A theatrical production requiring a $75 million budget, 27 complex aerial combat sequences, and music penned by rock stars Bono and The Edge sounds like a guaranteed blockbuster. Yet, this specific show quickly became notorious for entirely different reasons.
Before the curtains officially opened, actors were plummeting into the orchestra pit, safety inspectors were issuing fines, and the original director was ousted. This is the timeline of Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark, a show that broke Broadway records for both box office sales and catastrophic behind-the-scenes failures.
A Staggering Price Tag and Constant Delays
The production sought to merge rock and roll, circus acrobatics, and comic book lore. Director Julie Taymor led the project, featuring a plot that wove the classic Marvel superhero origin with the ancient Greek myth of Arachne. However, the sheer technical complexity of actors swinging over the audience forced the budget to balloon to $75 million, making it the most expensive Broadway show in history.
Because the Foxwoods Theatre required extensive physical modifications, the show underwent a historic 182 preview performances. Opening night was pushed back six times as the creative team struggled with technical glitches and ballooning debts.
Gravity, Broken Bones, and Safety Fines
The complex flying sequences caused severe workplace hazards, drawing intense public scrutiny. Six people suffered injuries during the show’s run. During a December 2010 preview, stunt performer Christopher Tierney fell 21 feet (6.4 meters) from a set piece directly into the orchestra pit because his safety cord was not connected.
He was immediately hospitalized for his fractures. Another performer, Natalie Mendoza, suffered a concussion when backstage equipment unexpectedly struck her head. The New York State Department of Labor quickly investigated the theatrical set, and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration issued three serious safety violations and a $12,600 fine.
A Complete Overhaul and Eventual Closure
Following scathing reviews during the lengthy preview period, producers shut the show down for nearly a month in 2011. Taymor was replaced by Philip William McKinley, and comic book writer Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa was hired to rewrite the script, cutting the Arachne myth elements to focus on a traditional Green Goblin storyline.
The revamped show finally opened on June 14, 2011. Surprisingly, the media frenzy fueled ticket sales. In the first week of January 2012, the show took in $2.94 million, holding the highest single-week box office gross in Broadway history at that time.
Despite the massive influx of cash during peak weeks, the weekly running costs hovered around $1.3 million. Ticket sales eventually declined. On January 4, 2014, Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark closed its doors. Investors lost a reported $60 million, cementing the production’s position as a monumental financial collapse.