More Creative Team Changes for SPIDER-MAN?

On Tuesday will be SPIDER-MAN's unprecendented 114th preview on Broadway, but according to Bloomberg News, the backstage drama isn't over yet. A couple of weeks ago, SPIDER-MAN: Turn Off The Dark made their latest in a long line of announcements, that they now have rescheduled their opening night for the sixth time, for Tuesday, June 14, 2011. This new night is two days after the Tony Awards, much to the chagrin of other producers, who would prefer media attention to remain on the winners after Broadway's biggest day.

This announcement came as part of a slew of reported changes including what's now considered to be the complete removal of Julie Taymor from the production (in all but name)...though the exact details of her credits, payout and involvement have not been revealed. 

This morning, Bloomberg News is reporting that producers are now in talks to replace the show's choreographer, Daniel Ezralow with Chase Brock. Ezralow, who helped to create many of the show's mid-air battles is a longtime collaborator of Julie Taymor's, having worked with her on Across the Universe, and the Green Bird, along with also staging shows for David Bowie, Sting and U2.

Chase Brock most recently choreographed Lost in the Stars at Encores!, was assistant choreographer to Kathleen Marshall on Wonderful Town and recently helped create the (fantastic) Nintendo Wii game, Dance on Broadway. 

BroadwayWorld.com has also recently confirmed that Glen Berger, co-writer of the book who has been left out of much other press coverage and speculation is very much still on board and is at work with comic book writer Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa on making heavy revisions to the book.

 

These changes are said to include much cutting of Julie Taymor's additions to the already rich SPIDER-MAN mythology including much of the Geek Chorus, and the character of Arachne. Other changes will include The Green Goblin remaining SPIDER-MAN's chief rival for the entire show which will involve changing both the ending of Act 1 and the beginning of Act 2 (with a new opener for the Goblin by Bono and the Edge) along with many other changes in Act 2 including a beefing up of the love story and a heightened sense of 'drama and urgency'. 

 

It was announced recently that to allow rehearsal time for the new changes being implemented in the show, performances from Tuesday, April 19th to Wednesday, May 11th have been cancelled with preview performances resuming on Thursday, May 12th. This amended schedule will allow the time necessary to execute the new creative team's plan, which will include revisions to the script.

As a result of the new opening night, the performances on June 12th, June 14th, and both performances on June 15th have been cancelled. Additional shows have been added on June 13th at 7:30 p.m. and June 17th at 2:00 p.m. All ticketholders for the cancelled performances who purchased their tickets through Ticketmaster or at the box office will be offered the option of exchanging or returning their tickets. Ticketholders who purchased through other outlets should contact the point of purchase for further information.

As previously announced, Philip William McKinley and Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa have joined the creative team to help implement new staging and book rewrites, respectively. The expanded creative team also includes musical consultant Paul Bogaev and sound designer Peter Hylenski.

SPIDER-MAN Turn Off The Dark is now in previews at Broadway's Foxwoods Theatre (213 West 42nd Street).