'SPIDER-MAN, TURN OFF THE DARK' Secrets Revealed in The LA Times

Listen up "true believers" ,as Stan Lee would say, The Los Angeles Times is revealing a "web-filled" tale of excitement about 'SPIDER-MAN, TURN OFF THE DARK.' Story elements, casting news and schedule updates are all covered in this very detailed new look at the production.

The first few moments of the musical are described and its got us very interested in how this superhero story will play out on The Great White Way. The opening scenario of SPIDER-MAN is reported as such;

"As this Spider-Man tale opens, the audience sees New York City "on fire and in ruins" as "a section of the Brooklyn Bridge ascends with Mary Jane bound and dangling helplessly from the bridge." Soon thereafter, a new villainess called Arachne flies into the picture spinning her own deadly trap, and as Spider-Man battles all kinds of criminals he's swinging right over the audience."

There is much more to read in The Los Angeles Times article, which is the most detailed yet on 'SPIDER-MAN, TURN OFF THE DARK', to read it just click here.

This morning, The New York Post's Michael Riedel reported that "the $45 million musical, which suspended production this fall when the money ran out, will begin previews in June at the Hilton Theatre and open in July."

Directed by Tony Award-winner Julie Taymor with 22-time Grammy® Award-winning Bono andThe Edge creating new music and lyrics, the musical is written by Julie Taymor and Glen Berger.

Announced stars Evan Rachel Wood and Alan Cumming are still said to be signed on to the production. In an earlier interview with BWW the Tony Winning Cumming confirmed things were moving along with the musical, remarking, "Well, I've gone in for a few costume fittings, and they've done such an amazing job! The costumes were done by Eiko Ishioka. Let me tell you, it's just incredible, especially when I become the full Green Goblin! It's so detailed, so authentic. They are just insane and look really amazing! From some of the drawings and things I've seen... wow. I think it's going to be a huge spectacle!"

Insiders also whispered to Roger Friedman's Showbiz411 that the leading character of Peter Parker has been cast, but the actor has not announced. Sources to Rialto Chatter have mentioned the young actors Reeve Carney and Sebastian Stan as potential candidates for the role of Parker. Both thespians have worked on various workshops of the musical. In the musical, only Peter Parker will sing musical numbers. The actual character of Spider-Man, reveals Showbiz411, will be represented by five different blue and red costumed wall-crawling and stage soaring performers. To read the full article on Showbiz411 click here. 

Julie Taymor is best known as director of one of the most successful musicals in Broadway history, Disney's The Lion King and the film Across The Universe. Bono and The Edge are half of one of the most popular rock bands of all time, U2, who will be making their Broadway debut with Spider-Man.

Drawing from over forty years of Marvel comic books for inspiration, Spider-Man 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.