SPIDER-MAN Alternate Matthew James Thomas Suffers Head Injury on SPIDER-MAN Set

According to Newsday, Matthew James Thomas, who plays Reeve Carney's alternate in Spider-Man twice a week on Broadway, was injured backstage during Wednesday's matinee at the Foxwood's Theatre. Thomas was taken to the hospital to get stitches in his head, after suffering a head injury at the top of the second act. Reeve Carney, who was in the theatre for the performance, took over for the rest of the show.

Spokesman Rick Miramontez commented: "He is fine and will be back in the show for his next scheduled performance on Saturday." 

Matthew James Thomas, who stars as Peter Parker/Spider-Man at the Wednesday and Saturday matinees, injured his head backstage during Wednesday's performance and was taken to the hospital for stitches. The production was stopped for about 10 minutes in the early part of the second act, after Matthews was offstage in transition from one scene to another. Reeve Carney, the head Spidey, was in the theater and stepped in for the rest of the performance. In a written statement, the producers described the injury as "minor," saying, "He is fine and will be back in the show for his next scheduled performance on Saturday." Rick Miramontez, spokesman for the show, said Thomas was not hit on the head by anything. He was referring to a backstage concussion suffered by one of the actresses during the mega-musical's first preview last Nov. 28. This was one of five injuries, six postponements, three replacements in the creative staffs and more than 180 previews. The $75-million show, with music by Bono and The Edge, finally opened last June to mixed and negative reviews, but has been consistently among Broadway's top-grossers. On Wednesday, original director Julie Taymor, who was fired in March, filed suit in federal court in Manhattan, alleging that the producers have not fully paid her for her work. " target="_blank">Click here to read the full article.

The show has a long history of injuries, with several other performers having been hurt since previews began last November. Natalie Mendoza, who was originally cast as Arachne, suffered a concussion during the first preview performance on November 28, 2010, when she was struck in the head by equipment in the wings. In a December 20 preview, Christopher Tierney fell more than 20 feet off a piece of scenery when his harness was not connected to the safety cord, leaving him to freefall into the orchestra pit. 

SPIDER-MAN Turn Off The Dark features direction by Philip William McKinley (The Boy From Oz), original direction by Tony® Award-winner Julie Taymor (The Lion King, Across The Universe, Frida), music and lyrics by 22-time Grammy® Award-winners Bono and The Edge, and book co-written by Taymor, Glen Berger (Underneath The Lintel) and Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa (Fantastic Four and Spider-Man comics, "Big Love").

Inspired by nearly 50 years of Marvel comic books, SPIDER-MAN Turn Off The Dark follows the story of teenager Peter Parker, whose unremarkable life is turned upside-down 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 incredible powers soon learns, however, that with great power comes great responsibility as villains put both his physical strength and strength of character to the test.

SPIDER-MAN Turn Off The Dark now plays the following performance schedule: Tuesday through Thursday at 7:30 p.m., Wednesday at 1:30 p.m., Friday and Saturday at 8:00 p.m., Saturday at 2:00 p.m., and Sunday at 3:00 p.m.

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