Exclusive: SPIDER-MAN's Future to Be Revealed by Middle of Next Week

Word went out earlier this week that Bono, who wrote the music and lyrics for SPIDER-MAN: TURN OFF THE DARK attended the show on Tuesday night to analyze the musical's progress since he last attended the production to lend his help in January, along with rumors over the last weeks (denied by the production) that they were bringing on additional team members for the book/direction. As for whether the producers would delay the opening of the show yet again, spokesperson Rick Miramontez, said earlier this week that "all decisions are made as a group."

BroadwayWorld.com has now been forwarded an email from the show's producers, Michael Cohl and Jere Harris, that went out to the cast and crew earlier today. The email thanks the cast for their patience, support and dedication during 'trying times' and notes that they are aware they're at a pivotal moment in the show's history and will be 'making some very difficult choices,' the results of which will be 'revealed by the middle of next week'. 

After five delays, the show is currently scheduled to open on March 15th, 2011, but rumors have said that the show will likely be delayed again, possibly to June of 2011. A delay past April 28th would make it inelligible for this year's Tony Awards. 

We checked with other members of the media today, who traditionally would have received officially reviewers invitations by now to see one of the show's final previews and none had yet received them. Requests for a comment went unanswered as of this story's publication. 

According to a report in the Wall Street Journal earlier today, the U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration has formally slapped the production of SPIDER-MAN with three "serious" safety violations pertaining to the injuries infamously sustained by several cast members late last year.

The report reveals: "The citations, which carry $12,600 in proposed fines, come in response to the agency's investigation of four incidents that resulted in serious injuries to cast members. The $65 million musical is already the most expensive in Broadway history...The citations and proposed fines target 8 Legged Productions LLC, a Production Company for the musical. Serious citations are issued when 'there is substantial probability that death or serious physical harm could result from a hazard about which the employer knew or should have known,' according to OSHA...During its investigation, the federal agency found that "employees were exposed to the hazards of falls or being struck during flying routines because of improperly adjusted or unsecured safety harnesses."

Featuring direction by Tony® Award-winner Julie Taymor (The Tempest, Across The Universe, The Lion King), music and lyrics by 22-time Grammy® Award-winners Bono and The Edge, a book co-written by Taymor and Glen Berger (Underneath The Lintel) and one of the most iconic title characters of all time, SPIDER-MAN Turn Off The Dark is the most ambitious production ever undertaken on Broadway.