Rick Miramontez News

According to Newsday, Matthew James Thomas, who plays Reeve Carney's alternate in Spider-Man twice a week on Broadway, was injured backstage during Wednesday's matinee at the Foxwood's Theatre. Thomas was taken to the hospital to get stitches in his head, after suffering a head injury at the top of the second act. Reeve Carney, who was in the theatre for the performance, took over for the rest of the show.

In last night's Halloween episode of 'The Simpsons,' the cartoon featured a jibe at Broadway's SPIDER-MAN, when Homer was paralyzed from a spider bite. SPIDER-MAN spokesperson Rick Miramonez commented on the episode: 'Everyone at SPIDER-MAN Turn Off The Dark was extremely flattered by last night's tribute on ‘The Simpsons.' ‘The Simpsons' is an iconic American institution, and being part of last night's episode was an honor and dream come true. As a token of their appreciation, the SPIDER-MAN Turn Off The Dark producers, Michael Cohl and Jeremiah J. Harris, have invited the entire Simpsons family (including, and especially Bart) on an all-expense-paid trip to New York City to sit front row at a performance of SPIDER-MAN Turn Off The Dark, and then come backstage for a meet-and-greet with the cast and for a champagne toast (the French stuff).'

On the subject of breaking the 10:00 p.m. embargo on reviews, -Rick Miramontez, Spokesperson, SPIDER-MAN Turn Off The Dark released a statement noting that 'For The Hollywood Reporter to break the embargo and run its review before opening night curtain goes up is the epitome of bad taste. Everyone in this production has waited a very long time to get to this point, and it is incredibly disrespectful that certain members of the media won't wait a few more hours to post their reviews. We trust that no other outlets will stoop so low.'

Following its historic matinee performance on Sunday, April 17, SPIDER-MAN Turn Off The Dark took a brief, three-week hiatus for technical rehearsals before unveiling the new version of the mega musical on Thursday, May 12. The official opening night of the new Spider-Man is set for Tuesday, June 14th at the Foxwoods Theatre (213 West 42nd Street).

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.

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.

A production source tells us that an official company meeting has been called for tonight at 7pm at the Foxwoods Theatre for all the SPIDER-MAN cast and crew to hear the news officially from producer Michael Cohl before an announcement is revealed to the press and public regarding the show's future. We're told that neither Bono, nor The Edge are expected to be there, and aside from Cohl, it's not been revealed what current, or future creative team members might be in attendance.

Patrick Healy in the New York Times is now reporting that lead producer Michael Cohl has 'told at least two investors and one other person involved with the Broadway musical that its director Julie Taymor, will step aside once negotiations about complex contractual matters like her creative legal rights and her considerable financial stake in any profits are concluded.'

Patrick Healy in the New York Times is now reporting that lead producer Michael Cohl has 'told at least two investors and one other person involved with the Broadway musical that its director Julie Taymor, will step aside once negotiations about complex contractual matters like her creative legal rights and her considerable financial stake in any profits are concluded.'

Now, others are adding to the trickle of information leaking out of the production, with Michael Riedel in the New York Post reporting that Christopher Ashley (Memphis, Xanadu, All Shook Up, The Rocky Horror Show) is likely to take over direction duties from Julie Taymor. Riedel reports that it's unknown if she will continue with the production in some capacity, take a break and return or what as negotiations are still ongoing. He pegs the hiatus as 4-6 weeks, to begin at the end of April, but also notes that the sheer technical complexity of the production will make large scale changes difficult.

The New York Times is reporting that tomorrow's SPIDER-MAN announcement will include the news that the production will shut down for 2-3 weeks for giving the cast a break, and for holding new rehearsals for more substantial changes. Other online blogs have speculated that there will be a longer break, possibly as much as 4-5 weeks. The production is also expected to delay its scheduled opening for 'about three months'.

Sources tell BroadwayWorld.com that behind the scenes talks have been 'making progess' and that the cast, which has not been made aware yet of the specifics, has been told to expect that announcement to come tomorrow (Wednesday) as was promised on Friday.

Monday night, the New York Times is reporting that discussions and negotiations are underway for director and co-bookwriter Julie Taymor to either 'work with a newly expanded creative team to fix the critically derided $65 million musical or to possibly leave the show.' The paper reports all of this to anonymous sources as the producers have insisted that the talks are private, but they do note that for the first time Bono himself is directly involved in the negotiations. As to the possibilities of Taymor departing or accepting help, they note that as of Monday night, 'they were not sure if Ms. Taymor would stay or go as director'.

After five delays, the show is currently scheduled to open on March 15th, 2011, but rumors have said that the show will likely be delayed again, possibly to June of 2011. A delay past April 28th would make it inelligible for this year's Tony Awards. Now, multiple sources tell us that the show is likely to announce that further delay this week, probably to June of 2011.

Word went out earlier this week that Bono, who wrote the music and lyrics for SPIDER-MAN: TURN OFF THE DARK attended the show on Tuesday night to analyze the musical's progress since he last attended the production to lend his help in January, along with rumors last week (denied by the production) that they were bringing on additional team members for the book/production. As for whether the producers would delay the opening of the show yet again, spokesperson Rick Miramontez, said that, 'all decisions are made as a group.'

According to a report in the Wall Street Journal, the U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration has formally slapped the production of SPIDER-MAN with three 'serious' safety violations pertaining to the injuries infamously sustained by several cast members late last year.

Rumors are circulating that Bono, who wrote the music and lyrics for SPIDER-MAN: TURN OFF THE DARK, will attend tonight's performance of the show. Bono will likely analyze the musical's progress since he last attended the production to lend his help in January. As for whether the producers will delay the opening of the show yet again, spokesperson Rick Miramontez, said that, 'all decisions are made as a group.'

According to the New York Times this weekend, another delay in the opening of SPIDER-MAN: TURN OF THE DARK may be imminent. A sixth postponement is being considered by the producers of the $65 million musical.

According to the New York Times, another delay in the opening of SPIDER-MAN: TURN OF THE DARK may be imminent. A sixth postponement is being considered by the producers of the $65 million musical.