December 28, 201014 yr Author Oh for goodness sake. This is going from bad to worse. :wacko: I can see Bono taking on the role of Spiderman at this rate. With Larry Mullen as his leading lady. :rolleyes:
January 1, 201114 yr U2's Bono And The Edge To Sit In On Preview Performances Of "Spider-Man: Turn Off The Dark" To say the new Broadway musical “Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark” has been plagued with problems is the understatement of the century. But here come U2’s Bono and The Edge to the rescue. Bono and The Edge, who wrote the score for the musical, will be sitting in on the musical starting next week through the show’s official launch. No, they won’t be performing (although launching into “Vertigo” when another cast member is left hanging isn’t a bad idea), but they will be sitting in the audience. It looks like they’ll be a part of the fine-tuning process that’s currently underway. Director Julie Taymor will also be in attendance. “Julie and Bono and Edge…will be in the theater next week and for all of the preview performances leading up to the opening night working on the show,” the spokesman for the production Rick Miramontez told EW. Along with performances filled with technical difficulties, cancelled shows, cast member exits, and injuries landing performers in the hospital, the show is thankfully undergoing some changes. Miramontez wouldn’t specify what changes, however. Early reviews have already started to trickle out criticizing the show, with Jeremy Gerard of Bloomsberg calling it “an unfocused hodge-podge of story-telling, myth-making and spectacle that comes up short in every department,” and some theatergoers calling the score “weak.” We’ll see if the show can turn more theatergoers on when it opens officially on February 7th, 2011. Meanwhile, “Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark” continues preview performances of the $65-million production all throughout January at the Foxwoods Theatre on Broadway. Source...allheadlinersnews.com
January 2, 201114 yr Turn out the lights on Spidey INFINITE IMPROBABILITY Broadway may butcher its actors, let alone Marvel mythos Of all the villains Spider-Man has faced in New York City, I never would have guessed that Broadway would become his greatest foe. The $65 million musical “Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark,” has been making headlines recently, and for all the wrong reasons. Broadway’s most expensive musical of all time is already a flop even before its official release. Some may say that labeling it a flop it this point is a bit premature, :unsure: but let’s be realistic for a minute, unlike the producers of this show. Since previews started in November, the stunt-heavy show broke the bones of an actor and a dancer, caused star Natalie Mendozato to suffer a concussion and quit, and almost killed a Spidey stuntman after his harness failed, breaking his ribs and causing internal bleeding. Monetary costs aside, is it going to take the real death of Gwen Stacy to stop this show? Any major stars originally attached to this show left long before the bodily harm began, and for good reason – Spider-Man never should have been singing show tunes to begin with. Who exactly requested the webslinger break out into song while beating bad guys to a pulp? Comic books may have lent themselves to popular cartoon and movie adaptations, but if the Captain America and Batman musicals are any indication, sequential art just doesn’t translate to the stage. Oh, you didn’t know there Captain America and Batman musicals? That’s because they never got off the ground. They were written, and those who wish to taint their fond memories of these characters can feel free to search for the lost music online, but they never saw the light of day because someone, somewhere, had the foresight to tell the producers to quit while they were far, far behind. Spider-Man needs to do the same and turn on the dark, slipping out the emergency exit like Mysterio at an awards show to name the best Spider-Man villain. What kind of terrible title is that anyway, “Turn Off the Dark”? It was probably written by Bono and The Edge – yes, U2’s pretentious duo who penned the music for this atrocity. If that doesn’t prevent you from shelling out $140 for tickets, I don’t know what will. Except, of course, having to shell out $140. And the possibility of having to dodge a stunt double in a red-and-blue spandex as he hurtles towards your head from the ceiling. Even the most dedicated of fans willing to give the show a webshot should note that they “took liberties” with the Spidey mythos, which always translates to, “It’s absolutely nothing like anything remotely resembling the source material. Prepare to be perplexed.” Characters like Arachne, based on the Greek myth, and Swiss Miss, who apparently wears a dress made out of sharp objects, were completely fabricated for the musical, despite the writers having hundreds of already established characters to choose from. Yes, “Swiss Miss” is her name. Yes, really. You have characters that can shapeshift, fly, shoot bolts of lightning, and dissipate into sand, but we needed a villain that can only remind me of hot chocolate. From what I understand, this character is apparently some kind of a joke, as there is a “geek chorus” that sings and helps move the “story,” if you wish to call it that, along, but let’s be frank – this whole thing is a big joke played on fans by executives hoping to get rich off this venture. If they truly wanted to give a tribute to fans, they never would have made it in the first place, respecting the audience enough to let a bad idea die soon after the evil thought bubble appeared. Instead on investing money in the projects that fans clamor for year after year, like an R-rated Spider-Man film starring Venom and Carnage or an ongoing cartoon series that doesn’t just “recreate” the character with a “modern” or “futuristic” twist, we’re instead subjected to songs better left in YouTube parodies. Source...Timesleader.com
