'Spider-Man' to shut down in April, new opening

Broadway's stunt-heavy, $65 million "Spider-Man" musical will shut down for more than three weeks this spring to overhaul the troubled production, a show that has been in previews for a record 102 performances.
Lead producers Michael Cohl and Jeremiah J. Harris said in a statement Friday that "Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark" would officially open June 14. The show's opening, delayed an astounding six times, was to have opened last on March 15.
The final preview performance before the shut down will be April 17. Performances will be canceled from April 19-May 11, with previews resuming on May 12.
On Wednesday, producers announced that Tony Award-winning director Julie Taymor would no longer direct the show, and a new creative team was brought in to change and polish the flawed musical, which has also been plagued with a series of injuries to cast members.
It was a stunning development for the heralded director of "The Lion King," a megahit that is No. 3 at the box office more than a decade after it opened. Taymor, known for her bold and creative artistic vision, is believed to have been pushed aside because she wouldn't accept the need for outside help and significant changes to "Spider-Man," which she co-wrote with Glen Berger.
Though producers said Taymor, 58, would remain part of the creative team, she was being replaced as director by Philip William McKinley ("The Boy From Oz," in 2003). Also on the new team was Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa, who worked on HBO's "Big Love" and has written for Marvel comics, to help with revisions to the show's script, and musical consultant Paul Bogaev and sound designer Peter Hylenski.
"Spider-Man" has music by U2's Bono and The Edge, who indicated Wednesday that they planned some new tunes for the show.
Many theater critics got fed up with the constant delays in opening the show and reviewed it, largely panning it.
But "Spider-Man" continues to defy the reviews 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 - though it was slightly down from the week before.
Unlike "Wicked," tickets to "Spider-Man" are now available at the discount TKTS booth - a possible reason that total grosses slipped last week.
Producers said ticket-holders will be able to either exchange or return their tickets for a refund, if purchased from the box office at the Foxwoods Theatre or through Ticketmaster. Those who bought tickets from other vendors should contact the outlet, producers said.