Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark

"Turn Off the Dark" redirects here. For the 1997 album by Howie B, see Turn the Dark Off.

Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark
Promotional poster
Music
Lyrics
  • Bono
  • The Edge
Book
Basis
PremiereJune 14, 2011: Foxwoods Theatre, New York City
Productions2011 Broadway
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Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark is a musical with music and lyrics by Bono and the Edge and a book by Julie Taymor, Glen Berger, and Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa. Based on the Marvel Comics character Spider-Man, the story incorporates elements of the 2002 film Spider-Man, the 2004 film Spider-Man 2 and the Greek myth of Arachne. It tells Spider-Man's origin story, his romance with Mary Jane Watson, and his battles with the Green Goblin. It includes highly technical stunts, such as aerial combat scenes and actors swinging from "webs".[1]

The Broadway production was notorious for its many troubles. Several actors were injured performing stunts and the opening night was repeatedly delayed, causing some critics to review the "unfinished" production in protest.[2] Following negative reviews, Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark suspended performances for a month to retool the show. Aguirre-Sacasa, a longtime Spider-Man comics writer, was brought in to revise the story and book. The director, Julie Taymor, whose vision had driven the concept of the musical, was replaced by the creative consultant Philip William McKinley. By the time Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark officially opened on June 14, 2011,[3] it had set the record for the longest preview period in Broadway history, with 182 performances.[4][5][6]

Critical reception of the opening was better than for the previews, but mixed, with praise for the visual effects but little enthusiasm for the book and score. Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark is the most expensive Broadway production in history, with a budget of $75 million. Julie Taymor contested reports of the budget on the BBC radio 4 program This Cultural Life claiming that the production cost was overstated and instead comparable to the Shrek musical.[7] In the week ending January 1, 2012, it held the box office record for Broadway sales in one week, taking in $2.941 million over nine performances,[8] until it was beaten by Wicked at the end of the year, with $2.947 million.[9] The production closed on January 4, 2014,[10] at a massive financial loss.[11]

  1. ^ Healy, Patrick. "Concussion Sidelines ‘Spider-Man’ Actress" Archived December 6, 2010, at the Wayback Machine. The New York Times. December 3, 2010. Retrieved December 6, 2010.
  2. ^ Brantley, Ben (February 8, 2011). "Good vs. Evil, Hanging by a Thread". The New York Times. Archived from the original on May 10, 2018. Retrieved July 17, 2018.
  3. ^ Gans, Andrew (June 14, 2011). "Believe It or Not! Spider-Man Turn Off the Dark Opens on Broadway June 14". Playbill. Archived from the original on January 4, 2023. Retrieved January 4, 2023.
  4. ^ Pennacchio, George. "Spider-Man musical opens: What critics said" . ABClocal-KABC, June 14, 2011
  5. ^ Hetrick, Adam (January 13, 2011). "Troubled Spider-Man Turn Off the Dark Delays Broadway Opening Again". Playbill. Archived from the original on January 4, 2023. Retrieved January 4, 2023.
  6. ^ Healy, Patrick (March 10, 2011). "Precipitous Fall for 'Spider-Man' Director". The New York Times. Archived from the original on March 18, 2011. Retrieved March 11, 2011.
  7. ^ https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/m00245nq
  8. ^ "Spider-Man musical makes Broadway history". bbc.co.uk. BBC. January 9, 2012. Archived from the original on November 21, 2013. Retrieved February 10, 2013.
  9. ^ "Wicked Becomes First Broadway Musical to Gross over $3 Million in One Week". Archived from the original on January 6, 2022. Retrieved January 6, 2022.
  10. ^ Cohen, Stefanie (November 19, 2013). "'Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark' to Close in January, Sources Say". The Wall Street Journal. Archived from the original on February 10, 2014. Retrieved December 16, 2013.
  11. ^ Cite error: The named reference kenrick was invoked but never defined (see the help page).