Previous Julie Taymor collaborator Harry Lennix (Dollhouse, Radio Golf) has taken to the Huffington Post to speak out against the harsh criticism she has endured surrounding the on-going SPIDER-MAN saga. Said Lennix, who most famously performed in Taymor's 1999 film, Titus, in an open letter in the Huffington Post today: 'The fault couldn't possibly lie with an untested Broadway producer, or the two all but absent rock star composers whose notoriety is derived from a completely different medium...Rather, [critics] are eager to blame the female director whose last Broadway endeavor resulted in nothing short of a transformational experience for audiences around the globe.'
BroadwayWorld.com has confirmed (the great news) that lead actress, T.V. Carpio, who plays the role of Arachne has returned to the production and to the show's rehearsals for the in-the-works revamping. Audience members last night told us that both Carpio and the show received a rousing ovation.
We've gotten word that on Sunday cast members were given a chance to give their thoughts on the new script with work by Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa and Glen Berger and that rehearsals begin today with all of the principles for Act 1 of the new script with the first read thrus and staging taking place with Phil and the leads, while Chase Brock will simultaneously begin working on his new choreography with the ensemble.
The cast was also informed tonight that the first reading of the new script would take place Friday afternoon at 1:30 PM. We're told that no cast members have yet seen the new script, which will not be given out till 1:15 PM tomorrow before the reading takes place. It's the scheduling of Friday's reading that made the telling of the cast tonight about the Greek chorus being cut. Also to be noted, only the leads have been called at the current time, and not the ensemble.
Update: The cast was also informed tonight that the first reading of the new script would take place tomorrow afternoon at 1:30 PM. We're told that no cast members have yet seen the new script, which will not be given out till 1:15 PM tomorrow before the reading takes place. It's tomorrow's reading that made the telling of the cast tonight about the Greek chorus being cut.
There's just as much drama going on behind the scenes ofSPIDER-MAN: Turn Off the Dark as there is on the stage. There's been news this week that Julie Taymor's deal has not yet been completed and cast member, T.V. Carpio (Arachne) suffered a whiplash injury and additional stoppages. Also, first reported exclusively by BroadwayWorld.com this morning, it's now been officially announced that choreographer Chase Brock has joined the SPIDER-MAN: Turn Off the Dark team.
The company was introduced to Brock tonight at a pre-show company meeting. Also at that meeting, they were informed that amongst the many changes that would be coming to the show in the weeks to come, the Geek Chorus who narrate much of the show now would be cut entirely from the new version of the production. The Geek Chorus was played by Gideon Glick, Jonathan Schwartz, Mat Devine, Alice Lee.
First reported exclusively by BroadwayWorld.com this morning, it's now been officially announced that Chase Brock has joined the SPIDER-MAN: Turn Off the Dark team.
As we reported earlier, Brock will primarily be working on the new and revised scenes being added to the show. In a statement by the show's producers, Cohl and Harris said 'We were looking for someone with theater and opera experience, but who specializes in cutting-edge contemporary dance. We found everything we were looking for, and much more, with Chase.'
According to the NY Times, Mayor Michael Bloomberg might soon join the ranks of the many comedians who have spoofed SPIDER-MAN in recent months. Bloomberg will reportedly work Spidey skits into the Inner Cirlce charity dinner that will take place on Saturday, March 26. Details on the performance are being kept confidential.
The behind the scenes drama with SPIDER-MAN: Turn Off the Dark appears to be never-ending with news this week that Julie Taymor's deal has not yet been completed, another cast injury of whiplash to T.V. Carpio who plays Arachne, additional stoppages and rumors about choreographer Chase Brock being brought in to replace Daniel Ezralow.
SPIDER-MAN Turn Off The Dark recently announced a rescheduled opening night for a sixth time for Tuesday, June 14, 2011. On March 15, Julie Taymor stepped down as head creative force as the production makes room for Philip William McKinley. Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa is currently reworking the book and Bono and Edge have been making tweaks to the score.
We're now told by two production sources that these negotiations are still continuing, and that her exit deal has not yet been finalized. Issues surrounding royalties, copywrites, billing and a non-disclosure have not yet been settled upon. Both sides are still hoping to reach an amicable departure and to avoid litigation, but that possibility is not off the table as they've now dragged on longer than both sides thought they were.
Now, BroadwayWorld.com has learned that lead actress, T.V. Carpio, who plays the role of Arachne has been sidelined from the production with what we're told is 'whiplash' and is expected to be out for 2-3 weeks under doctor's orders. We've now been told that the injury occured on stage during one of the show's many battle scenes.
SPIDER-MAN is well past its unprecedented hundredth preview on Broadway, but 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 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.
In this week's SPIDER-MAN: TURN OFF THE DARK Weekly Web-Mail, music director and conductor Kim Grisby answers a fans questions. To watch the video, click below.
A few weeks ago the cast of SPIDER-MAN TURN OFF THE DARK Performed 'Rise Above' on The Late Show. Below, catch a glimpse of the song in full performance!
If the show wants some other options, late night TV host and comedian Jimmy Kimmel has offered up 'Death of a SPIDER-MAN' with his humorous take about the show.
On Friday night, SPIDER-MAN Turn Off The Dark announced that they rescheduled their opening night for Tuesday, June 14, 2011. However, the show's songwriters - U2 rockers Bono and The Edge - will not be present for most of the changes.
In a New York Times feature out this morning, The New York Times' Patrick Healey takes a look at what might be next for the trouble SPIDER-MAN musical, and reveals how those at the top have not yet lost faith. 'SPIDER-MAN will succeed...because we're thinking outside the box,' lead producer Michael Cohl famously said last August. Indeed they are, as 101 preview performances in - the longest in Broadway history - they have revamped the creative team.
