Long term contracts

[laporms]

Posted: 4/4/23 at 7:37pm

I have been expecting Reeve and Eva to call it a day soon at Hadestown, but they seem to be going strong. Good for them. 

It made me wonder, what actors/actresses have had long-term contracts with a show in a major role beyond the usual 12-18 month contract? 

Updated On: 4/4/23 at 07:37 PM

[perfectpenguin]

Posted: 4/4/23 at 7:47pm

Contracts interest me in general. It’s none of my business what anyone’s contract is but if a performer is tied to a tv series or movie trilogy, I’m always fascinated how they can fit in a Broadway show during their already very busy schedule. 

[stoptheworld38]

Posted: 4/5/23 at 12:52am

Like half of the Come From Away (Broadway) cast was with the show for the majority or entirety of its 5 1/2 year run. (And some even in the pre-Broadway engagements before). 

[B212323]

Posted: 4/5/23 at 1:12am

Mandy Gonzalez was in Hamilton for 5 years. 

[Fosse76]

Posted: 4/5/23 at 5:04am

None of these people had more than a 1-year contract. They simply were able to renew their contracts for an additional year. 

[quizking101]

Posted: 4/5/23 at 9:17am

Jeff Loeffelholz had the “run of show” contract that allowed him to remain with the cast of CHICAGO as the Mary Sunshine cover for 20+ years until he was allegedly bullied out by Leslie Stifleman and Walter Bobbie, leading to him taking his own life.

There was even a whole investigation about it.

https://www.nytimes.com/2018/07/28/theater/chicago-musical-actor-suicide-broadway.html?smid=nytcore-ios-share&referringSource=articleShare

[JBradshaw]

Posted: 4/6/23 at 2:03am

Bebe was Velma in “Chicago” 1996 - 1998 then came back in 99. And came back again. Then again as Roxie. Then as Mama. 

[Fosse76]

Posted: 4/6/23 at 4:08am

quizking101 said: "Jeff Loeffelholz had the “run of show” contract that allowed him to remain with the cast of CHICAGO as the Mary Sunshine cover for 20+ years until he was allegedly bullied out by Leslie Stifleman and Walter Bobbie, leading to him taking his own life.

There was even a whole investigation about it.

https://www.nytimes.com/2018/07/28/theater/chicago-musical-actor-suicide-broadway.html?smid=nytcore-ios-share&referringSource=articleShare"

Those aren't common, though, not even back then. Presumably they didn't expect the show to "outlive" one or two replacement casts, if that.

[GiantsInTheSky2]

Posted: 4/6/23 at 8:39am

Alton Fitzgerald White played Mufasa in The Lion King for over 4,300 performances. Lots of early Wicked actresses played the roles for years over multiple productions (Eden Espinosa for 4+ years, Willemijn Verkaik being the longest running with over 2k performances internationally). Long term contracts (specifically when/how these things are decided) are a fascinating part of the industry. 

[hearthemsing22]

Posted: 4/7/23 at 5:22pm

Hasn't Thayne Jasperson been with Hamilton since the beginning? WOW 

[dshnookie]

Posted: 4/7/23 at 5:32pm

This came immediately to mind:

https://www.nytimes.com/2011/09/01/theater/george-lee-andrews-to-leave-phantom-after-23-years.html

And to a lesser extent, I thought it was pretty cool Jonathan Freeman played Jafar in the film and then in the musical for nearly 8 years (according to Wikipedia).

[LarryD2]

Posted: 4/8/23 at 9:00am

Run-of-show contracts used to be a lot more common. I remember in the early '90s, when I was new to working in theater, there was a dustup because Jodi Benson and Harry Groener had both signed run-of-show contracts with CRAZY FOR YOU -- never expecting it would run for years -- and were desperate to get out of them. (They both did, eventually.) Nowadays it's more common for performers to sign shorter-term contracts (e.g., 6-12 months) with the option to extend. 

[Hairspray0901]

Posted: 4/8/23 at 9:49am

Judy McLane was with Mamma Mia for 11 years - starting off as Tanya for 8 years then playing Donna for 3, closing out the Broadway production. 

[Dylan Smith4]

Posted: 4/8/23 at 10:07am

hearthemsing22 said: "Hasn't Thayne Jasperson been with Hamilton since the beginning? WOW"

What blows my mind is that he’s still in his ensemble role. I know he understudies principal roles but I would think he would want to play a principal role full time by now if he was offered it. 

[willep]

Posted: 4/8/23 at 10:09am

hearthemsing22 said: "Hasn't Thayne Jasperson been with Hamilton since the beginning? WOW"

He had at least a bit of a break to do the Kate Nash show at MCC last year. But still, his Hamilton run is impressive.

[GiantsInTheSky2]

Posted: 4/8/23 at 10:42am

Dylan Smith4 said: "hearthemsing22 said: "Hasn't Thayne Jasperson been with Hamilton since the beginning? WOW"

What blows my mind is that he’s still in his ensemble role. I know he understudies principal roles but I would think he would want to play a principal role full time by now if he was offered it."

Which tells me he wasn’t offered. Same thing with Saycon Sengbloh in Wicked - was the standby 2005-07 and left the production without an offer despite being more than deserving of it. IMO, she was often to standout amongst her casts. 

 

[Tag]

Posted: 4/8/23 at 11:04am

Longest Broadway contracts: 11 of the Phantom orchestra members have been there since the beginning.
Phantom Ends. For Musicians, So Does The Gig of a Lifetime

[Bryce 2]

Posted: 4/8/23 at 1:21pm

dshnookie said: "This came immediately to mind:

https://www.nytimes.com/2011/09/01/theater/george-lee-andrews-to-leave-phantom-after-23-years.html

And to a lesser extent, I thought it was pretty cool Jonathan Freeman played Jafar in the film and then in the musical for nearly 8 years (according to Wikipedia)."

Don Daryl Rivera has been playing Iago since opening! He's only left a few times only for a couple months at a time.  

[The Distinctive Baritone]

Posted: 4/8/23 at 1:46pm

Dylan Smith4 said: "hearthemsing22 said: "Hasn't Thayne Jasperson been with Hamilton since the beginning? WOW"

What blows my mind is that he’s still in his ensemble role. I know he understudies principal roles but I would think he would want to play a principal role full time by now if he was offered it."


Some dancers do not aspire to be principal actors, and being in the ensemble of Hamilton and playing one of the leads are pretty different skill sets. I’ve had professional ensemble dancers tell me they are very happy just where they are.

Anyway, I think contracts longer than a year are rare, but yes, actors will renew and/orcome back. Between NY and LA, Davis Gaines played The Phantom like 7,000 times or something and probably made a ton of money in the process.

[JBradshaw]

Posted: 4/8/23 at 8:46pm

i saw saycon about 5-6xs when shoshana and Eden were out. I never liked her Elphie, nor did my friends, she was fine in the role but I can see why she wasn’t more than the standby. 
 

GiantsInTheSky2 said: "Dylan Smith4 said: "hearthemsing22 said: "Hasn't Thayne Jasperson been with Hamilton since the beginning? WOW"

What blows my mind is that he’s still in his ensemble role. I know he understudies principal roles but I would think he would want to play a principal role full time by now if he was offered it."

Which tells me he wasn’t offered. Same thing with Saycon Sengbloh in Wicked - was the standby 2005-07 and left the production without an offer despite being more than deserving of it. IMO, she was often to standout amongst her casts.

"