I was recently cast into my friend's play.   She wrote it but was having a new director and a brand new theater company produce it.  I have done some television work and no stage work since grade school.  During the process of producing the show, the director asked everyone for ideas on how to build this community group and "wanted everyone involved".  He also looked for ideas on how to fund this. His suggestion was selling football gambling squares.  Not the most ethical way to raise money, but whatever.  That's not the issue.  My friend is the sole writer of this play.  She has written other plays.  They all stated at the beginning that clearly they were not in this for the money.  At this time there was no expectation of success.  During the process...the business plan changed.  It was now a three person hierarchy ruling the decisions of this company that benefited from the efforts of all of us.  Well then the play went on...and was wildly successful due to great promotion by the cast.  The theater company had 1900 in expenses and brought in almost 2000 over this.  They told me I was out of line, for asking if they were going to compensate the writer.  The writer did not have a written agreement.  The writer has since been advised.  The theater company claimed that they did not make a profit, due to the fact that the money was still in the account.  Just cause I am new at theater doesn't mean I am new at life.   The were paying their fee for the year at the hall, have all expenses covered and want to run another two nights.  They were averaging 1200 a night in revenue.  They still could not purchase t-shirts which they sold to the cast, but could purchase beer and pizza for parties, which half the cast didn't partake in cause we are sober.  Then they turned away 40 people on closing night -some with reservations.  When I asked if they would be comped or offered at reduced price to save face for the travel that night, they said a blunt..."NO, its not my fault they didn't get here early".  Then said the encore was "for" these people, when honestly I feel they are milking it for all the cash they can get.  I did not like the way they were doing business. 

When they expected no money, they were this giving company that would donate to the other theater company.  When the money came in, they acted like they were Enron, and "they" were the decision makers and offered a weak attempt at their accounting rationale.

Now I am an experienced business person, and the whole thing seems completely ridiculous.  The writer should have had an agreement, but am I wrog for walking away from the two encore shows 6 weeks later?  I feel they are just milking more operating cash for their next show, and exploiting the writer and people who tried to help build a community project. 

Money and lack of foresight ruined the whole thing. 

But the rest of the cast seems totally ok with what is happening because they have turned it around making it look like the actors want to get paid.  When we don't we just want them to honest and forthright about the finances and it's one con after another.

Am I crazy or just being a drama queen?   Or am I standing on principle.

I was not the lead, but received much praise for my comedic performance.  Myself and a cast mate are currently writing our own play and it's coming along wonderfully.  Very funny and much fun without the greed and double talk.  I got what I wanted from the deal.  But feel I shouldn't be a part of such unethical greed.  Or should I just do the show and not make waves?

So my question is am I being unreasonable?

Thanks in advance for your insight and experience.  Please respond to this.  Also what is a fair agreement for the writer?  I am not a first time writer and think that the musicians should be paid as part of show expenses.  I was thinkning that after all agreed expenses the writer should get 30-40% of the profit - and not an equal share due to the fact that they are not taking any risk.  What are your thoughts and your experiences on these issue.

Thanks in advance, and I am truly glad I found this site.

Originally posted by JoeWindoes   He also looked for ideas on how to fund this. His suggestion was selling football gambling squares.

A piece of theater advice I got a long time ago was that at the first sign of anything "hinkey" you should get out right away because if will only get worse.

You have no moral, artistic or legal obligation to come back six weeks later and do addtional performances that you did not previously commit to.

Just tell them you have something else scheduled and wash your hands of it.