Revamped 'Spiderman' Previews Hit Broadway

By Kelly Fisher Posted May 13th 2011 06:10AM

After weeks of revisions to address safety concerns, a retooled and injury-free version of 'Spiderman: Turn Off the Dark' premiered its first preview performance Thursday night in New York City.

According to E! Online, the show's overall concept, script, and music were all revamped in an effort to make the Broadway musical both entertaining and safe -- two things the original show reportedly lacked.

Julie Taymor, who originally sat in the director's chair for the seemingly cursed show, has been replaced by relatively new Broadway director Philip William McKinley to make some necessary changes. And one of those changes is -- wait for it -- adding flying sequences.

The flying stunts may come as a surprise to some, especially after several actors were injured trying perform them late last year. One stunt actor, Christopher Tierney, took a 20-foot plunge during a show, landing him in surgery with several broken bones. The injuries, plus cast departures citing safety concerns, eventually led to the musical's overhaul after the opening was continually delayed.

In addition to the script and action changes, Bono and The Edge have been hard at work adding new songs into the mix.

"What was great about 'Turn Off the Dark' 1.0 was unusual and rare: magic, a pop-up Pop-Art opera with a bit of rock 'n' roll circus thrown in," Bono wrote in an email to the New York Times. "What was not right about it was a catalog of commonplace problems -- story knots, bad sound and finally a failure to cohere, meaning that the whole was not greater than the sum of the parts, as wonderful as some of those parts were."

Those behind the $5 million overhaul of 'Spiderman' have their fingers crossed that it was worth it. Though Thursday night's preview was less than sold out -- empty seats were reportedly very noticeable -- there's enough time for positive buzz to bring in the crowds in time for its June 14 opening night.

Comments

(3)

Friday 13 May

By boperson

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This show has "death" written all over it.

By Dave

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Unbelieveable that the producers were able to find people to put ANOTHER 5 mil into this show. Its a money pit. It is another accident waiting to happen. Maybe the show will catch on. It could be like a car wreck. You can't help but look. Perhaps people will go hoping to see an actor fly (and fall). Its time for these folks to cut their 60 million plus losses and walk away!

Saturday 14 May

By Scott

I didn't see he first version, but my family of 5 was wowed by tonight's performance! Perhaps our expectations were low, but regardless, Spiderman delivered the goods- exciting- 2 songs that could go on to hit status- unprecedented aerial stunts- and THE BEST SCENERY I have ever seen on Broadway! The 2 leads were great but the actor who played the Green Goblin stoled the show. I'd say get tkts now while you can- and NO I'm not in any way affiliated with the show.

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