1. Pre-Production Costs:
- Development and Writing: This includes hiring a composer, lyricist, book writer, and script development. Costs may range from a few thousand to tens of thousands of dollars.
- Music Arranging and Orchestration: Arranging the music and creating orchestrations for the show. Costs can vary from a few thousand to tens of thousands.
- Casting and Rehearsals: Hiring actors, securing rehearsal spaces, and paying rehearsal directors. This phase can cost anywhere between $20,000 to over $100,000, depending on the size of the cast and rehearsal period.
2. Production Costs:
- Venue Rental: Renting a theater or performance space for the show's run can range from a few thousand dollars per week to several thousand, depending on the venue and location.
- Set Design and Construction: Costs can vary significantly depending on the complexity of the set design, ranging from a few thousand to hundreds of thousands of dollars.
- Costumes: Creating custom costumes can be a considerable expense, from tens of thousands to over a hundred thousand dollars, depending on the number of costumes and their intricacy.
- Lighting and Sound: Lighting design, sound equipment, and sound engineers. Budgets for these elements can vary from a few thousand to tens of thousands of dollars.
3. Technical Production:
- Stage Crew and Technicians: Hiring stage crew, technicians, and operators to manage the technical aspects of the show. Costs can range from a few thousand to tens of thousands of dollars.
4. Marketing and Publicity:
- Advertising: Promoting the musical through various media channels, including print ads, online campaigns, social media, and public relations. Marketing expenses can vary widely, from a few thousand to hundreds of thousands of dollars.
5. Performance Expenses:
- Actor Salaries and Benefits: Actors typically receive a weekly salary, and the total cost depends on the number of actors and their union status.
- Musicians and Orchestra: Compensation for musicians and orchestra members, if applicable.
6. Miscellaneous Costs:
- Insurance: Securing various types of insurance for the production, including general liability, property, and cast insurance.
- Legal Fees: Hiring lawyers to handle contracts and legal matters related to the production.
Considering all these factors, producing an off-Broadway musical can easily cost hundreds of thousands of dollars, with some larger-scale productions reaching millions of dollars. However, it's important to note that off-Broadway musicals can also generate revenue through ticket sales, merchandise, licensing, and other income streams.