Spider-Man's Fate May Be Decided Today

Rumors are flying this morning about the troubled musical Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark. The New York Times reported yesterday that director Julie Taymor, other members of the creative team, and the show's producers are scheduled to have an important meeting today to discuss the show's future. Today, the New York Post's Michael Riedel - a reporter who covers the Broadway beat and passes around the juiciest gossip on the Great White Way - has said that Spider-Man won't be postponed indefinitely as many have suggested over the last several months. Instead, it will just push back opening until the summer of 2010, when Taymor and company will finally have the highly complex show ready. This would mean that Spider-Man won't make the deadline for this year's Tony Awards, but then again most people probably won't need a Tony win as an incentive to see this much-buzzed-about musical with amazing aerial effects and songs by U2's Bono and The Edge.

Despite Troubles, Spiderman Musical Still Selling Tickets

The last few months have been trying times for the people behind the new Spider-man Turn Off the Dark musical. Delays, major money woes, and work stoppages have plagued the highly anticipated Broadway production directed by Julie Taymor (The Lion King). However, optimistic fans take note - tickets are nonetheless still on sale for Spiderman through Ticketmaster. The show is still in the midst of its AmEx presale period, so you do have to have an American Express card to purchase tickets. You don't, however, have to have a presale password to get the tickets. For American Express Premium or American Express Preferred seats you do have to have a password, but providing you don't have your heart set on either of those options, you can still get regular tickets. Just go to Ticketmaster, search for Spider-man Turn Off the Dark to find the Spiderman page, request the number of tickets you want, and then when you get to the pay page, you'll see that the only type of credit card you are allowed to select is American Express, so make sure you or a willing friend or family member has one on hand that you can use. Though there is still some doubt that the Spiderman musical (with a score penned by U2's Bono and The Edge) will actually open on Broadway, assuming that the production does open at the Hilton Theatre in early 2010 as currently planned, it will likely be the hot ticket of the spring. In which case it may be advantageous to have your tickets in advance. In the event that the production is ultimately canceled, Ticketmaster will issue refunds to Spiderman ticket holders.

More Happenings in Spider-ville

At the risk of becoming the All Spiderman News Network, we feel we must report on a couple of the latest developments of the ongoing saga of the Spiderman: Turn Off the Dark musical that is supposed to be coming to Broadway in February 2010. The latest news came on Monday when it was announced that Disney is buying out Marvel Entertainment - a very intriguing development considering that Marvel owns the Spider-man brand, and Disney is no stranger to success on Broadway (furthermore, Disney has a pre-existing relationship with Spiderman director Julie Taymor, who also helmed The Lion King on Broadway). The announcement immediately started tongues wagging that perhaps Disney will be able to solve Spiderman's financial woes, which necessitated work stoppage on the production earlier last month. Then today the New York Times reported that work is set to resume at Spidey's home, the Hilton Theatre, tomorrow. The Times cautioned that it is only "modest" construction that is resuming, and not to be taken as a sign that Spiderman is out of trouble yet. Reportedly the show's performers were already told in August that the production may be canceled, so Spiderman the musical's fate is still in the air.

Troubles in Spider-Land as Production on U2 Musical Halts

Rumors about Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark have been flying around New York City faster than the web-slinging hero himself. As production costs of the big-budget and technically complex Julie Taymor-directed musical, featuring a score by U2's Bono and The Edge, have skyrocketed, word on the street has been that the show may never open. The latest development is that production has halted, albeit temporarily, according to the musical's producers, due to cash flow troubles. They insist that Spiderman will still begin performances at the Hilton Theatre on Broadway in late February as planned. So far no one has been cast in the plum role of Peter Parker, but Evan Rachel Wood and Alan Cumming are already set to co-star.

Alan Cumming and Evan Rachel Wood Cast in Spider-Man Musical

Some of the initial casting for the forthcoming Broadway musical Spider-Man Turn Off the Dark has just been announced. Alan Cumming (Broadway revival of Cabaret, The Threepenny Opera, Design For Living) will play Spider-Man's nemesis, the Green Goblin, also known as Norman Osborn. As previously rumored, movie actress Evan Rachel Wood (Whatever Works, The Wrestler) will play Peter Parker's girlfriend Mary Jane. Spider-Man director Julie Taymor (The Lion King) worked previously with Wood in her film Across the Universe, and is currently working with Cumming on a film adaptation of William Shakespeare's play The Tempest. More casting information for Spider-Man Turn Off the Dark should be coming out soon. The musical, which will be scored by rock band U2, is scheduled to begin performances at Broadway's Hilton Theatre in February 2010.