It’s not the first time Disney has made similar deals with performers: As far back as “Aida” in 2000, actors who participated in that show’s development received annual bonuses during the production’s four-year Broadway run.
Wednesday, October 12, 2016
‘Frozen’ Stage Actors Offered Profit-Sharing Deal by Disney
It’s not the first time Disney has made similar deals with performers: As far back as “Aida” in 2000, actors who participated in that show’s development received annual bonuses during the production’s four-year Broadway run.
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I really like the idea of profit sharing on Broadway. I didn’t know that happened with Hamilton, but I am glad to learn that it has had a great impact on the community. I think profit sharing is really a great idea. I first heard about profit sharing when southwest airlines started doing it. I wonder how it could work for Broadway because so many people put work into a show. I now know that the original cast for Hamilton participated in the profit sharing but what about the designers and production staff. I think it would be fair if they get some stake. I understand that the idea is for people that helped create the production (i.e. the actors who workshop-ed it) but I think I would love to see the profit sharing idea stretch even further as it potentially expands throughout the theater world. I think it is in a great place for starting off but I hope as it expands, the list of people who benefit expands equally.
YES YES YES! More broadway shows need to do this! Hamiltons cast and management fought back against its producers and won! Now they have 1% sharing. This needs to happen with all broadway shows. I know that I am not a performer but in the hamilton agreement the stage managers were included in the profit sharing. With more shows doing this, it shows that the actors and management do help create the show, and they should be paid for it! I am happy that disney is not pulling a fast one on the cast of what should be a very successful broadway show!
As the article mentions, “Hamilton” was just able to do this not that long ago. However, there are a few key differences between the situation that should be pointed out. It took the cast of “Hamilton” a lot of dealing and fighting to get to that point. The actors of “Frozen” are being offered this up front from Disney, which is very different from the last public case. The most important difference is the companies who are involved. “Hamilton” was with a smaller, Broadway general management group, while this is with Disney Theatrical Group, a very different structure and organization. Now, I’m not upset that the actors are going to be able to have part in profits at all, however it’s hard for me to understand how we are unable to make this a common occurrence in 2016. I know that Broadway does not have a lot of overhead, however the casts are part of the creation of the show and show have access to some profits.
I think that it is great that the actors of “Frozen” were offered profit sharing opportunities, but I am shocked that it is not common for developmental Broadway pieces. The article touches on a key point about developmental pieces, which is that the first actors who play a role help shape who that character becomes. Without that actor, the character and consequently the show would be different. I do think that the cast and stage management team sharing 0.5% of the net profits sounds like a tiny portion and that corporations like Disney could (and should) do better. To a certain degree, it almost sounds like Disney is offering 0.5% to the cast upfront to avoid having the actors come to them asking for what is considered a standard profit share of 1%. By offering the 0.5% now, the producers could avoid a lengthy negotiation process for the full 1% later on. All of that aside, a profit sharing percentage being default in any contract is a start, and we can make it be default in every contract at a good percentage eventually.
I think its fantastic that Disney initiated this deal and it should definitely become more common place. But I share Aubrey’s opinion that it feels like Disney is doing it to try and avoid the cast asking for the standard 1% later on in the process. Doing it this way gets them some nice press, some goodwill, and lets them avoid legal battles and negative press later on when they’re trying to open a show. My cynicism about Disney’s motives aside I do think this is a good thing and a good sign for the for profit theater world in general. Given all the work that the actors and mangers that are part of the development process put into shaping the show it makes sense that they should benefit from it if it does well and runs for a long time. Especially since unless they end up in the Broadway cast the people who help create the show in those initial stages will probably go unrecognized.
I am overjoyed that this is something coming up in the forefront. So proud of the Disney Theatrical Group for making this happen and so happy for the actors and managers that this will impact. The article is right- the original casts of various theatrical productions really help to shape the character for all of the following performers that take the same role in the future. We still see little elements and characteristic choices from Kristen Chenoweth and Idina Menzel in the musical Wicked. Even though these characters are already somewhat pre determined by the movie of Frozen, I could only imagine that it still takes a great deal of work- possibly even more work than an original role, to fully embody the characters that have predetermined characteristics and bring them to life. Animation is much different from the real world and there are several computerized effects that are extremely difficult to recreate in life.
