Performing on or off Broadway as a musical theatre artist has the potential to be a highly thrilling and fulfilling career! Before we get into all of the excitement, let’s first establish what it means to be a Broadway actor.
Broadway consists of a large group of theaters in New York City – on any given day, several professional musicals and performances are running.
The majority of the 41 theaters on Broadway are owned and operated by three companies: The Shubert Organization, Jujamcyn Theaters, and The Nederlander Organization.
You’ve likely heard of the terms “on-Broadway” and “off-Broadway.” Contrary to popular opinion, the distinction has nothing to do with the quality of a production.
On-Broadway performances take place in theaters that house more than 500 seats, and off-Broadway performances take place in theaters with 99-499 seats.
What about even smaller theaters, you may ask? Those are considered “off-off-Broadway” performances.
Not all musical theatre artists will end up on Broadway; fortunately, there is a desire and space for theatre across the nation (particularly in urban cities).
Musical theatre revolves around theatrical performance driven by music – actors, directors, designers, and stagehands all play a role in putting on a show.
A composer and librettist create music and lyrics to accompany the dialogue. Oftentimes, a show will include a live orchestra led by a conductor.
Performers may work only as actors, singers, or dancers. Alternatively, they may fulfill a combination of two or all three roles – it depends on the nature of the performance, as some are more dance/song-focused than others.
Choreographers play a key role in leading the dances and will work in tandem with the director, conductor, and actors.
As we continue to discuss the musical theatre profession, we’ll share key information related to actors’ salaries, available jobs, and the best pathway to making it big on Broadway.
Salary – How Much Do Musical Theatre Artists Make?
Broadway actors generally make around $2,000 each week. Actors’ Equity guarantees a $2,600/week minimum salary.
Actors’ Equity is a union group that was formed in 1913 to improve the deplorable conditions that actors worked under in the early 20th century, which included a lack of compensation for rehearsal time, the responsibility to cover one’s transportation and costume expenses, and the harsh reality that they could be fired at any time, without explanation.
Actors’ Equity regularly renegotiates actors’ salaries, and Broadway actors will almost certainly need to join the union.
Most shows on Broadway are unionized, and actors who work on non-unionized shows run the risk of losing their Actors’ Equity membership.
It is important to note that the $2,600/week figure does not necessarily translate to an annual salary of $135,000+.
Why is this?
Broadway shows do not always run all year long. Some shows may “flop,” meaning that they stop running before they reach 100 performances.
For Broadway actors, the risk of unemployment due to a show flopping is a constant reality. That being said, actors who work on long-running shows stand to earn a considerable amount of income.
Actors can also earn additional money if they perform various “extra” responsibilities. For example, taking on a chorus role or a role that involves a safety risk (such as engaging in acrobatics or pyrotechnics) can earn them an extra $20 per week.
Leaders on set – such as dance captains and “fight” captains – can earn anywhere from $75-$406 extra per week to ensure that the other actors are learning and following choreography.
Actors can also earn more money for committing to long-term shows.
The Tony Awards are a special incentive for Broadway actors – if a performer’s show is nominated for a Tony Award, they receive an additional money to their salary.
Should their show win a Tony Award, they’ll receive an even higher boost. Broadway actors do have the power to negotiate higher salaries, particularly if they have won various awards and have star power or name recognition.
Off-Broadway actors just negotiated a new three-year contract deal through Actors’ Equity, which includes salary increases for both actors and stage managers. Actors working in a non-profit contract with a theater whose annual budget is less than $4.25 million will earn $729-$949 per week in 2023-2024. If the theater’s budget exceeds $4.25 million, the actors will earn $760-$1,682 per week.
When it comes to Off-Broadway commercial contracts, actors will receive $772-$1,330 per week in 2023-2024. They are allowed to work up to six days a week during tech week, for eight hours a day, and are eligible for breaks up to 1 ½ hours.
What Kind of Jobs Can Someone With a Musical Theatre Degree Get?
There are many jobs available for musical theatre majors, with the most prevalent being actors, directors, musicians, singers, choreographers, dancers, and performing arts instructors.
