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Production on SPIDER-MAN Halted Due To "Cash Flow Problem" — Page 2

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#26

re: Production on New SPIDER-MAN Musical Temporarily Halted

Posted: 8/9/09 at 8:03pm

I imagine part of its problem is weekly running costs (which have been reported to be in the unhear of million dollar range).

For real? Yup, that's insane.
Listen, I don't take my clothes off for anyone, even if it is "artistic". - JANICE
#27

re: Production on New SPIDER-MAN Musical Temporarily Halted

Posted: 8/9/09 at 8:04pm

BobbyBubby, Taymore may so inventive but she also has a reputation of asking the producers for more money then originally given. One of the things that Ridel mentioned in the article is that the producer is young and doesn't know how to rein in Taymore and that might be causing the production more and more money to the point where they might just cut their losses and move on. Apparently the key to working with Taymore is to know how to put your foot down and say no if she is directing a show that you're producing so she doesn't eat out your budget and then some.
"If you try to shag my husband while I am still alive, I will shove the art of motorcycle maintenance up your rancid little Cu**. That's a good dear" Tom Stoppard's Rock N Roll
#29

re: Production on New SPIDER-MAN Musical Temporarily Halted

Posted: 8/9/09 at 8:09pm

GMBWW,
To be fair, once the woman eats through the budget and there is no money left and no show to show for it, you have to chose - either scrap it then and there, or give the woman more money to continue developing. Since she has a reputation for doing (usually) very good work, a person (particularly an inexperienced producer) trusts that she will make something amazing and workable in the end, so the path is continued.
#30

re: Production on New SPIDER-MAN Musical Temporarily Halted

Posted: 8/9/09 at 8:10pm

Oh I wasn't defending Taymor at all. I think she's overrated. But she has this reputation for being inventive. For me, true inventiveness doesn't need the maximum money. It just feels like an ego trip.

It is the producers' (all seven hundred of them) for letting Taymor go this far. Did I also read correctly that they've already started setting up shop in the Hilton? Really? 6 months before previews?
#32

re: Production on New SPIDER-MAN Musical Temporarily Halted

Posted: 8/9/09 at 8:13pm

Isn't this another way to exploit a franchise anyhow?

They seem to try to cover the fact with pseudo-artistic merits, when at the end they just want to squeeze all the money they can out of the characters, and pretend that no one notices.
Listen, I don't take my clothes off for anyone, even if it is "artistic". - JANICE
#34

re: Production on New SPIDER-MAN Musical Temporarily Halted

Posted: 8/9/09 at 8:15pm

Those with long memories should think back to what happened with the Gershwin when they did Starlight Express. It also gutted the auditorium to make for an in-the-round experience and ended up in the red -- after a two-year run, with business at capacity to the end -- in fact, at the time, the last week's take was the highest on record (talking gross here). But the show cost too much to continue. And don't talk about the bad Times' review being responsible -- Brantley didn't like Wicked, either (I agree with him on that one), and look what a cash cow that has turned out to be.
BroadwayEd

Updated On: 8/9/09 at 08:15 PM

#37

re: Production on New SPIDER-MAN Musical Temporarily Halted

Posted: 8/9/09 at 8:20pm

Ed,
Don't forget that Starlight Express came in developed, ready to go, and without the full financial commitment of a newly developed and directed show.

Bubby,
Amen on Taymor. A truly creative person wouldn't need ALL of that money to make it work. As a "true theatre artist" (paraphrasing how she sometimes describes herself), she should be a followers of the belief that a good show only needs a bare space, a few actors and a piano.. the rest is dressing.
#39

re: Production on New SPIDER-MAN Musical Temporarily Halted

Posted: 8/9/09 at 8:21pm

I don't get all the hype over Wicked's sets & effects because they are pretty dull.

WICKED's sets and costumes have been downsized since it opened. Not sure when you saw it.

Once the producers realized that people would pay big bucks regardless of what was on stage, they made the show less expensive to run, the way Disney did with BEAUTY AND THE BEAST, so they could make more money.
"Winning a Tony this year is like winning Best Attendance in third grade: no one will care but the winner and their mom."
-Kad

"I have also met him in person, and I find him to be quite funny actually. Arrogant and often misinformed, but still funny."
-bjh2114 (on Michael Riedel)
#42

re: Production on New SPIDER-MAN Musical Temporarily Halted

Posted: 8/9/09 at 8:47pm

I don't know how they are going to do this whole in the round thing. Keep in mind that tickets are already selling for the show and according to Ticketmaster the seating chart that they have up is the typical seating chart for The Hilton and nothing in the round at all. I do wonder how they are going to convert those who have got tickets for the orchestra to have them be sitting in the round.
"If you try to shag my husband while I am still alive, I will shove the art of motorcycle maintenance up your rancid little Cu**. That's a good dear" Tom Stoppard's Rock N Roll
#45

re: Production on New SPIDER-MAN Musical Temporarily Halted

Posted: 8/9/09 at 8:54pm

I don't know how they are going to do this whole in the round thing.

I doubt they mean theater-in-the-round. I'm suspecting more like, "stuff happens around you".
Listen, I don't take my clothes off for anyone, even if it is "artistic". - JANICE
#47

re: Production on New SPIDER-MAN Musical Temporarily Halted

Posted: 8/9/09 at 9:05pm

They are gonna have to charge premium prices as normal ticket prices if they want this thing to recoup in at least like 20 years.

Or else the only place Spidey is flying to is into a wall.
I'm a professional. Whenever something goes wrong on stage, I know how to handle it so no one ever remembers. I flash my %#$&. "Jayne just sat there while Gina flailed around the stage like an idiot."
#48

re: Production on New SPIDER-MAN Musical Temporarily Halted

Posted: 8/9/09 at 9:08pm

I think Julie has unfortunately let the term Artistic Genius go to her head. She has always gone over budget, even in her off Broadway The Tempest, Juan Darien (the very first time around), Liberties Taken, and Transposed Heads.
She will not to take 'NO' for an answer. Secretly, I really hope this turns out to be her Waterloo. While visually attractive I have found all of her work to be lacking heart and emotion. This is something at the very core of the Spiderman story-line.
Those Blocked: SueStorm. N2N Nate. Good riddence to stupid! Rad-Z, shill begone!
#49

re: Production on New SPIDER-MAN Musical Temporarily Halted

Posted: 8/9/09 at 10:40pm

I am beyond curious as to what a $45 million dollar + musical looks like. If this does indeed make it to Broadway--and they don't charge my first born to go see it--I will go to witness what I'm sure will be a production talked about for years and years.

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