The New York Observer

‘Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark’ Survives First Year (Sort Of)

LAST

By Drew Grant 11/28/11 9:20am

Start The Slideshow

"Spider-Man" makes it out of previews!
This weekend, Broadway’s most expensive show* celebrated it’s first birthday by finally . That’s right, somehow Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark defied all the bookie odds and managed to stay in previews (and a brief hiatus) for 7 months before opening in June. Now it’s “officially” been at the Foxwoods Theatre for one year. Happy birthday Spidey!

In honor of this momentous occasion, we put together a little timeline of the show’s history. Enjoy! And try not to hurt yourself while reading this.

* $75 million+, and that’s not even including the ongoing lawsuit with former director Julie Taymor and the worker’s comp paid out to injured cast members.
Back Forward

Spider-Man_musical
Back Forward

"Spider-Man Turn Off The Dark" Broadway Opening Night

<> "Spider-Man Turn Off The Dark" Broadway opening night at Foxwoods Theatre on June 14, 2011 in New York City.
Back Forward

November 28th, 2010: "Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark" debuts

Expectations are high for the Bono and Edge score, along with Lion King director Julie Taymor at the helm...despite some "11th hour kinks."
Back Forward

December 20th, 2010: 4th Injured; Opening Pushed Back Till Jan, Then Feb

Actress Natalie Mendoza suffers a head injury on set, which is still nothing compared to Christopher Tierney who will shatter his ribs and sustain internal injuries when his safety gear breaks during a routine on December 20th. “It’s all about tweaking nuts and bolts now, and we’re slightly behind, but really it’s finally coming together at long last,” says producer Michael Cohl to The New York Times. Mr. Tierney will later rejoin the cast.

Back Forward

February 21, 2011: New Yorker Breaks Embargo on Reviewing Show

John Lahr tells the world how much show sucks. Even WITH all the date pushbacks! Show still in previews...
Back Forward

March 9, 2011: Julie Taymor Announces She's Leaving "Spider-Man"

Kristen Wiig does an especially good parody of the whole mess on Saturday Night Live
Back Forward

April 17th, 2011: Original Cast's "Final Preview" Performance

Bye-bye dangerous acrobatic stunts and odd Grecian subplot...show goes into hiatus while the whole shebang is re-hauled with a new creative team.
Back Forward

May 12, 2011: Back from hiatus, "Spider-Man" returns to previews!

Still not showing general public post-Taymor overhauls, Spider-Man once again goes into previews at Foxwoods Theatre.
Back Forward

June 14, 2011: "Spider-Man Turn Off The Dark" opens on Broadway

Finally.
Back

November 27th, 2011: "Spider-Man" Celebrates One Year Anniversary

No one dies. Plans to expand into a national production, because producers like to watch their money burn up in a fiery blaze of lawsuits, apparently.