Jennifer Damiano News

Actors' Equity Association worked today with the Department of Labor, OSHA and the production to determine that the cause of the accident at last night's performance of Spiderman was, in fact, human error. Further protocols are now being implemented, including redundancies recommended by Equity, the DOL and OSHA, to address this situation as well as other elements of the production. Equity continues to vigilantly monitor the production for the safety of its members.

An official statement has just been issued from the production which says that 'OSHA, Actors Equity and the New York State Department of Labor have met with the Spider-Man company today to discuss additional safety protocols. It was agreed that these measures would be enacted immediately. Tomorrow's matinee has been postponed and will be rescheduled. Tomorrow evening's, and all subsequent performances will proceed as scheduled.'

We've now confirmed with a production source that representatives from the Department of Labor and from Equity are now onsite at the Foxwoods Theatre meeting with members of the show's production team, stage hands and crew. They will also be examining all of the equipment used during the show as they attempt to determine if last night's problems were caused by human error, technical problems or a combination thereof. It's expected that once their decision is reached, Equity and the production will make their determination as to what will be needed to deem the production safe, and then they can estimate how long that might take before they determine when performances will be resumed. All of the equipment and stunts were examined before the show began performances.

BroadwayWorld has learned from several sources that SPIDER-MAN stuntman Christopher Tierney has suffered several broken ribs and bleeding after his nearly 30-foot free fall on the SPIDEY set last night. Fortunately, Tierney landed such that he avoided any crippling neck or spinal injury. He is still being held at the hospital in serious, but stable condition.

Actors Equity has released an updated statement which reads 'Actors' Equity Association is working with management and the Department of Labor to ensure that performances will not resume until back-up safety measures are in place.'

BroadwayWorld.com has also confirmed that the New York State Department of Labor will visit the Foxwoods Theater this morning for its own investigation into what occurred last night that will involve interviews with the production team, as well as a check of all equipment to determine if it was a human or technical error.

Actors Equity, has just released a short statement about last night's incident, stating that 'We were informed shortly after the accident during the performance of Spiderman. We are working in cooperation with the state and city Department of Labor on this situation. We dont have a further statement at this time.' Many performers have contacted BroadwayWorld.com both last night and this morning, urging actors to contact the union individually to suggest that they 'step in' and get more involved with protecting the safety of the actors in this production.

Twitter was flooded last night shortly after 10:40 PM with messages from audience members at SPIDER-MAN, with word that an actor fell during the middle of Act 2 when a cable snapped. The show was first put on hold, and then cancelled as ambulances arrived on the scene. This morning, the actor has been identified as aerialist Christopher Tierney, who is reported to be in stable condition. At 11:29 AM, Equity has released a statement that 'Actors' Equity Association is working with management and the Department of Labor to ensure that performances will not resume until back-up safety measures are in place.'

Twitter is being flooded with messages from audience members tonight at SPIDER-MAN, with word that an actor fell during the middle of Act 2 when a cable snapped. The show was first put on hold, and then cancelled as ambulances arrived on the scene. We've reached out to the production for official word, you can follow what's being said on Twitter here and here in the meantime. UPDATE: BroadwayWorld spoke to an audience member who was there and told us that it right was near the end of the show when the bridge comes down and MJ falls and Spider-Man goes after her. Basically, she went down and he went jumping after her, and you saw the rope come done and then snap back up and then all of a sudden, the stage manager's voice came on and said that there was going to be a pause and they stayed dark for a minute or two and then they basically called the show.

Twitter is being flooded with messages from audience members tonight at SPIDER-MAN, with word that an actor fell during the middle of Act 2 when a cable snapped. The show was first put on hold, and then cancelled as ambulances arrived on the scene. There is no word at the moment on who was injured, how severely, or what affect this will have on future performances.

Jennifer Damiano (Spiderman, Next To Normal), Antonique Smith (Rent), Lucas Steele (Three Penny Opera), Matt Doyle (Bye Bye Birdie, 'Gossip Girl') and more will belt pop tunes at My Favorite Things benefiting The Trevor Project, 10pm, Monday, January 3, 2011 at downtown?s Les Poisson Rouge.

Many of everyone's Broadway and off-Broadway favorites, including Michael Urie, Wesley Taylor, Jennifer Damiano, Karen Olivo, Mitchell Jarvis and more have teamed up on the webisode project Billy Green. BroadwayWorld last brought you the eighth episode in the series and today brings you the latest installment, 'The Agreement' below, starring (in order of appearance):Starring (in order of appearance): Rick Elice, Wesley Taylor, Adam Dannheisser, Mitchell Jarvis, Dave Brown, Peter James Zielinski, Brandon Espinoza, Miko de Leon, Skylar Astin, Eddie Cooper, Logan Rowland, Matthew Gumley, Timothy Kiefer, Charlie Brady, Quincy Dunn-Baker, Max Von Essen, Brennan Brown, Jackie Hoffman, and Alan Filderman.

Alice Ripley, Asa Somers, Tom Kitt and Brian Yorkey talk about Next to Normal - playing NOW at the Ahmanson Theatre in Los Angeles, through January 2nd only!

CARRIE is back, according to an Equity casting notice that was just released a few moments ago. A 29-Hour reading is scheduled for February. Exact dates will be determined based on actor's schedules once cast. The notice specifically calls for submission for the roles of Carrie and Sue Snell. Auditions will take place in mid-December.

Photos from after the first night preview of Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark at the Foxwoods Theater on November 28, 2010 in New York City

This Chicagoan goes to New York over a winter's weekend to check out 'The Radio City Christmas Spectacular,' 'American Idiot,' 'The Phantom of the Opera,' and first preview of 'Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark.'

Many of everyone's Broadway and off-Broadway favorites, including Michael Urie, Wesley Taylor, Jennifer Damiano, Karen Olivo, Mitchell Jarvis and more have teamed up on the webisode project Billy Green. BroadwayWorld last brought you the seventh episode in the series and today brings you the latest installment, 'The Performance.'

With eye-popping sets, fierce costumes, and an electric young cast, Julie Taymor and Bono bring Spider-Man, the $60+ Million rock musical, to Broadway. Contributing Editor Adam Green goes backstage at the Foxwoods Theatre to give Vogue readers an advance peek at the new production in the December issue (on newsstands nationwide November 23rd).

As BroadwayWorld reported last night, according to the NY Times, the Broadway run of Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark was rumored to be postponed once again; this time, because of safety issues. inspectors from The New York Department of Labor visited the Foxwoods Theatre to take a look at the flying devices and methods being used. Because they saw only some of the dozens of aerial stunts in the show, delays in the opening are likely. If the Department of Labor approves of the rest of the stunts in the next 10 days, then performances will begin on November 14.

According to the NY Times, the Broadway run of Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark might be postponed once again; this time, because of safety issues. As reported previously, inspectors from The New York Department of Labor payed a visit to the Foxwoods Theatre to take a look at the flying devices and methods being used. Because they saw only some of the dozens of aerial stunts in the show, delays in the opening are likely. If the Department of Labor approves of the rest of the stunts in the next 10 days, then performances will begin on November 4.