This is very interesting. My first reaction was "Oh NICE they're going to be rolling in cash," then, "Hey what about the designers and managers," then, "wait a minute, this is Disney we're talking about." I really would like to think that this deal was created with the best of intentions. And it might have been! Profit-sharing is a really great way to motivate people to do excellent work and promote the show, because obviously it pays off in the end. But I wonder, as Aubrey has, if this is a preemptive strike against something company management felt coming. Did it seem like the actors were expecting it? Did they think the actors might ask for more? Or maybe this is just a publicity thing. Disney has gotten a poor reputation lately for how satisfied their employees are, in many different departments of their world, so maybe this is a way to prove that they are actually good employers? We can't be sure. But either way, I think the results of this will be good for the cast and that's really what matters.
Profit-sharing should be a much more common practice than it currently is. The reality is that actors are one of things that tend to draw people to shows, especially when the actor is someone famous. The cast can sometimes be one a show's biggest selling points, so including them in the profits of the show just seems like the right thing to do. I wish that Disney was offering a little more than 0.5% to their actors, but the fact that they're offering this upfront is pretty progressive. Personally I believe that every show should offer their actors at least 1% of the profits, and possibly even more than that. Even if this was instituted it doesn't mean that every actor would benefit from it. Like the article said, only one in five Broadway shows actually turn in a profit so not many people would end up making any money in this way. Acknowledging just how much the actors contribute to a project is crucial, and giving them some share in the money made is a great way to do so.
Good or Disney for offing this deal up-front. Workshopping is a very essential part of the development of new musicals. The actors that participate in workshops definitely influence the final product that we see on Broadway, so they deserve a cut of the profits. I do agree with many of the above commenters that the other artists involved in workshoppping a musical should also be compensated accordingly. I'm pretty sure that the designers for Frozen the musical won't change between now and opening night, so I understand why Disney isn't offering them the same deal. They'll get their AWC for at least 5 years, so good for them. Neither the musicians nor the management, however, are not mentioned in this deal. I understand why Disney might not want to include them, but these two group of individuals' work is very important to the workshop. The musicians might spur a change in the score that ends up staying with the show. The management is responsible for keeping everything together and running smoothly, which is essential when developing a new show.
I think it's cool for Disney to be offering profit-sharing for the actors. Currently like previous comments have stated, Disney has had a sort of poor reputation with the satisfaction of their employees. I believe this deal acts as a peace offering to show just how good Disney is to their employees and how they value their performers. Again, this id Disney we are talking about and there tends to always be a hidden reason for everything they do. Whether it be for publicity or whether it be actual care for their actors and having them feel more included, it is very nice for the actors to feel appreciated in such a way to have production profit shared with them. I am not so worried about the designers because they will continue to receive their royalties like before.
I could not be more excited to learn of the profit sharing deals being presented to actors and creators alike. I think it is so important to receive credit (especially in monetary reward) when creating an original work because at the end o the day if you had not been a part of the process, the product may have turned out differently.
Disney Inc. has always existed in this weird gray area in the performing arts. The company has so much money that they basically can own anything they want including their employees. More often than not, ex-disney employees have been quite vocal about the poor treatment they experienced working for the company. I am glad that the company is taking steps to improve their treatment. More importantly, Disney has the capital to make a difference. By Disney (one of the largest companies in the performing arts) taking steps towards profit sharing and equal pay, it is my hope that other smaller companies will follow suit. In my wildest dreams, it is my hope that profit sharing eventually become protocol and a non-discussion.
Especially with a hit like Frozen it was important for Disney to make this a non-issue. We as a community are taking steps towards fairness, and for that I have more faith in the performing arts and corporation.
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