January 4, 201114 yr 'Spider-Man' Musical Makes Casting Changes, Injured Actor Speaks Out Posted 5 hrs ago by Josh Wigler in Marvel, News "Spider-Man: Turn off the Dark" actress Natalie Mendoza has left the production in the wake of an on-stage injury she suffered in November, leaving the musical without a performer occupying the pivotal role of Arachne. But the role is no longer vacant, as Reuters reports that actress Teresa Carpio is succeeding Mendoza as the "Spider-Man" musical's new Arachne. She'll take over the role as of tonight's performance, having already played the part during the numerous previews since Mendoza's accident. Mendoza and producers announced the actor's departure from "Turn off the Dark" at the end of last year, citing her need to recover from a head injury sustained during the show's first preview performance in November. Although she's taking over the role from Mendoza, Carpio was already part of the "Spider-Man" family. The actress was originally cast in the show as Miss Arrow, one of the friendly neighborhood web-slinger's many enemies. Alice Lee will take over the role from Carpio. Additionally, Carpio has history with "Spider-Man" director Julie Taymor, as the two collaborated on the Beatles-inspired fantasy film "Across the Universe." In other "Spider-Man" musical news, injured aerialist Christopher Tierney has spoken out publicly for the first time since his controversial on-stage accident in December. "It was just a bit of human error," he said in an interview with WCBS-TV. "I'm supposed to jump off the bridge, but it catches me. And I was tethered to my back, but it just wasn't tethered to the stage and I just went for it, like I do with everything. There was no pulling myself back." Tierney plans on returning to the show once he's made a full recovery. Tell us what you think of the news in the comments section and on Twitter! http://splashpage.mtv.com/2011/01/04/spide...-injured-actor/
January 7, 201114 yr Christopher Tierney, 31, the star of the musical, Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark, was released from New York University’s Rusk Institute of Rehabilitation Medicine on Wednesday morning. The Broadway actor fell 35 feet during an aerial stunt when his safety harness failed on December 20. According to Tierney’s father, he suffered four broken ribs, a hairline skull fracture, a broken scapula, a bruised lung, three cracked vertebrae and broken bones below his elbow. Yet, Tierney is looking forward to returning to the show. Patrick Page, another actor in the show, says that the accident prompted new measures that increase communication between actors and safety personnel. The $65 million show is said to be the most expensive in Broadway history, and it includes music and lyrics by U2’s Bono and The Edge. The official opening date is February 7. Source...cdinsight.com
January 8, 201114 yr Author From http://www.broadway.com/shows/spider-man-t...ing-spider-man/ Star Jennifer Damiano Says Bono 'Had a Great Time' Seeing Spider-Man January 7, 2011 - 3:59PM Spider-Man, Turn Off the Dark composer, U2's Bono, paid his first visit to the show on January 4 and the rocker gave Spidey a thumbs-up, according to the musical’s star Jennifer Damiano. “He had a great time and was very positive about the show,” Damiano, who plays Spider-Man's gal pal Mary Jane Watson, told Broadway.com. Bono and co-composer The Edge had been on tour with U2 and were unable to attend the show’s first previews, when it began performances November 28 at the Foxwoods Theatre. “[bono] told us to never underestimate the magnificence of what we’re doing and that’s really special to hear from him,” Damiano said. “He’s the coolest and just so correct about everything. When he [offers a suggestion] you always just say, ‘Wow, you’re so right.’ Every song they’ve written is so different, but they all make sense as a unit when you put them together,” she said of the musical’s original rock score. So does the Tony-nominated actress, known for her Broadway performances in Next to Normal and Spring Awakening, ever freak out when she’s in the presence of the U2 rockers? “I do my best to keep my cool. They’re focused on the music in the show just like I’m focused on my own role, and we all have to come together to make this show incredible. But when I actually step outside of myself for a minute and see who I’m discussing these songs and scenes with, it kind of blows my mind! At the end of the day I wouldn’t want to be surrounded by any other people. You couldn’t ask for a cooler experience.” Spider-Man, Turn Off the Dark is set to open on February 7.
