Hamilton’s Anthony Ramos Reveals How Much Broadway Actors Really Make https://t.co/qByfRQZ9gd
— E! News (@enews) November 25, 2024
Original Hamilton star, Anthony Ramos, is revealing what he really got paid while appearing in the smash hit musical during its early days.
“Yo, it was nice. Well, no, no, actually it wasn’t because we were Off-Broadway, and I was making like $420 a week.”
While paychecks increased when the musical moved to Broadway, Anthony shared that most performers’ finances were likely still pretty precarious.
“You get paid better on Broadway, but even on Broadway it can still be tough. If you’re an ensemble member, you’re a chorus member, you’re probably making like $1,800 a week. But they’re paying their agent, 10 percent to the agent, 10 percent to the manager, 20 percent of the top and then in New York you’re paying, 30 percent, 40 percent tax. You’re probably coming home with, like, $1,000 a week, maybe like $1,100 a week. Getting that first paycheck was great because I was getting paid to do something I loved, but I was still struggling in New York. It’s got to even out, somehow.”
Ramos made sure to caution theater actors to be wise about their finances, even if you reach a certain level of success.
“You can’t think, ‘Oh, I’m on Broadway! Let me just throw the bag,’ When we start to make money—people in general—we get excited, and we start spending. It’s fine to treat yourself, right? Because I think we should do that for ourselves. We should go out for a nice meal. We should buy that thing. I would [just] say don’t get irresponsible. I’m speaking from experience. I learned. I thought I was much better with money than I actually was. If you’re not smart with your money, you’re beat! You know what I’m saying? You’re beat!”
