SPIDER-MAN Turn Off The Dark features music and lyrics by 22-time Grammy Award-winners Bono and The Edge and a book co-written by Julie Taymor, Glen Berger and Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa, with direction by Ms. Taymor and additional direction by Philip William McKinley. Scenic Designer George Tsypin and Costume Designer Eiko Ishioka are winners of Outer Critics Circle Awards and were nominated for Tony Awards for their work on SPIDER-MAN Turn Off The Dark.
Among serious doubts about the premiere next week and today's news that director Julie Taymor is out the door, Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark's stars Reeve Carney and Jennifer Damiano speak out in Page Six Magazine, free inside the New York Post tomorrow. The two defend Taymor, and comment on the bad reviews and the on-stage accidents.
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.
Tickets for Thursday night's performance of SPIDER-MAN:TURN OFF THE DARK were released at TKTS at a 30 percent discount last night, March 4. Could this be an indication that the show is struggling to sellout the Foxwoods Theatre?
With all the news surrounding the $65 million spectacle SPIDER-MAN: TURN OFF THE DARK, the public's attention is firmly fixed on the show's driving force, Julie Taymor. The co-writer and director of the production spoke today at the TED 2011 conference, and while she didn't directly address any of the show's main questions, she did admit that SPIDER-MAN is not where she would ideally like it to be.
Last night, March 1, the stars of Spider-Man appeared on The Late Show with david Letterman to premiere the show's Act 1 anthem, 'Rise Above.' BroadwayWorld brings you a video of the perfomance below!
Last night, March 1, the stars of Spider-Man appeared on The Late Show with david Letterman to premiere the show's Act 1 anthem, 'Rise Above.' BroadwayWorld brings you a few shots of Reeve Carney and T.V. Caprio arriving at the studio below.
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.'
The stars of SPIDER-MAN Turn Off The Dark appeared on CBS's 'The Early Show' this morning, March 1. In a sit-down interview with Chris Wragge, stars Reeve Carney, Jennifer Damiano, and T.V. Carpio discussed the show and their performance that night on 'The Late Show With David Letterman,' where they debuted the show's Act I anthem, 'Rise Above.'
Veteran humorist and playwright, Justin Moran, launched 'Spiderman Smackdown', a guerilla theatre project to write, rehearse, and perform a fully realized musical based on the character Spiderman in under 30 days with a budget of $0. Set to open one day before the $65 Million Broadway musical 'Spiderman: Turn Off the Dark' on March 14 (assuming it's not delayed again), Moran's musical will be the first Spiderman Musical to officially open in New York City. Last night. BroadwayWorld was invited inside the rehearsal room for a first look at this new Spidey Project in development and brings you photo coverage below!
The stars of SPIDER-MAN Turn Off The Dark will appear on CBS's "The Early Show" tomorrow morning, March 1.
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