Spider-Man Musical Update

This from the December 10 issue of Rolling Stone: (page 24)

Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark
Composers: Bono, the Edge
Opening: February 25th

The most expensive musical in Broadway history may not even make it to the stage. Spider-Man – which boasts a score by Bono and the Edge and big showbiz names like Lion King director Julie Taymor and stars Evan Rachel Wood (as Mary Jane Watson) and Alan Cumming (as the Green Goblin) – has ballooned into a $52 million project that’s reportedly struggling to make its planned premiere. Blame fancy Hollywood-style effects: Actors swing over the crowd and land in the balcony of New York’s Hilton Theatre, which is being renovated for the show. (The musical is also troubled by weak advance ticket sales and a shortage of investors.) “I can only assume it’s some sort of administrative hiccup,” the Edge told ROLLING STONE. “It’s in very good shape.” -Nicole Freshee

Might I offer some insight about the “weak” ticket sales…fans were encouraged to participate in presales months ago, and the news of production and financial issues might have swayed the ticket purchase decision. I know I held off on buying tickets because I knew that there would be U2 shows coming up, and for my money, I’d rather see U2 than Spider-Man.

At the moment, you can’t even purchase tickets on Ticketmaster for the 213 performances that are listed. Perhaps the sentiment is to hold off as long as possible in case Spider-Man has to go dark. (Oh the irony in the title!)

Now, while The New York Times reported on November 24 that producer Michael Cohl has tried to get two new investors on board with the production, there has been little said about the progress:

None of the three men would comment on Tuesday about the producing plans. The three theater producers, who spoke on condition of anonymity because the “Spider-Man” conversations were private, said Mr. Cohl’s communications with Mr. McCollum and Mr. Seller were in an initial phase and that the two men had not been provided with the full financials for the show.

These producers said that Mr. Cohl was “very interested,” in the words of one, in having the two men come aboard as hands-on producers who would help shepherd the project from development to a Broadway stage. But the producers also emphasized that Mr. Cohl was talking to several people and that Mr. McCollum and Mr. Seller were by no means going to join “Spider-Man,” given that they have other work in development, including a possible revival of the musical “Carrie.”

Mr. Cohl returned a phone message late Tuesday afternoon. Asked about Mr. McCollum and Mr. Seller, he said: “There are a lot of people who we’re talking to, and when there’s anyone who is definitely coming on board to ‘Spider-man,’ I’ll let you know. I hope to have more to say on this in a couple of weeks.”

The Times blog also stated that rehearsals with Julie Taymor will not begin until at the earliest January.

Last 4 posts by U2isABLE

Comments are closed.