It’s often said that women make only three-quarters as much money as their male counterparts get for doing the same job, and according to a recent New York Post story, it’s no different on the Broadway theater scene.
As the Post’s Michael Reidel tells it, stage stars like Hugh Jackman (The Boy From Oz), Daniel Radcliffe (How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying) and Nathan Lane and Matthew Broderick (The Producers) have all passed the $100,000-per-week mark in recent years. However, no woman, not even A Little Night Music’s Catherine Zeta-Jones or Promises, Promises’ Kristin Chenoweth is currently pulling in six figures a week.
Harry Connick, Jr. is reportedly in talks to star in the upcoming Broadway revival of On a Clear Day You Can See Forever, where he would almost certainly earn over $100,000 weekly. Although most actors make a commitment of at least a year for that kind of money, he’s only willing to give seven-and-a-half months.
“I don’t think it’s a male-female thing,” said one veteran Broadway producer, according to Reidel’s article. “It’s just that there are more male stars working in musicals right now. We know Amy Adams can sing. If she does a big musical on Broadway, she’s going to get that kind of money.”
duh
That is because ERA never got ratified by 38 states, only 35 in the time alloted. I think it is high time “equality in everything” that the loop-holes provide cover from is enacted.
Maybe I was naive but I would have thought someone like Kristen Chenoweth or Sutton Foster would – maybe not equal – but come close to the salaries the guys make.
Why is it though
More name recognition for all the tourists that visit the city and want to see a show I’m thinking. Most people have heard of Nathan Lane but I bet most havent heard of Sutton Foster.