Skip to main content
My Shows
News on your favorite shows, specials & more!
Home For You Chat My Shows Register/Login Games Grosses

Lead Actress Natalie Mendoza Departs SPIDER-MAN: Turn Off the Dark?

New Post Search Report Abuse Rules

Welcome Guest. Please Login or Register.

#2

Lead Actress Natalie Mendoza Departs SPIDER-MAN: Turn Off the Dark?

Posted: 12/28/10 at 9:12am

For anyone having problems opening the article, here is the NYT link:

http://artsbeat.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/12/28/a-lead-actress-departs-spider-man-turn-off-the-dark/

Interesting. This show just keeps finding itself deeper and deeper in the muck. I, for one, hope the NYT DOES review it early and put the nail in the proverbial coffin.
"I know now that theatre saved my life." - Susan Stroman
#3

Lead Actress Natalie Mendoza Departs SPIDER-MAN: Turn Off the Dark?

Posted: 12/28/10 at 9:45am

I have to wonder if she's the first of several actors that might leave the show? I wonder if anyone else wishes they could leave this trainwreck?
A Chorus Line revival played its final Broadway performance on August 17, 2008. The tour played its final performance on August 21, 2011. A new non-equity tour started in October 2012 played its final performance on March 23, 2013. Another non-equity tour launched on January 20, 2018. The tour ended its US run in Kansas City and then toured throughout Japan August & September 2018.
#5

Lead Actress Natalie Mendoza Departs SPIDER-MAN: Turn Off the Dark?

Posted: 12/28/10 at 9:48am

Will America Olivo be the next Sutton Foster? Will she be the next Andrea McArdle?
If anyone ever tells you that you put too much Parmesan cheese on your pasta, stop talking to them. You don't need that kind of negativity in your life.

Updated On: 12/28/10 at 09:48 AM

#6

Lead Actress Natalie Mendoza Departs SPIDER-MAN: Turn Off the Dark?

Posted: 12/28/10 at 9:59am

"Will America Olivo be the next Sutton Foster? Will she be the next Andrea McArdle?"

At least THOROUGHLY MODERN MILLIE and ANNIE yielded excellent roles for Foster and McArdle. The role of Arachne is such crap...and frankly, the entire part should be severely reduced or scrapped.

I hope the beginning of the NYT review reads "Congratulations, Ms. Mendoza."

Updated On: 12/28/10 at 09:59 AM

#7

Lead Actress Natalie Mendoza Departs SPIDER-MAN: Turn Off the Dark?

Posted: 12/28/10 at 10:07am

Now if only Jen Damiano can find a way to get out of this mess.

Is it really a coincidence that the morning after there's a thread on BWW wondering what happened to her, there's suddenly news articles about it? This is not the first time this has happened, either.
#11

Lead Actress Natalie Mendoza Departs SPIDER-MAN: Turn Off the Dark?

Posted: 12/28/10 at 10:30am

As I said in the thread I started last night, the fact that T.V. Carpio has been on in the role without even understudying it makes me think it's her they're bumping up to replace Mendoza, not America Olivo.

Didn't they just bring in a new "swing" who's been on in Carpio's role while she's been on as Arachne? That timing for doing that seems a little too coincidental.
Tonya Pinkins: Then we had a "Lot's Wife" last June that was my personal favorite. I'm still trying to get them to let me sing it at some performance where we get to sing an excerpt that's gone.
Tony Kushner: You can sing it at my funeral.
#14

Lead Actress Natalie Mendoza Departs SPIDER-MAN: Turn Off the Dark?

Posted: 12/28/10 at 11:25am

My hope is that all who wish ill on Spiderman and its cast be one day in a musical that is 'in trouble' and the target of brickbats trying to hit their show when it is down.

We can all say that so-and-so deserves a better show (and this might be true), but right now this is the show they have and it is their job in an industry that jobs are not all that easy to come by even for the most talented.

