Spider-Man Musical's Cast Dropping Like Flies

[Elizabeth Grunewald]

Spider-Man Musical's Cast Dropping Like Flies

Another injury befalls a cast member of Spider-Man: Turn Off The Dark, this time in the form of a concussion sustained during the show's first preview.

In the upcoming Broadway musical Spider-Man: Turn Off The Dark, Natalie Mendoza plays Arachne, the spider who bestows Peter Parker with his spidey-senses. She won't be appearing in the role for the next few scheduled previews, though: Mendoza is suffering from a concussion received offstage during the first preview performance. She was standing offstage when, as ArtsBeat describes it, "she was struck in the head by a rope holding a piece of equipment."

Mendoza is unsure whether she was struck by the rope itself or the unspecified equipment attached to said rope. She elected to perform in the following evening's preview, going against the advice of her doctor, who may have been wary of a concussed Mendoza performing the upside-down aerial stunts that the role of Arachne requires.

ArtsBeat reports "representatives for the Actors' Equity union and the New York State Department of Labor, which monitors safety in public performances, said they were looking into the accident," adding "Ms. Mendoza is the third actor in "Spider-Man" to be hurt working on the production; during rehearsals this fall, one dancer broke his wrists after landing incorrectly during a flying stunt, while another actor injured his feet doing the same stunt." The complicated production involves 27 separate flying sequences in all.

Mendoza, her doctor, her understudy America Olivo, and lead producer Micahel Cohl have all declined to comment on the injury, and Olivio is temporarily playing Arachne in previews. Spider-Man: Turn Off The Dark is scheduled to open on January 11, 2011.



Source: The New York Times ArtsBeat [http://artsbeat.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/12/03/concussion-sidelines-spider-man-actress/]

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[Gxas]

Its just the universe telling Broadway that Spiderman and other superheroes should not be musicals.

However, holy books, such as the Book of Mormon, are definitely prime candidates, provided that Matt Stone and Trey Parker create it.

 

[The Rockerfly]

So with; the costs the problems with the staff and the ridiculous ideas, doesn't this show that this is a fucking stupid idea

 

[DiMono]

I'm going to agree with Gxas, this is a sign from the Flying Spaghetti Monster that Spider Man should not be a musical.

 

[v3n0mat3]

I think they should take this as a sign. They should quit with the musical.

 

[scorptatious]

So wait, the spider who gave Peter his powers actually has a speaking and singing role?

What??

 

[Kwatsu]

Ouch. Did someone mention the Scottish play on set or something?

 

[Nikki_Viper]

THis musical is getting hit with a tnon of bad luck... WOuld be interesting to see it turned around

 

[manythings]

Its just the universe telling Broadway that Spiderman and other superheroes should not be musicals.

However, holy books, such as the Book of Mormon, are definitely prime candidates, provided that Matt Stone and Trey Parker create it.

Anything that loses Bono Shit loads of cash and credibility is fine by me.

 

[qbanknight]

This production was a dumb idea to begin with, but now I'm upset that idiotic and overly extravagant overrated director, Julie Taymour, is now putting so many people's lives in dangers since they can't get any of this shit to actually work

 

[zombie711]

Who idea was it to make a musical out of spider man. Im looking at you Disney.

 

[Fox242]

First of all, this production could kill someone. B, why have so many damn flying scenes? Thirdly, why does the spider who bit Peter Parker need a human to portray it? Save a few bucks and get a plastic spider to do the part you idiots!

 

[TaboriHK]

This story is the gift that keeps on giving.

 

[JaredXE]

And God says, "Stop. Stop now. I mean it!"

Not making light of the injury, and I hope Miss Mendoza gets back on her feet quickly, but how is this NOT a sign from the universe? Aren't actors supposed to be superstitious?

 

[GamemasterAnthony]

We need a pic/animation of Stan Lee doing a headdesk now...because I'm pretty sure that's what he's doing. For some reason I'm picturing this musical as the kind of idea that happens when Andrew Lloyd Webber and Ken Penders do meth together.

 

[Space Jawa]

Ah, I get it now - the ploy is to make a profit off the insurance money. I thought there might be a Producers like plot at play, but now I've figured out how they intend to make it work.

 

[duchaked]

huh...hearing about this musical is still fascinatingly...no

 

[KeyMaster45]

Sometimes the universe is subtle in its ways of guidance. Others it guides by way of broken wrists, feet, and a concussion caused by the inability of an actress to watch where she's walking. The moral of this story is, Spiderman the musical is an abomination unto the natural world.