Less common professions include radio broadcasters, television actors, and cruise line or amusement park staff.
Actors spend considerable time researching the roles they are cast to play, then rehearsing and often improvising lines before a show’s debut.
Outside of that time, they may research future roles and prepare for auditions. It is common for an actor to have a second job to supplement their income.
Directors serve as the creative impetus behind a musical theatre production and are responsible for all major production-related decisions.
They oversee the audition process, lead rehearsal sessions, and interpret the script.
They collaborate tightly with the crew to make sure that all of the key elements of a production are aligned, including the music, dance choreography, set design, and costumes. Like actors, they may work an additional job to boost their income.
Musicians and singers enjoy a broad range of roles. In addition to singing and playing music for Broadway shows, they may perform at nightclubs, work on radio shows, and serve as voiceover artists.
Many musical theatre majors pursue advertising gigs, as songs and music are frequently used as ways to encourage watchers to purchase a product.
Choreographers and dancers use movement to represent the emotions behind a song or acting performance.
Broadway shows entail a wide range of dance genres, such as jazz, ballet, tap, hip-hop, and contemporary dance. Dancers can increase their competitiveness in auditions by broadening their repertoire.
Performing arts teachers are technically the only profession within the musical theatre realm that requires a bachelor’s degree.
They may work in public or private schools at the primary or secondary level, or colleges and community colleges.
Theatre teachers may also teach dance, choir, or drama fundamentals, and they typically serve as the directors of school-based performances.
How to Sing and Make a Career On Broadway
If you’re dreaming of a career on Broadway, you’ll want to start training as early as possible in dance, song, and theatre.
Making it big on Broadway is a competitive process, and actors, in particular, expect to compete against many other talented peers for the same limited roles.
It is always a good idea to obtain a musical theatre degree from an accredited college or university. Carnegie Mellon, the University of Michigan, and the University of Cincinnati are some of the best places to receive Broadway training.
Actors from these schools have performed in Tony Award-winning roles in “Wicked,” “Hamilton,” and “Kinky Boots,” among other shows.
After obtaining a musical theatre degree, ambitious actors will want to join Actors’ Equity as soon as possible. Almost every actor who has ever performed on Broadway in modern times has been represented by Actors’ Equity.
From there, you’ll be ready to audition! You’ll need to bring your Actors’ Equity membership card, as well as a professional headshot, demo reel, and résumé.
Be prepared to recite a monologue, sing a song, or perform a dance in front of a director and other staff. After an audition, you will either receive a refusal or a callback.
Callbacks are generally issued to a small number of performers, and you should be prepared to perform a different monologue, song, or dance number.
Many actors find it helpful to have an agent or manager. This person is typically responsible for researching audition opportunities, scheduling auditions and callbacks, and negotiating contracts. It will cost money to secure a part-time or full-time manager, which is where supplemental income may prove valuable.
Should You Pursue a Career in Musical Theatre?
Since modern Western musical theatre came about in the 1800s, the industry has only continued to grow.
Establishing a career in musical theatre provides a rare opportunity to blend work with passion. Many musical theatre performers love what they do, and get paid to do it!
That being said, the professional does not come without its challenges.
Snagging a role in a Broadway performance is extremely competitive.
In one season, there are around 1,200 to 1,300 Broadway roles that need to be filled, and there are upwards of 10,000 actors competing for these roles. Only the best 10% will get cast in a performance.
Roles outside of New York City are much more plentiful and less competitive.
Factors like one’s work ethic, leadership skills, and ability to work as part of a team certainly come into play.
It is highly important to develop a positive professional reputation.
Directors and other staff do not want to work with actors who are prone to complain, show up late, or cause conflict on set.
Pursuing a career in musical theatre means you will need to be punctual, adaptable, and dependable.
Start refining your repertoire now. Conduct research on the best schools to obtain a musical theatre degree and begin completing your applications.
Consider the best in-school or community-based directors you’ve worked with who can serve as contacts for letters of recommendation.
Practice, practice, practice!
Most importantly, identify your strengths and be proactive in your attempts to develop into the strongest team player and performer you can be.
