Julie Taymor News

WCBS TV's Dana Tyler has been granted the first interview with Christopher Tierney, which will air on WCBS news on January 3, 2011 at 11pm EST.

Bono and The Edge will be attending all future previews of SPIDER-MAN Turn Off the Dark, according to production spokesman Rick Miramontez. '[They] will be in the theater next week and for all of the preview performances leading up to the opening night working on the show,' added Miramontez.

Lead producer Michael Cohl announced today that cast member Natalie Mendoza, who helped create the role of 'Arachne' over the last six months, has decided to depart SPIDER-MAN Turn Off The Dark. Directed by Julie Taymor and featuring a book by Julie Taymor and Glen Berger, and new music and lyrics by U2's Bono and The Edge, SPIDER-MAN Turn Off The Dark is now in previews at Broadway's Foxwoods Theatre (213 West 42nd Street). Opening night is set for Monday, February 7, 2011.

BroadwayWorld.com is regretfully announcing the end of its (promised) exclusive, behind-the-scenes SPIDER-MAN: Turn Off The Dark webisode series, entitled 'Behind the Web', hosted by Broadway vet (and wife of SPIDEY's Green Goblin), Paige Davis.

Injured SPIDER-MAN actor Christopher Tierney has left the intensive care unit and has been transferred to a New York City rehabilitation facility, according to his father. Tim Tierney added that his son is now able to walk with the help of a full-torso brace.

An exciting range of performances, including, Behind-the-Scenes at Harlem's famed Apollo theater, a New York Film Festival Sneak Preview, the U.S. Premiere of La Gruta de Baba, a multimedia work by leading contemporary Mexican composer/singer Juan Pablo Villa, the Fish Police, South London funk-punk-hip hop band in its U.S. debut, new works by Jody Oberfelder Dance Projects, and Christmas in Balthrop Alabama, a down-home style, off-beat holiday celebration, are on the schedule for the new fall season of Target®Free Thursdays at the David Rubenstein Atrium.

Though no official cancellation notice has gone up on the NYT Arts & Leisure Weekend's web site for a scheduled conversation on January 8th between Patrick Healy of the Times and currently troubled SPIDER-MAN director Julie Taymor, ticket buyers are telling us that they received a refund notice yesterday and the event is no longer on sale, marked as cancelled on the ticket sales web site.

BroadwayWorld.com was the first to report back on December 2 when Natalie Mendoza, who plays the lead role of Arachne in SPIDER-MAN: Turn Off the Dark had received a concussion and the role was to be played in her absence by understudy America Olivo. Now the New York Times is reporting that the actress is leaving the production, 'as an artistic loss and embarrassing blow to the production' and that lawyers are fine-tuning the language to explain her departure. The paper reports that she last performed in the show on Monday, December 20th, the same performance which had the injury to her fellow performer and friend Christopher Tierney. Check out this clip from 'Good Morining America' on Mendoza's departure from the show.

El 29 de Enero tendrán lugar las pruebas en las que se buscarán a los jóvenes Simba y Nala.

The latest in unauthorized gossip and buzz from the heart of Chicago's showtune video bars, and musical theater news from Chicago to Broadway. The Broady Awards Celebration at The Call, the Kennedy Center Honors broadcast, 'Spiderman' rumors, January show closings, 'Spamalot,' 'Les Miserables,' 'White Noise,' more....

BroadwayWorld.com has heard from those in the audience on Tuesday night that the show was stopped once and that stuffed into the Playbill was word of a new cast member, and multiple understudies.

The New York Times has the first extensive report on Christopher Tierney's condition after an interview with his father. The paper reports that 'Tierney sustained a fracture in his skull, a broken scapula, a broken bone close to his elbow, 4 broken ribs, a bruised lung and 3 fractured vertebrae.'

The Associated Press is reporting the great news this morning that Christopher Tierney, who fell 30 feet in SPIDER-MAN a week ago has now walked again for the first time since the accident. After having successful back surgery mid-week, he is now spending the holiday with his family. They also report that director Julie Taymor visited the hospital on Christmas Eve.

BroadwayWorld.com was the first to report back on December 2 when Natalie Mendoza, who plays the lead role of Arachne in SPIDER-MAN: Turn Off the Dark had received a concussion and the role was to be played in her absence by understudy America Olivo. The star then returned to the show on December 15, but then was out of the show again with Olivo, and then Carpio playing the role.

We can happily report that tonight's performance of SPIDER-MAN went off as planned with no stops. Producers addressed the audience pre-show with a similar curtain speech to the one that they've been giving noting that the show was opening cold in New York, that they would see ALL of the show's aerial effects and that Christopher Tierney had successful surgery this week and was on the mend (which received appropriately loud applause). Reports also indicate that the box office has been telling people that the show is now sold out through January 2nd.

Just released from Rick Miramontez, Spokesperson for the show - This evening's performance of 'SPIDER-MAN Turn Off The Dark' will take place as planned at 8 p.m. at The Foxwoods Theatre.'

It seems that Broadway's Adam Pascal has a lot to say about the constroversy surrounding the SPIDER-MAN injuries. Pascal took to his Facebook page to vent his concerns about the show, and while his original stance seemed a bit harsh, he was quick to clarify. Pascal's posts are listed chronologically below.

Broadwayworld has learned that Christopher Tierney, the Spiderman stuntman who fell nearly 30 feet from a raised platform during the December 20th performance, still remains in serious condition at New York's Bellevue Hospital. He is being watched regularly and is reportedly in good spirits despite suffering several broken ribs and internal bleeding. There is no word on how long he must remain at Bellevue. He is able to talk and move slightly and, as CBS reported last night, he recorded a video message which was then played for the rest of the cast. Not everyone is sure if the show will play tonight as scheduled (today's matinee was cancelled yesterday as a result of the accident), however sources tell us that a decision about tonight's show will likely be made by 6pm. This performance, which was not sold out on Ticketmaster as of last night, now is.

Michael Riedel appeared on CNN to give his take on all things SPIDER-MAN.

In a conversation encapsulating everything from Albee and WHO'S AFRAID OF VIRGINIA WOOLF to Aristophanes and Virginia Woolf herself - and even a little Stephen King - this concluding portion of this exclusive interview with this remarkably gifted actor ends with a look ahead to LEAP OF FAITH. Plus, what's on his iPod, what books he's reading, and a whole lot more!