SPIDER-MAN to Shut Down for 2-3 Weeks; 3 Month Delay in Opening?- Page 2

[Yero my Hero]

Posted: 3/8/11 at 10:23pm

SPIDER-MAN decided not to have an out-of-town tryout, so they are only able to do so much.

I'm sorry, I have no sympathy.

This show can't be done with less than three months of load-in, MAYBE two and a half. The producers COULDN'T do an out-of-town run, it wasn't exactly a choice. Unless you mean the choice to produce such an elaborate spectacle that wasn't practical or possible to move theaters, in which case, I have even LESS sympathy.

[Mr Roxy]

Posted: 3/8/11 at 11:00pm

Let old Frank Wildhorn do the score. Spidey will have a number of full throated ballads

[Neverandy]

Posted: 3/8/11 at 11:27pm

I saw this show a few weeks ago and it was the worst thing I've ever seen on Broadway.
That being said, you have to admire the courage of the producers to shut down a show while it is consistently posting box office numbers that rank among the top 3 shows on Broadway. Finally one of the many producers actually remembered that they are,in fact, artists themselves and that, while this is a business venture first and foremost, Broadway is still a place where artistic merit of the highest quality should be on display.

[ljay889]

Posted: 3/8/11 at 11:33pm

http://www.nypost.com/p/entertainment/theater/spider_man_blame_taym_5t79lAxdoWysID2VbHxHnJ

[CurtainPullDowner]

Posted: 3/8/11 at 11:41pm

New casting?
Who will be fired?
Reeve and TV are Taymorettes, I wondr if they will follow the leader, if she actually goes.

[adamgreer]

Posted: 3/8/11 at 11:42pm

Like re-arranging deck chairs on the Titanic.

[Proper Villain]

Posted: 3/8/11 at 11:51pm

I understand one of the newly written scenes is Spidey beating with what appears to be several people manipulating a dead horse.

[CapnHook]

Posted: 3/8/11 at 11:59pm

Christopher Ashley? If it's going to be comic book-camp, then good choice. If it's going to be Taymor-artistic...we'll see...

[ACL2006]

Posted: 3/9/11 at 12:03am

the show should just close. how much could they possibly fix in 3 weeks?? Calling this show a trainwreck now is being nice.

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 3/9/11 at 12:18am

So they're closing the show for 2-3 weeks. Doesn't that mean that they need to have all the changes to the book written, changes to the score written, all the changes they'll need to make to the sets, rigging for the flying etc. already completely planned out as of right now? Because 2-3 weeks to make those kinds of changes to a show that took 2 years to just have a first preview seems a bit implausible. Who's come in to do rewrites on the book? It was said maybe only last week that that wasn't something being worked on. Bono came in the other day after months away to see the show, so are you telling me that he just happened to write a new score last night?

I'm sorry but 2-3 weeks to overhaul a trainwreck like this just doesn't make sense. If they would have said they're closing for 2 months to work things out I would have said "Ok. This show is just closing and they're trying to cover that up". But this 2-3 week thing just makes me think they're going to make some minor little changes and the show will maybe be 15 minutes shorter and nothing will change besides that.

BailyBoo? Can you give us more info?

[FindingNamo]

Posted: 3/9/11 at 12:44am

I would just like to point out that there are many posters here who predicted with absolute certainty that the public would never see a single performance of Spider-Man. The psychic abilities here are no better than Miss Cleo's.

[TheLadyoftheWood]

Posted: 3/9/11 at 2:51am

I have a great idea/tip for Taymor et al. How about since the geek chorus obviously sucks according to most of the crew here, we change Arachne to the narrator? Therefore she can be in the story and also outside of the story controlling his destiny in a way. If that doesn't work maybe they should just have the man with the trash can narrate. He would probably be better than that eek chorus they have.

[Idiot]

Posted: 3/9/11 at 3:23am

I realize that every nook and cranny of what's wrong with SPIDERMAN has been indulged on these here boards over the last few months, but a big point is being overlooked.