January 11, 201114 yr U2's Spider-Man Musical Is The Number One Play On Broadway January 11, 2011 12:54 p.m. by Andrew Winistorfer In spite of, or perhaps because of, bad reviews and technical mishaps that have resulted in serious injuries to cast and crew, U2's Spider-Man musical, Turn Off the Dark, is the number one play on Broadway, selling over $1.5 million in tickets last week. That's even in spite of the play still being in previews before it's official premiere. So, apparently, even a poorly received (and conceived) Spider-Man musical is still a draw. I'd be surprised if I knew anything about Broadway. [AV Club] U2 Source...Prefixmag.com
January 14, 201114 yr Author The opening has been postponed again. Won't open till March 15th now. They're writing a new ending apparently. What about all the people who have bought tickets for February? What happens to them? Anyway, full story here http://www.spin.com/articles/u2s-spider-ma...yed-until-march
February 12, 201114 yr Author Here http://www.google.com/hostednews/ukpress/a...41297185944398A I like 'a shrill, insipid mess' the best :lol: Such vitriol!
February 13, 201114 yr Author From http://www.gigwise.com/news/61248/Producer...Back-At-Critics Producer Of U2's Spider-Man Musical Hits Back At Critics February 10, 2011 by Holly Frith The producer of U2's Spider-Man musical has hit back at critics after recent negative reviews. Spider-Man: Turn Off The Dark, which is still in previews at the Foxwoods Theatre following a string of delays, was slammed by critics. The Hollywood Reporter described it as a “web-slinging folly”, while the New York Times said: "Spider-Man is... the most expensive musical ever to hit Broadway. It may also rank among the worst." Producer Michael Cohl has now hit back at the critics saying many of them 'don't get popular culture'. ''Any of the people who review the show and say it has no redeeming value are just not legitimate reviewers, period. It's hard to have people that don't get popular culture reviewing a popular culture event, isn't it," Cohl told Entertainment Weekly, U2's Bono and The Edge have created the score for the musical, which is still selling out despite the negative publicity.
February 24, 201114 yr Author Another script re-write? :blink: http://www.irishcentral.com/ent/U2s-Spider...-116648144.html
March 2, 201114 yr Author From http://www.google.com/hostednews/canadianp...g?docId=6109458 U2's Bono to see 'Spider-Man' on Tuesday night as speculation grows about the show's future By The Associated Press (CP) – 1 day ago NEW YORK, N.Y. — U2's Bono is expected to attend Tuesday night's performance of "Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark" as speculation swirls over whether the troubled Broadway show's opening night will be delayed again. :rolleyes: Bono, who wrote the music and lyrics with bandmate The Edge, hasn't been able to critique the show since he stopped in to check on its progress in mid-January. The $65 million show has been delayed five times and is supposed to open on March 15. Despite its woes, it is among the highest earners each week on Broadway. Rick Miramontez, a show spokesman, said Tuesday that any decision about the future of "Spider-Man" would include producers and the creative team, led by director Julie Taymor. Says Miramontez: "All decisions are made as a group."
