In a benefit performance the performers (and, likely, the crew, director, holder of copyright, etc.) usually do not earn any money.
Instead, the takings will go to raise money for (to "benefit") some mutually agreed upon cause: e.g. the Actors Benevolent Fund; a hospital; a foundation. In other cases, a benefit performance is given to help the writer or a performer out of financial difficulties. In the 19th century, theatre companies routinely held benefit performances for longstanding members of the theatre's troupe. Benefits were also sometimes given for retiring actors.
Famous quotes containing the words benefit and/or performance:
“In a country where offices are created solely for the benefit of the people no one man has any more intrinsic right to official station than another.”
—Andrew Jackson (1767–1845)
“The way to go to the circus, however, is with someone who has seen perhaps one theatrical performance before in his life and that in the High School hall.... The scales of sophistication are struck from your eyes and you see in the circus a gathering of men and women who are able to do things as a matter of course which you couldn’t do if your life depended on it.”
—Robert Benchley (1889–1945)