Why Broadway’s actors are more deserving than Hollywood’s

 

On polar ends of the nation lie perhaps two of the most famous American cities: New York City and Los Angeles, home to the worlds of Broadway and Hollywood.

Although the job descriptions of each performance area are similar, there is a wide disparity in the wages of the actors in each city. While Broadway actors only earn a meager average of $62,500 annually, Hollywood actors earn on average more than twice that salary at $130,000, according to Payscale.com. 

Yet, the gap between the two salaries is unjust, as the job requirements of a Broadway performer are much more strenuous and demanding than that of Hollywood’s.

In order to even be considered for a role in musical theater, aspiring actors must be able to fulfill the qualifications of the term “triple threat” — meaning they possess sufficient talent in dancing, acting and singing. Before the performance itself, each cast undergoes hours of intense training and preparation, which require exceptional skill and endurance.

These performers must grasp and maintain the audience’s attention without the aid of editing or special effects. If the play is executed properly, the audience has a much more personal and palpable connection with the characters and storyline than it would with a television show’s plot.

The world of Broadway allows no second chances. Unlike television shows in which the actors are not required to memorize their lines and can do retake after retake, musical actors only have one shot to perfect their performance in each show. A live, critical audience allows for little margin in error and no room for awkward moments. 

A Broadway musical is definitely an experience in its own special category. Whereas television shows can be re-watched online or on a DVD, each theater performance is unique and one-of-a-kind, truly demonstrating the merits of each actor.

Granted, televisions shows are sponsored by countless commercials and a more widespread audience, leading to a higher pay for its employees. This, however, still doesn’t justify the fact that Broadway actors are still grossly underpaid in comparison to Hollywood’s, especially since they bring intimacy from the performance to the audience that Hollywood shows lack.