Spiderman: Turn Off the Dark Opening Has Been Rescheduled

In April 2009, a new Broadway production was announced: Spiderman: Turn Off The Dark. Spidey fans waited for it in anticipation, as did U2 fans. The music for the production is to be written and composed by U2 members Bono and The Edge and directed by Julie Taymor of Across The Universe fame. It was originally slated to premiere at Broadway's Hilton Theater on February 18, 2010, as brought out in my previous article about the play at (http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/1630888/spiderman_is_coming_to_broadway.html?cat=40).

Unfortunately, the original producer David Garfinkle nearly bankrupted the project and it was postponed and tickets refunded. Bono's long-time business partner Michael Cohl eventually stepped in as producer. Garfinkle's name remains on the project, but he is no longer involved. Since then, it has been shaping up financially. A big hand came from Disney after it bought out Marvel Comics. Therefore, while the series of movies have ended short of their planned number, the Broadway play will make it to the stage after all.

Because of U2's 360 Tour schedule and the typically heavy workload that Bono and The Edge maintain, the timing for its new premiere has to be postponed until the fall of 2010. Some of the songs have been written and titled. Although noone has heard them yet, there has been a lot of excitement about them. There is still much work to do on the musical's soundtrack (so to speak) that must be done around U2's prior commitments.

In the meantime, there has been some casting. Alan Cumming is slated to play the part of the Green Goblin and Reeve Carney will have the starring role as Spiderman. The financial crises caused some unsettling of the cast, but Evan Rachel Wood (Across The Universe) was on board as Mary Jane Watson. It is unclear if she still is.

Despite the setbacks, Spiderman: Turn Off The Dark is still highly anticipated. The New York Post said: "The phrase 'Broadway musical' doesn't seem grand enough to convey the size and scope of Spiderman: Turn Off The Dark." The Wall Street Journal refered to the production as "Drama nerds, meet the cool kids." These reviews are posted on the official website of the show at spidermanonbroadway.marvel.com/. That site also promises "an origin story both recognisable and unexpected- - yielding new characters as well as familiar faces until a final surprising confrontation casts a startling new light on this hero's journey."

There is no word yet on an exact date for the premiere or when previews will begin. We are told to expect it in the autumn of 2010.

Resources:

Josh Wigler, "'Spider-Man: Turn Off The Dark' Musical Delayed To Fall 2010, Refunds Issued" http://splashpage.mtv.com/2010/01/13/spider-man-turn-off-the-dark-musical-delayed-to-fall-2010-refunds-issued/, MTV.com, January 13, 2010.

Official website http://spidermanonbroadway.marvel.com/

Sabne Raznik, "Spiderman Is Coming To Broadway" http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/1630888/spiderman_is_coming_to_broadway.html?cat=40, Associated Content, April 7, 2009.