Tangled Web: SPIDER-MAN on Broadway
The latest entry in the on-going saga of the web-slinger’s woes on the Great White Way: director Julie Taymor, perhaps best known for her success in adapting The Lion King, is now calling Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark her “trial by fire”.
Speaking at the annual TED conference in Long Beach, CA, Taymor finally broke her silence about the show with troubles that seem to have a life all their own, comparing the experience to climbing an active volcano. However, she did not address whether the show would face its sixth delay and not open as planned on March 15.
Co-Composer Bono has come in to New York to see the show and help determine if it’s going to be ready for its “official” opening March 15. Bono, along with his fellow U2 band mate The Edge, wrote most of the songs for the show.
This is all in the wake of the show’s hiring veteran Broadway consultant Paul Bogaev to work on musical arrangements and sound issues. The show’s producers also hired comic book writer (and frequent Marvel contributor) Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa to help with the script.
Marvel cover artist Greg Horn has been tapped to illustrate the show’s merchandise and program.
Cast members Reeve Carney (Peter Parker), Jennifer Damiano (MJ Armstrong), and T.V. Carpio (Arachne) appeared on The Early Show on CBS, where they discussed the show’s woes and injuries, along with the bad press and extended preview time.
In the meantime, in the wake of the $65 million show’s troubles, improv comedian Justin Moran has decided to put on his own Spidey-musical with no budget, planning to open on March 14. And a third show called Spidermann is set to open March 13. (And we won’t even talk about the porn parody of the new movie that’s also in the works…)
(Given the sudden explosion of Spider-inspired shows, one wonders how the Marvel legal department is faring at the moment…)
In the meantime, while most critics are panning the show, some are saying it’s not the disaster you’ve been led to believe. And even Glenn Beck says it’s the best show he’s seen.
Natalie Mendoza (the original villain Arachne) left the show after suffering of of numerous injuries that have plagued the production from the beginning. Even the New York Department of Labor hit the show with two violations. And Bloomberg’s Jeremy Gerard says the show may never be able to get its money back, even though it’s currently No. 2 behind Wicked.
At this point, producers maintain the show will have its official opening on March 15.