March 6, 201114 yr Author An interesting take on the musical here from the Daily Labour Party Record http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/editors-...86908-22970500/ 'So bad it's good' :lol:
March 8, 201114 yr Author From http://www.showbiz411.com/2011/03/08/bono-...-or-without-you Bono Tells Julie Taymor He’ll Do Spider Man “With Or Without You” 03/08/11 2:43pm Many months after “Spider Man: Turn off the Dark” started previews in New York, its composer–Bono of the group U2–is here. Sources tell me that even though he’s not in the Foxwoods Theater every day, Bono has taken a firm grip of the show. He’s essentially telling director Julie Taymor that he’ll do the show–to paraphrase a U2 hit–”with or without you.” “They’re writing lots of new songs,” a source tells me, and as I reported on Sunday. “They’re not going to have show open that they’re not proud of.” As such, “Spider Man” will not be opening on March 15th, although there will be a celebration party anyway–something to give the cast and crew a boost, if nothing else. “They’re not concerned about the Tony Awards,” said the source, just as I reported on Sunday also. “Missing that date won’t matter.” The source says “everyone has known about this for at least two weeks.” Meantime, even though OSHA gave fines to “Spider Man” last week, the Department of Labor continues to be a backstage presence to monitor the aerial and special effects, Luckily, that part of “Spider Man”‘s history seems to be over. Everyone has straightened up and is flying right.
March 9, 201114 yr Author Maybe delayed until June now..... From http://www.nme.com/news/u2/55365 U2-scored 'Spider-Man: Turn Off The Dark' musical for overhaul Official opening could now be delayed until June According to The New York Times, insiders say the $65million (£40million) production will cease for three weeks to allow for the changes. The new delay is the sixth time the musical has had its official opening put back. Production on it began back in 2002, but the public opening will now probably not take place until June. Rick Miramontez, a spokesman for the show, would not confirm the newspaper's report, telling Reuters: "The production is not confirming any reports of a shutdown." One reason for this reported new delay could be the scathing reviews the musical received last month. Several prominent critics broke embargos and ran reviews of the show. The musical has suffered a succession of setbacks since previews began, with injuries to cast members, financial problems and cast changes all contributing to the delay.
March 10, 201114 yr Author The Director has gone. And Bono is about to 'rip the show apart from top to bottom' apparently. Oh dear... http://www.irishcentral.com/ent/U2s-Bono--...-117739873.html
March 13, 201114 yr Author From http://www.nme.com/news/u2/55407 New opening night confirmed for U2-scored 'Spider-Man' musical Previews cancelled to allow for overhaul of Broadway show The producers of the much-delayed Spider-Man: Turn Off The Dark musical have confirmed a new date for the U2-scored show's opening night. The show, which was due to debut in mid-March, will now officially open to the public on June 14, according to the show's official website, Spidermanonbroadway.marvel.com. In order to "allow rehearsal time" for script and production changes, previews scheduled between April 19 and May 11 have been cancelled. Earlier this week, an overhaul of the show's backroom team was announced, seeing Julie Taymor relieved of her directorial duties and new members of staff join the creative team. Bono and The Edge have also contributed "a couple of new songs" to the musical and reaffirmed their "absolute faith" in the project. The musical has suffered a succession of setbacks since previews began, with injuries to cast members, financial problems and cast changes all contributing to the delay. Previews of the musical have also received scathing reviews from several prominent critics, who broke embargos and ran reviews of the show last month.
March 13, 201114 yr U2 warned over 'Spiderman' mistake One of the world’s leading musical producers has warned U2 their troubled 'Spider-Man' Broadway show could be their biggest mistake ever. Award-winning Tim Rice, a legend of the musical theatre, issued the warning via the Sunday Independent. Having shot to fame and fortune in the 70s with collaborator Andrew Lloyd Webber, Rice knows what he is talking about. He is the brains behind shows like 'Jesus Christ Superstar' and 'Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat.' But Rice also suffered his own Broadway heartache when the critics panned his musical 'Chess' when it hit New York in 1988 and closed after a very short run. So his words of warning about the U2-backed Spider-Man musical should be heeded. “I think there’s a huge, huge difference between music theatre and rock music, which is maybe the problem with Spider-Man,” Rice told the Sunday Independent. “They’re very different genres of music and I honestly don’t think you can do both. “I’m also very wary of technical problems like they’ve been having. Things can very easily go wrong when you’re relying on a lot of special effects and gimmicks.” Rice is well aware of the bad news stories surrounding the lavish Spider-Man project. The Oscar and Grammy winner added: “I’ve heard about the hard time they’ve all been having over there. I worked with producer Julie Taymor on 'The Lion King' show with Elton John. “It’s pretty rough when you’re being attacked by the critics like that and things are going wrong on you. Yes, I would have a lot of sympathy for the two guys, Bono and The Edge, and for Julie now.” Source..Irishcentral.com
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