The estimated capitalization of Spiderman is 65 million which is the estimated amount of money that the NY Post, employer of Mr. Reidel, the biggest no-talent in New York, loses its shareholders in a year.

I would hope the Post folds a lot sooner than Spiderman.
"If my life weren't funny, it would just be true. And that would be unacceptable." --Carrie Fisher
#16

Lead Actress Natalie Mendoza Departs SPIDER-MAN: Turn Off the Dark?

Posted: 12/28/10 at 11:41am

I guess it's fair to question her artistry, given all that has been said at this point about Spider-Man, but is it necessary to call Julie Taymor a skank?
Begin at the beginning and go on till you come to the end: then stop.
#17

Lead Actress Natalie Mendoza Departs SPIDER-MAN: Turn Off the Dark?

Posted: 12/28/10 at 12:18pm

How did they convince Equity to let them bring over an Australian, anyway? Not discounting Mendoza's talent, but it's just something I've wondered for months.
"This thread reads like a series of White House memos." — Mister Matt
#19

Lead Actress Natalie Mendoza Departs SPIDER-MAN: Turn Off the Dark?

Posted: 12/28/10 at 1:17pm

Something is really fishy with the whole Mendoza situation.

First she performs in a show after seeing her doctor, who told her not to go on. Then she's out for a week, recovering in Malibu. Now, I'm no expert... but if a concussion is bad enough that one can't perform, is it wise to fly across the country for a week to recover?

And now she is on mandatory vocal rest a week after getting a week of rest?

It doesn't add up to me.
#20

Lead Actress Natalie Mendoza Departs SPIDER-MAN: Turn Off the Dark?

Posted: 12/28/10 at 1:23pm

perfectliar, the "vocal rest" excuse has been a cover used to buy the producers time while they work out the specifics of how Mendoza's exit is being explained publicly.

She's not leaving the show because of her injury, though that may very well be how they plan on spinning it in the press. She's leaving because of safety concerns that were only exacerbated when Chris Tierney (one of her best friends) was hurt even worse than she was. There's a reason she hasn't performed since his fall last week.

We'll see just how much more is revealed in the coming days.
Tonya Pinkins: Then we had a "Lot's Wife" last June that was my personal favorite. I'm still trying to get them to let me sing it at some performance where we get to sing an excerpt that's gone.
Tony Kushner: You can sing it at my funeral.

Updated On: 12/28/10 at 01:23 PM

#21

Lead Actress Natalie Mendoza Departs SPIDER-MAN: Turn Off the Dark?

Posted: 12/28/10 at 1:27pm

I have been wondering why she went on after she got hit in the head with the rope. Can the production's doctor/specialist stop an actor from going on or does it have to come from her primary doctor. They say she insisted on performing and I wonder if she said something to indicate her doctor said it was ok. I have also thought that after she performed again, she experienced more problems with her head. I just keep thinking that getting her out of the show has something to do with this. Those are just thoughts that ran through my mind.
Just give the world Love. - S. Wonder
#22

Lead Actress Natalie Mendoza Departs SPIDER-MAN: Turn Off the Dark?

Posted: 12/28/10 at 1:57pm

I'm sure Mendoza as well as other cast members could be experiencing some sort of PTSD after Tierney's serious injury. After Mendoza suffered a concussion her good friend was almost killed from that "human error" 30ft fall. That very well could have been the last straw for her.

I also can see how it could have been a huge liability to the production if Mendoza did in fact let the production believe she was able to go on against her doctors orders. That could definitely have something to do with her departure.

Whatever it may be, I'm DYING to know what really is going on.

← Back to Message Board

BroadwayWorld TV

View all Videos

Ticket Central
Ticket Central
Ticket Central
Hot Show
Tickets From $59
Hot Show
Tickets From $71
Hot Show
Tickets From $71
Hot Show
Tickets From $95
More Hot Shows Discounts
Recommended For You