Spider-Man hit with ANOTHER glitch as producers admit show will close for major overhaul

Spider-Man hit with ANOTHER glitch as producers admit show will close for major overhaul

 

• Director Julie Taymor dumped for refusing to use outside help

• New writers and consultants called in to save $65m show

• Official opening pushed back for SIXTH time to June 14

The much-maligned to the $65million musical Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark has suffered another technical hitch when its leading villain was left dangling in mid-air last night.

It comes as the producers confirmed the show will close before it has even officially opened to undergo an extensive reworking – pushing the opening date back for a sixth time.

The latest mishap left the Green Goblin hanging over the stage for three minutes as embarrassed stage hands were forced to lower him down manually.

Turn off the lights: The show will close and undergo an extensive reworking, pushing back the opening night another three months

But the cast member can count himself lucky – Christopher Tierney, playing Spiderman, nearly died when he fell 30ft into the orchestra pit, suffering a cracked skull and fractured vertebrae last November.

Other injuries have included concussion and a double wrist brake, while during a similar fight scene last month Spiderman and the Green Goblin became entangled above the audience.

Producers will bring the curtain down on the show, which has run for a record 103 preview performances, on April 17 to allow for a four week overhaul before officially opening on June 14.  

Out: Spider-Man director Julie Taymor has been ousted after clashing with producers. U2 frontman, Bono, is expected to pen some new show songs

But director Julie Taymor – who co-wrote the show – will not be involved, after being unceremoniously dumped because she allegedly refused to accept that outside help was needed, putting her at odds with producers.

The 58-year-old who rose to prominence directing smash-hit show The Lion King, will be replaced by Philip William McKinley, with writer Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa, musical consultant Paul Bogaev and sound designer Peter Hylenski brought in to save the show from failure.

Taymor will have a creative role, producers insist, and is expected to negotiate a new royalty deal for the show.

Mishaps: The show has faced a catalogue of disasters from near-bankruptcy in 2009 to the serious injury of two actors during performances last December

Many theatre critics got fed up with the constant delays in opening the show and reviewed it last month, largely panning the musical.

But Spider-Man continues to defy critics and post impressive numbers at the box office. It was the second highest-grossing show on Broadway this week, after Wicked, pulling in close to $1.3 million.

Costly: The show is the most expensive ever produced on Broadway, costing a whopping $65million

The show has been plagued with delays and injuries.

Lead actress Natalie Mendoza quit the production after suffering a concussion, and actor Kevin Aubin suffered two broken wrists in a slingshot-style stunt.