The investors of Bonnie and Clyde ... didn't get one dime back.
The hidden secret to investing in Wildhorn for Broadway is that one can always opt in on a profit share agreement on stock/amateur rights or foreign productions until such time as the investment is paid back. There may not be a dollar windfall in New York, but euros will circulate across the pond before too long.
"There is no problem so big that it cannot be run away from."
~ Charles M. Schulz
I take exception to your assertion that I am naive. Godspell is one of many shows in which I have invested, in addition to producing and general managing Off-Broadway. I now what I am doing when I invest in a commercial production. As for "getting money back"...a return of capitalization check that clears the bank is exactly that...money that is returned. I would love to know if you can tell me the companies held by any mutual funds in which you have invested, let alone their market cap, earnings and board of directors. Until you can understand and explain a full offering document, a financial statement and a royalty pool, please don't presume to pass judgement on anyone who has invested in a commercial theatre production or any security whether it be the relative safety of treasury bonds or as risky as a start-up.
NYCTheatreFan - I am a securities and tax lawyer, and a producer, so I guess I CAN suggest that someone who confuses operating profit with partnership distributions is at the very least careless with terms that have quite precise meanings.