Basically, it's this: The Idiocy of Star (Rhymes With) Duckery.

As is so often the case with fame, a 'name' doesn't necessarily portend 'talent'. Throwing three names together does not ensure a successful show AT ALL. This is a message that Hollywood is refusing to learn -- I hope that Broadway lives up to it's own higher standards and takes this massive, 65 million dollar hint.

There are unknown director / composers who could make this show much, much better. They're probably at home worrying about their bank accounts as I type this.

Quality first, names later.

There. Now that that's off my chest I can go do something odd.

[finishmyhat]

Posted: 3/9/11 at 3:26am

A friend of mine reposted this horrid video on Facebook tonight in response to all the recent Spidey hoopla. It made me laugh. And realize that even the worst parts of Carrie are ten times better than anything in Spider-Man TOTD.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eeD2D9KOnHQ

[dramamama611]

Posted: 3/9/11 at 5:05am

This makes no sense in SO many ways. But at the root of it all? Going to close for 2 to 3 weeks and then re-open to another 2 months of PREVIEWS???? Doesn't sound much different than what they've been doing since Thanksgiving: charge the audience to watch rehearsals.

They should be closing for longer to not only do the re-writes but to give the actors a chance to decompress and start anew. Then they need to rehearse, open to two or three weeks of previews ONLY and finally open. (Which I don't see happening.) They can do all of this in approximately the same time frame and have a better chance of possibly pulling this off.

[Kalimba]

Posted: 3/9/11 at 5:48am

As much as I loathe Julie Taymor, I've got to hand it to the cast of this show by virtually keeping their lips shut when it comes to this mess.

[justafan2]

Posted: 3/9/11 at 6:48am

When is the show being shut down? I have tix for today's performance----?????

[PalJoey]

Posted: 3/9/11 at 7:27am

As much as I loathe Julie Taymor, I've got to hand it to the cast of this show by virtually keeping their lips shut when it comes to this mess.

Serious question: Why exactly does she inspire such loathing?

[uncageg]

Posted: 3/9/11 at 7:50am

Justafan, I read they are shutting down in April. I am going to wait for the official announcement though.

[Kalimba]

Posted: 3/9/11 at 8:18am

PalJoey, to answer your question, I have always felt that Ms. Taymor is all style, no substance. As stunning as The Lion King was to look at, there was no heart (IMO). It's obvious she has a particular vision, but it's a shame she doesn't stick to her strengths (design) and collaborate with others in areas where she is lacking (book).

I loathe the idea at how much money is being thrown at this mess and Julie's stubbornness to think her show was ready for the Broadway stage. Other certain shows of quality had much shorter runs than this show that has more or less been a run through for a paying audience. IMO, there is much to loathe.

If Spider-Man were a vehicle, there would have been a major recall a long time ago.
Updated On: 3/9/11 at 08:18 AM

[One Song Glory]

Posted: 3/9/11 at 8:25am

I hope they make appropriate changes! I saw it a couple of nights ago and they've made really great leaps in progress and I really enjoyed it. I'm glad they're taking the time to consider more changes, particularly for the second Act.

[vf]

Posted: 3/9/11 at 8:36am

NY Daily News reports Julie Taymor is out of Spider-Man

http://www.nydailynews.com/entertainment/music/2011/03/09/2011-03-09_hole_in_spidey_web_boss_taymor_out_the_door__opening_off_for_3_months.html


Updated On: 3/9/11 at 08:36 AM

[bwayphreak234]

Posted: 3/9/11 at 8:45am

Adios Julie Taymor!

[wexy]

Posted: 3/9/11 at 9:18am

I was coming home from the OMD concert when two people got on the Q train with Spiderman Playbills.
"Did anyone die?" I asked. "No," the guy said but there was a malfunction." And he seemed happy that something went wrong.

[Broadwayboobs]

Posted: 3/9/11 at 10:11am

It is a sad day for B'way when audiences go to a show anticipating a malfunction. It's time to short sale Spiderman.