Spider-Man Turn Off the Dark 2011 - Articles Page 22.6

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.

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.

According to the Hollywood Reporter, the SPIDER-MAN team has finally weighed in on the controversial early reviews published by Newsday and Bloomberg News last week. Critics form both publications, Linda Winer and Jeremy Gerard suprisingly wrote reviews for SPIDER-MAN:TURN OFF THE DARK five weeks before the much delayed openning night.

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.

Update: The New York Times has now weighed in on the early reviews of SPIDER-MAN, in which they spoke to Manuela Hoelterhoff, the Executive Editor of Bloomberg News about their decision to review the show early. 'I worried that by the time the show opened,' Ms. Hoelterhoff wrote, 'I might be in a rest home with Jeremy. You know, in India, they teach elephants to fly in less time, while painting pictures and humming a capella.' Jonathan Landman, the Culture Editor of the Times weighs in as well saying that 'It's easy to see why they did it and completely understandable and I admit that we've been tempted. After all, these guys are raking in the cash, charging some people more than $200 a ticket. Still, it's clear that the producers really are making significant changes and a review that's out of date when the show opens isn't all that useful. So we'll wait, but not forever.'

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.'

Assemblyman Rory Lancman (Chair, Assembly Subcommittee on Workplace Safety), Senator Eric Adams, Assemblyman Richard N. Gottfried ( who represents the theater district) today held a press conference in front of the Foxwood Theater, the home of 'Spider-Man: Turn Off The Dark,' to discuss the safety issues surrounding the production and the need for proper safety regulations and oversight of aerial performances. Joining them were representatives from Actors' Equity (Paige Price, First Vice President; and Carol Waaser, Acting Executive Director).

Assemblyman Rory Lancman (Chair, Assembly Subcommittee on Workplace Safety), Senator Eric Adams, Assemblyman Richard N. Gottfried ( who represents the theater district) today held a press conference in front of the Foxwood Theater, the home of 'Spider-Man: Turn Off The Dark,' to discuss the safety issues surrounding the production and the need for proper safety regulations and oversight of aerial performances.

James J. Claffey, Jr., President, Local One IATSE has just issued the following statement regarding safety at SPIDER-MAN.

News of SPIDER-MAN's trials has now gone international, and inspired Japanese animators to share the story their way via NMA TV. Click below to watch SPIDEY's Japanese animation treatment usually reserved for celebrity/world news!

There were only small crowds tonight of the Foxwoods Theatre, with the majority of this evening's sold out crowd having received word earlier that tonight's show would be cancelled.

The New York Times has just revealed details of the new safety plan for SPIDER-MAN. 'Under the new plan, one offstage crew member will attach the harness and related cables, wires, or tethers to the actors, and a second stagehand will verify that the attachments are made. That second stagehand will then verbally notify a stage manager that the attachment is safely connected. The actor will also verify that the attachment is made. Previously, only one stagehand made the attachment; there was no second stagehand to verify or communicate with the stage manager, and the actor was not required to check his harness.'

The following Statement from Rick Miramontez, SPIDER-MAN Turn Off The Dark spokesperson was released last night. The show is expected to resume performances Thursday evening.

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.

While today's matinee of SPIDER-MAN has been cancelled, we're told that all appears to be on track for the show to resume performances this evening, with new safety measures in place. It's been reported that injured actor Christopher Tierney is in good spirits, albeit still in serious, but stable condition. CBS reported last night that he recorded a video message which was then played for the rest of the cast.