Broadway's stunt-heavy, $65 million "Spider-Man" musical has experienced another technical glitch that left its lead villain dangling in midair, and the troubled production will shut down for more than three weeks this spring for an overhaul.
Lead producers Michael Cohl and Jeremiah J. Harris said in a statement Friday that "Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark," which has been in previews for a record 103 performances, would officially open June 14. The show's opening, delayed six times, was to have opened last on March 15.
The final preview performance before the shutdown will be April 17. Performances will be canceled from April 19-May 11, with previews resuming on May 12.
On Wednesday, producers announced that Tony Award-winning director Julie Taymor would no longer direct the show, and a new creative team was brought in to change and polish the flawed musical, which has also been plagued with a series of injuries to cast members and aerial stunt mishaps.
The latest occurred Friday when the Green Goblin's flight system failed during a fight scene, leaving him hanging over the stage for about three minutes before stagehands lowered him down. It was the second time this week that a technical problem interrupted a scene with the Goblin.
The replacement of Taymor in her day-to-day duties was a stunning development for the heralded director of "The Lion King," a megahit that is No. 3 at the box office more than a decade after it opened. Taymor, known for her bold and creative artistic vision, is believed to have been pushed aside because she wouldn't accept the need for outside help and significant changes to "Spider-Man," which she co-wrote with Glen Berger.
"I was hoping that by planning for a March show it would be up to speed," said Sarah Marchitto, 31, of Linden, N.J., who spent $300 for tickets to Friday night's show as a birthday present for her boyfriend, a Spider-Man fan.
"I'm curious to see it because Julie Taymor was so attached to it," said Marchitto, adding that she would go back to see the new version when it opens in June.
source : abcnew.go.com
