On Sunday, BroadwayWorld.com has confirmed that Glen Berger, co-writer of the book who has been left out of much other press coverage and speculation is very much still on board and is at work with comic book writer Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa on making heavy revisions to the book. These changes are said to include much cutting of Julie Taymor's additions to the already rich SPIDER-MAN mythology including both the Geek Chorus, and Arachne. Other changes will include the Green Goblin remaining SPIDER-MAN's chief rival for the entire show which will involve changing both the ending of Act 1 and the beginning of Act 2 (with a new opener by Bono and the Edge) along with many other changes in Act 2.
BroadwayWorld.com first checked with a member of the show's cast, who told us that they felt that this was surely simply a negotiating ploy by Taymor (if it was indeed true), and that her torpedo-ing the show as a whole was highly unlikely, and presumably a last resort. They did tell us that if the script was pulled, that they believed that the production would face an immediate shutdown, as opposed to the one already planned for mid-April.
We checked in with a legal expert, not affiliated with the production, for their take on reports that a Dramatists Guild Contract had not be signed and if Taymor could indeed pull her script from the production.
In today's New York Post, Michael Riedel is reporting that talks have 'turned testy' between Taymor and the producers, and that she is now threading to take the entire script of the show with her, which is said to have the production in 'chaos' with producers quickly scrambling a new script. There's no word on what this might due to the production in terms of additional rehearsal time if a deal is not able to be worked out.
Lead producers Michael Cohl and Jeremiah J. Harris announced today that SPIDER-MAN Turn Off The Dark has rescheduled its opening night for Tuesday, June 14, 2011. In addition, to allow rehearsal time for the new changes being implemented in the show, performances from Tuesday, April 19th to Wednesday, May 11th have been cancelled with preview performances resuming on Thursday, May 12th. This amended schedule will allow the time necessary to execute the plan, which will include revisions to the script.
Talking to Don Imus this morning, legendary New York Times writer (and soon to be New York Magazine writer) Frank Rich said 'There is no way to fix a show this far into previews, according to Broadway history... it's a fool's errand at this point, if you know, follow history.' That said however, he also revealed that he has not seen the show, which has been in previews for months, because 'life is too short.'
The Wall Street Journal reports today that despite going public with the news that Julie Taymor will no longer move forward with SPIDER-MAN, her exit deal has not yet been finalized. Issues surrounding royalties, copywrites, and a non-disclosure have not yet been settled upon. Tamor's camp declined to comment on the separation negotiations. Litigation is not out of the question. Taymor will officially step down as head creative on March 15, 2011.
We're told that the cast today will be meeting with Actors Equity to explore their options and union protection. Many of the cast are up in arms since they've been rehearsing the show now since August of 2010 (or earlier) with much exhaustion and no end in site.
Jeremy Gerard at Bloomberg News is the first with more details on what will be cut from the show, and what changes will occur during the show's as of yet unannounced shutdown.
He reports that the Julie Taymor creation of Arachne will be heavily cut down, with her scenes being minimized and cut entirely, along with the song 'Deeply Furious' in which she and her minions go shopping for shoes, also said to be a Taymor favorite. Also on the chopping block? The Green Goblin's Act I death scene, which will make his Act II appearance more logical.
We're told that he'll be getting a big new Act II opening number as well.
In today's New York Post, Michael Riedel provides additional details about what's next for the show, most notably that Bono and The Edge are now expected to be fully, hands-on collaborators in the show as well as Bono himself going out to be the new 'face of the musical' for press.
It's not a great day for SPIDER-MAN on Broadway, as the show was halted tonight for several minutes mid-show for safety concerns.According to audience member reports, the show was stopped at the beginning of what is one of the most extensive aerial sequences in which the Green Goblin fights SPIDER-MAN above the audiences heads. During tonight's show, the Green Goblin stopped mid-flight, after a malfunction caused his steering mechanism to fail. The actor playing SPIDER-MAN was held on the balcony from making his flight while they attempted to discover what went wrong.
Lead producers Michael Cohl and Jeremiah J. Harris announced today that SPIDER-MAN Turn Off The Dark has a newly expanded creative team in place. The team will be implementing a new plan to make significant and exciting revisions to the production. Opening night (previously set for March 15, 2011) has been rescheduled to an evening in early summer, 2011. This amended schedule will allow the time necessary to execute the plan, which will include revisions to the script.
Lead producers Michael Cohl and Jeremiah J. Harris announced today that SPIDER-MAN Turn Off The Dark has a newly expanded creative team in place. The team will be implementing a new plan to make significant and exciting revisions to the production. Opening night (previously set for March 15, 2011) has been rescheduled to an evening in early summer, 2011. This amended schedule will allow the time necessary to execute the plan, which will include revisions to the script.
Broadway vet Julia Murney is set to star in the staged reading of Joe Keenan and Brad Ross' THE TIMES. The reading will be produced by the York Theatre Company and will take place at the Theatre at St. Peter's. The reading will be directed by Philip William McKinley.
Broadway vet Julia Murney is set to star in the staged reading of Joe Keenan and Brad Ross' THE TIMES. The reading will be produced by the York Theatre Company and will take place at the Theatre at St. Peter's. The reading will be directed by Philip William McKinley.
Broadway vet Julia Murney is set to star in the staged reading of Joe Keenan and Brad Ross' THE TIMES. The reading will be produced by the York Theatre Company and will take place at the Theatre at St. Peter's. The reading will be directed by Philip William McKinley.
Broadway vet Julia Murney is set to star in the staged reading of Joe Keenan and Brad Ross' THE TIMES. The reading will be produced by the York Theatre Company and will take place at the Theatre at St. Peter's. The reading will be directed by Philip William McKinley.
Variety reports Shirley Jones, who starred in the 1962 film version of The Music Man as Marian the Librarian, will return to her roots in a staged concert version of The Music Man at Hartford's Bushnell Center for the Performing Arts.
Carolee Carmello, Ron Bohmer, Beth Fowler, Brian Noonan, Mary Stout and Tina Johnson will star in The Night of the Hunter at the New York Musical Theatre Festival from September 26th through October 1st
Full casting has been announced for the upcoming New York City Opera production of The Most Happy Fella, starring Paul Sorvino, which will run from March 4th through March 25th
