Steve On Broadway (SOB)

Spider-Man Musical Spins Web Early

Spider-Man Musical Spins Web Early

Talk about advance buzz with a capital bee, the upcoming Broadway musical version of Spider-Man, Turn Off The Dark is already firmly in the "on" position as it's selling advance group tickets, even though it won't open for nearly one year.

Spider-Man, Turn Off The Dark is set to begin previews at Rialto's barn-like Hilton Theatre on January 16, 2010, with opening night scheduled for February 18, 2010. Personally, I don't know of too many people who can plan quite that far in advance, especially for large groups, so I guess you have to give them credit for their moxie, especially in this economy.

But I guess since the musical will be directed by Julie Taymor, who made us marvel as she brought a little cartoon lion roaring to life on the Great White Way over a decade ago, you're allowed to think fancifully. Perhaps Spider-Man, Turn Off the Dark's real secret weapon is the not so secret pairing of U2's Bono and The Edge in providing their first Broadway score. Taymor and Glen Berger are writing the book.

Playbill notes that the show:

...spins a new take on the mythic tale of a young man propelled from a modest rowhouse in Queens to the sky-scraping spire of the Chrysler Building, the bustling offices of the Daily Bugle, through the dizzying canyons of Manhattan, to new vistas never before seen. The musical follows the story of teenager Peter Parker, whose unremarkable life is turned upside-down -- literally -- when he's bitten by a genetically altered spider and wakes up the next morning clinging to his bedroom ceiling. This bullied science-geek -- suddenly endowed with astonishing powers -- soon learns, however, that with great power comes great responsibility as villains test not only his physical strength but also his strength of character. Spider-Man's battles will hurtle the audience through an origin story both recognizable and unexpected -- yielding new characters as well as familiar faces -- until a final surprising confrontation casts a startling new light on this hero's journey.

Can Taymor spin her magic once again? Will Bono and The Edge's score make Peter Parker soar? And who will portray that bullied science-geek? For these and other questions, stay tuned. Count me among the intrigued.

This is Steve On Broadway (SOB).

Labels: Bono, Broadway, Comic Book, First Word On New Show, Glen Berger, Julie Taymor, Musical, Spider-Man Turn Off The Dark, The Edge, U2

posted by Steve On Broadway (SOB) @ Wednesday, February 25, 2009