Wie die New York Times diese Woche berichtete (Link), wird die Premiere des Spider-Man Musicals "Turn Off The Dark" nicht zum geplanten Termin stattfinden können. Die anhaltende Suche nach weiteren Investoren für das Musical sei der Hauptgrund für die Verzögerungen in der Produktion. Der  Premierentermin am 25.Februar 2010 (wir berichteten) sei nicht mehr realistisch, der neue Termin ist noch nicht bekannt. es werde aber auf einen späteren Zeitpunkt im Frühling 2010 hingearbeitet. Hoffentlich wird das nicht so eine unendliche Geschichte wie um den U2 Tower in Dublin (News von 2006).

October 22, 2009, 7:01 pm

More Delays Expected for Spider-Man Musical

By Patrick Healy

The new multimillion-dollar Broadway “Spider-Man, Turn Off the Dark” is now expected to start previews and open this spring later than scheduled, because of weeks of production delays and ongoing difficulties recruiting additional investors for the show, according to executive involved in the production.

“Spider-Man” had been scheduled to begin previews Feb. 25 and open in March, but the executive said in an interview Thursday evening that there was “no way” that rehearsals for the musical would begin on schedule later this fall. The executive spoke on condition of anonymity because theproducers have not authorized any comment about the musical.

The executive cited the backlog of pre-production and casting work that has accumulated since early August, when work on the show was halted because lead producer David Garfinkle had not secured enough money to meet budget commitments and pay bills for some construction work. Some work resumed for the production at the Hilton Theater in early October after cash flow had improved somewhat.

No final decision had been made for new dates for previews, nor has a date been set for opening night, the executive said, but added that the producers were now aiming for later in spring 2010.

In recent weeks, Bono, the U2 front man who co-wrote the music and lyrics, has sought to recruit new investors, as has Mr. Garfinkle and the co-writer of the book, Julie Taymor, and the executive said that there had been some success toward that end, but could not provide details.

The executive cautioned that the timing – not to mention the efforts to raise money for the show – were still in flux, and that an announcement would be made at some point this fall once Ms. Taymor is able to lock in a “realistic” timetable to start rehearsals.

Mr. Garfinkle declined to comment on the status of the musical, a spokesman for the producers said Thursday evening.