkersforaceasefire.com/statement
dramamama611
Broadway Legend Joined: 12/4/07
#16Minor yet memorable roles and salaries for actors
Posted: 1/17/16 at 7:59pm
You do realize n it all lawyers aren't wealthy, right?
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.
#17Minor yet memorable roles and salaries for actors
Posted: 1/17/16 at 8:11pm
She's a 4th or 5th year associate at Jones Day, probably makes between $200k and $250k.
VotePeron
Broadway Legend Joined: 5/2/13
#18Minor yet memorable roles and salaries for actors
Posted: 1/17/16 at 11:58pm
I heard a rumor principles in Hamilton are getting $40k a week, which seems a little high to me...
#19Minor yet memorable roles and salaries for actors
Posted: 1/18/16 at 12:15am
There should be no limit on the pay grade for Hamilton's principles! Ambition, freedom, integrity. Worth at least 40k a week!
I doubt the principals are getting that much, though.
#20Minor yet memorable roles and salaries for actors
Posted: 1/18/16 at 1:57am
4K a week sounds far more realistic then 40k.
And don't kid yourself thinking Groff isn't a millionaire. Multi millionaire? Doubt it, but he could have a great team investing for him. The dude was in Frozen and American Sniper and I'm sure he took home a neat little sum of money for those pieces. We have to remember two things--at least I do--about being a millionaire in 2016: a million dollars (or two or three million) doesn't go as far in New York as it does in Dayton, Ohio or Ft. Worth, Texas because of differences in cost of living. Second, it's easier to be a millionaire today then ever before. Smart investing, living within your means, and good choices made in your 20s and 30s are producing more 62 year old retiree millionaires then anyone may have expected.
willep
Broadway Legend Joined: 9/20/08
#21Minor yet memorable roles and salaries for actors
Posted: 1/18/16 at 2:05am
I'm not saying he isn't a millionaire (how should I have the foggiest idea how much money the man has), but there is no way he got paid a great deal for the two lines he had in American Sniper.
StephieElise
Featured Actor Joined: 11/12/12
#22Minor yet memorable roles and salaries for actors
Posted: 1/18/16 at 7:09am
We have no idea what any members of the cast are making and nor what they're doing with their money, which is also a big factor in what they are 'worth'. I know of an Australian theatre performer, David Harris, who did have a successful career here, but definitely wouldn't have been able to demand the same sort of money as someone like Groff. However, he is quite well off financially due to handling his money wisely, budgeting, investing in property, etc. Hopefully the cast of Hamilton are all doing the same.
dramamama611
Broadway Legend Joined: 12/4/07
#23Minor yet memorable roles and salaries for actors
Posted: 1/18/16 at 8:27am
mariel9 said: "She's a 4th or 5th year associate at Jones Day, probably makes between $200k and $250k.
"
That doesn't
1. Make them millionaires
2. Go terribly, terribly far in NYC.
Are they middle class? No. Are they millionaires? Doubtful. Are they well in their way? Probably.
As for Groff? He's further away, but certainly not struggling. I'm sure he pulled relatively small paychecks for any film work. And who knows if his agents were able to get him any percentage of the box office for Frozen. I believe you have to be a pretty big star to get that.
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.
yankeefan7
Broadway Legend Joined: 4/14/12
#24Minor yet memorable roles and salaries for actors
Posted: 1/18/16 at 9:45am
"And who knows if his agents were able to get him any percentage of the box office for Frozen. I believe you have to be a pretty big star to get that."
I think you are right, can't imagine anyone but Idina possibly getting a percentage from Frozen.
#25Minor yet memorable roles and salaries for actors
Posted: 1/18/16 at 9:45am
The running costs for a big musical like Hamilton are typically said to be in the ballpark of 500-600k a week, right? And that includes ALL weekly salaries for everyone involved in the show (including backstage and front of house staff), costs for the theater ect ect.
So non of the actor can make that much, especially considering most of them were fairly unknown when they negotiated their contract and many in the ensemble probably don't get a lot more than the minimum. That is of course excluding actors with name recognition like Groff and Lin himself.
Like we all learned from the lab/workshop debate they do not get a share of the profits because they had a lab contract, but get a bit of a higher salary. But even a profit share wouldn't be that much.
At the end of day this is Broadway, not film or TV. There's a reason so many stage actors try to do some TV work here and there, and it's not just because of craft services 
