Spider-Man Turn Off The Dark Sees Broadway Lights

Spider-Man has battled many foes over the years, but who would have thought that his toughest battle would come from the economic downturn?

Spider-Man: Turn Off The Dark the Broadway musical was slated to begin in early 2010, but recent trouble from its financial backers has caused there to be speculation about the future of the production. Despite creative input from Broadway heavy-hitter Julie Taymor and pop royalty Bono and The Edge (major members of a little band called U2) the show had run into financial problems late this year reportedly as some of their larger financiers began pulling out their support from the project in light of the troubled economy.

As the new year begins, and the musical's proposed start date of February 25 looms, lets recap the state of a show that could either be one of Broadway's greatest success stories or one of its cruelest blunders.

Broadway Show: Spider Man

As of October of last year, Spider-Man: Turn Off The Dark was slowly coalescing into a show that Julie Taymor promised would reinvent Broadway. Taymor's grand promises for the production seemed like a reality as the show had gathered such talent as the aforementioned U2 members Bono and The Edge, and cast Evan Rachel Wood and Alan Cumming in starring roles, both Hollywood stars in their own right. With so much talent on board, the project seemed to have gained an unstoppable momentum of its own.

That was until rumors of financial trouble started circulating late in the month. As the year continued, more and more word started coming from confidential people close to the project that major funding was still dwindling and new sponsors were being looked for. With a rumored budget hovering around $52 million on top of a possible operating cost of around $1 million a week, it seems like Spider-Man's ambitious dance numbers might be side-lined by simple financial numbers.

Despite the rumors of the fumbled funding, the producers seem confident that the show will go on. Even after widespread reporting of the show's money troubles, it was announced that rock singer Reeve Carney would be donning the webbed tights as Spider-man himself.

So as casting continues and the star power gathers, the seemingly troubled show continues to develop. However, it remains to be seen whether New York's hometown hero will finally be to accomplish what Peter Parker never could: balancing the checkbook.

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