'SPIDER-MAN, Turn Off the Dark' Swings to Bdwy's Hilton Theatre Feb. 2010, Previews Begin 1/16- Page 2

[Scarywarhol]

Posted: 2/24/09 at 1:13pm

Why am I so excited for this? I feel like I should be ashamed.

[Amalia Balash]

Posted: 2/24/09 at 1:19pm

I find this marginally more interesting than Phantom 2, but I've never been a fan of spectacle just for the sake of spectacle, especially at the ticket prices they'll probably be charging. I'm really more interested in what the investors are telling themselves about how they plan to make money off of this.

[Sauja]

Posted: 2/24/09 at 1:19pm

I'm not against the idea of this. I hated the movie of The Lion King but thought Julie Taymor did brilliant things with it. Then again, I also hated Across the Universe which isn't an especially good sign. But I will hold out judgment on the show itself.

What I won't hold back judgment on are the ticket prices: http://www.broadway.com/groups/order.aspx?id=5021941&showcode=NYSPIDER

A new high (premiums aside) at $137 with the cheapest seats at the rear of the balcony at $70? In this economy? Two words: Young. Frankenstein.

[Play Esq.]

Posted: 2/24/09 at 1:19pm

I will gladly eat my words, but for now this looks like one GIANT train wreck.

When I saw this was being produced, the first thing I thought of was The Masters of the Universe Power Tour I saw as a wee lad of 7 or 8: http://www.x-entertainment.com/articles/0760/


...artistically vacant, but at least that made a lot of money. Spider-Man could be so lucky.

[Scarywarhol]

Posted: 2/24/09 at 1:22pm

The thing I'm worried about most is Julie Taymor, directing and putting her hands on the book, written by the BRILLIANT Glen Berger. She cannot tell a story worth a damn. Spider-Man deserves more than spectacle, which is all I've ever seen her able to deliver in the past.

[tazber]

Posted: 2/24/09 at 1:28pm

I think given the money and people/companies producing, they're not going to be looking at the traditional model of recouping.
Ancillary sales will be a huge part of the income. Especially since I doubt it's going to tour.
It's obviously intended to be a fixture like Phantom has turned out to be.

And with Bono and Marvel promoting there is an entirely new (and massive) demographic that will be reached.

Then you have the cast, which already has one star signed.

It doesn't matter what the critics say, b/c Bono and Spiderman are fairly critic-proof. Meaning that anyone who is going to make the trip to see the show won't care what the NYT has to say.

I don't expect to see this publicized as a bway show. Even if it gets a rave, I wouldn't be surprised if they didn't use quotes.

It's an event that happens to be staged in bway theater.

[SNAFU]

Posted: 2/24/09 at 1:33pm

Oh wait until we see what Villains Ms Taymor will come up with. She will surely make up one or two of her own because she cannot do anything without making it hers.

Updated On: 2/24/09 at 01:33 PM

[wonkit]

Posted: 2/24/09 at 1:35pm

Speechless...

[Scarywarhol]

Posted: 2/24/09 at 1:35pm

^Apparently there's some kind of spider goddess thing involved, which is not from the fifty years of stuff they have to draw from.

I think they're making a huge mistake if they're banking on Spider-Man's usual target audience being the types who would go see a Broadway musical.

[Princeton2]

Posted: 2/24/09 at 1:51pm

I hate the tagline, they should just leave it as Spiderman on Broadway, dont even add 'the musical' to it.

I have a feeling this will be New Yorks version of Lord of the Rings, visually stunning artistic acheivement, but in the end too expensive to ever make money or even cover running costs

[coasterking500]

Posted: 2/24/09 at 1:51pm

Villian wise sipderman has the biggest variety to choose from. Among the easier ones I would like to add that Mysterio does own an opera house. However he uses alot of special effects. I know its highly unlikely but I would love to see if Taymor could use Doc Ock! Also the Chameleon simply uses other peoples personas and is just a guy in a suit when not copying someone.

[Scarywarhol]

Posted: 2/24/09 at 1:56pm

I think it's time for Spider-Man's greatest foe, the Hypno Hustler, to make a comeback.

[musicalkid]

Posted: 2/24/09 at 2:06pm

Logo-Talk:
these logo and artwork are horrible IMO.
it looks like some blah photoshop filter on the most generic Spidy image.
too un-artistic and dull.

[SNAFU]

Posted: 2/24/09 at 2:29pm

Yes, scary I have heard that.... All I can say is; "Fasten your seat belts, it's going to be a bumpy ride!"
Julie cannot deal with feelings or emotions in what she directs. Everything is visually stunning but devoid of any kind of emotional depth. A pretty picture with no depth. A lot of her visuals are non sequiturs that have little to do with anything other then making a pretty tableux. This is going to be trouble with show whose main character who is filled with teen angst.

[Elphie3]

Posted: 2/24/09 at 2:35pm

I was actually up for the show - and based on what I've seen the Green Goblin is the villan (I could be wrong - it might have changed.)

They're also adding a character - Aracne the spiderwoman from Greek mythology

[CATSNYrevival]

Posted: 2/24/09 at 2:58pm

Well, they're playing the Hilton Theatre. Doesn't that seal their fate? Has a musical ever recouped at the Hilton?

[TheCharleston]

Posted: 2/24/09 at 2:59pm

Why are they announcing this SO early?

[steven22]

Posted: 2/24/09 at 3:08pm

Although many will disagree with me...I'm VERY excited for this and cannot wait for this to open (even if it is a year away)....I hope that it does well and can recoup (unlike The Pirate Queen and Young Frankenstein). Hopefully all of the $ will be put to proper and good use.

[supersam1026]

Posted: 2/24/09 at 3:13pm

I was just at broadway.com where they said group tickets were available and it show how it was discounted. More importantly regular tickets for every performance are $137.00, guess I'm not going unless there's a significant discount!

[kyleorlando]

Posted: 2/24/09 at 3:19pm

I love a fabulous flop and this one is making my spider-sense tingle all over! I can't wait!!!!!

[Brick]

Posted: 2/24/09 at 4:45pm

Oh, that title....

And no, narrative is not Taymor's strength.

That said, I have faith.

[RentBoy86]

Posted: 2/24/09 at 4:49pm

Tickets just went on sale. When they realize that tickets aren't exactly flying off the shelves, then they'll release some discounts. I wouldn't worry. It's a whole year away.

And I have a feeling it will be pretty to look at, but not much else. It's such a great story and could be really cool with a nice rock score and some actors who can belt and act - unlike Ms. Wood.

[CATSNYrevival]

Posted: 2/24/09 at 5:01pm

Tickets are on sale a year before opening? Are they hoping for a huge advance?

[nopara_siguesigue]

Posted: 2/24/09 at 5:08pm

I would never go to this show.
this is crazy to have spiderman on broadway. i cant believe this.

[PiraguaGuy2]

Posted: 2/24/09 at 5:09pm

Tickets aren't on sale. Group tickets aren't even on sale. I don't know where RentBoy got that idea.