SDC Files Aribitration Against SPIDER-MAN Production for Royalty Payment Failure on Behalf of Julie Taymor

On June 9, 2011, the Stage Directors and Choreographers Society (SDC) formally filed an arbitration claim against Spider-Man Broadway, LLC, the Producer of "Spider-Man/Turn Off the Dark" (the "Producer"), for failure to pay royalties to the Director Julie Taymor.

Laura Penn, Executive Director of SDC, states, "Taymor has given nine years of her life to this project. The Producer has absolutely no right, legally and ethically, to withhold royalties that are due to her. In fact, the right to use her work, on Broadway or anywhere else, is dependent upon the payment of royalties."

The Producer has failed to pay to Ms.Taymor any royalties for the run of the production in violation of both the SDC collective bargaining agreement (CBA) and her individual contract. SDC is asking for an accounting from the Producer to determine the precise amount of royalties due to Ms.Taymor, payment of all royalties due to Ms.Taymor, and continued payment of royalties and all other compensation due now and in the future.

In exchange for royalties Directors and Choreographers license their creative work to Producers. Under SDC's CBA the Producer does not have the rights to use Ms. Taymor's direction unless she is receiving royalties. According to Karen Azenberg, SDC President, "Royalties are the foundation of the compensation structure for Directors and Choreographers on Broadway. SDC exists to protect and enforce the rights of our Members to be paid for their work and for ongoing use of their property."

SDC is the theatrical union representing more than 2,400 professional stage Directors and Choreographers throughout the United States. Its mission is to foster a national community of professional stage Directors and Choreographers by protecting the rights, health and livelihoods of all its Members.

SDC has jurisdiction over the employment of Directors and Choreographers working in the following areas: Broadway and National tours, Off-Broadway, ANTC (Association of Non-Profit Theatre Companies, New York City), Regional Theatre (League of Resident Theatres - LORT), Resident summer stock companies (Council of Resident Stock Theatres - CORST/TSS), Dinner Theatre (Dinner Theatre Agreement- DTA), Regional Musical Theatre (RMT), and Outdoor musical stock (OMS).

Taymor departed the production in March, 2011 and was replaced by Philip William McKinley.

Inspired by over 40 years of Marvel comic books, SPIDER-MAN Turn Off The Dark follows the story of teenager Peter Parker, whose unremarkable life is turned upside-down when he's bitten by a genetically altered spider and wakes up the next morning clinging to his bedroom ceiling. This bullied science-geek suddenly endowed with incredible powers soon learns, however, that with great power comes great responsibility as villains put both his physical strength and strength of character to the test.The official opening night of the new SPIDER-MAN Turn Off The Dark is set for Tuesday, June 14th at the Foxwoods Theatre (213 West 42nd Street). Tickets are now on sale through October 2, 2011, with group tickets on sale through January 8, 2012.

Tickets for SPIDER-MAN Turn Off The Dark are priced from $67.50 - $135 for weekday performances and $67.50 - $140 for weekend performances and can be purchased at Ticketmaster.com or by calling (877) 250-2929. Tickets are also available at the Foxwoods Theatre box office, which is open Monday through Saturday, 10:00 a.m. - 8:00 p.m. and Sunday, 12:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m.

SPIDER-MAN Turn Off The Dark now plays the following performance schedule: Tuesday through Thursday at 7:30 p.m., Wednesday at 1:30 p.m., Friday and Saturday at 8:00 p.m., Saturday at 2:00 p.m., and Sunday at 3:00 p.m.