Spiderman fights Broadway slump
December 14, 2008
The comic book hero is due to appear in a new musical just as the
recession sweeps through New York's theatre district
Colin Coyle
SPIDERMAN may have met his most formidable foe yet �?the Broadway
slump. A musical based on the Marvel comic book hero, written by Bono
and the Edge from U2, is to take up residency in the Hilton Theatre
early next year as the chill wind of recession blows through the
theatre district of New York.
Spiderman, reportedly the most expensive show of all time with a
budget of (EU)25m, is expected to move into the Hilton after the final
curtain falls on the theatre's current tenant, Young Frankenstein, on
January 4. The musical, directed by Mel Brooks, is one of 15 shows
closing in the next six weeks, together with Equus, starring Daniel
Radcliffe, Grease, Hairspray and Monty Python's Spamalot. Despite
offering discounted tickets, most shows on Broadway have been playing
to half-filled houses in recent weeks and only two low-key productions
with limited runs �?All my Sons, by Arthur Miller, and The Seagull,
starring Kristin Scott Thomas �?made money this season.
Micah Hollingsworth, general manager of the 1,500-seater Hilton, the
theatre where Pirate Queen, produced by Moya Doherty and John
McColgan, flopped, said Broadway was "hurting". He said: "Every
industry is suffering and we're no exception. A lot of shows stay open
for Thanksgiving and Christmas and then run out of steam. This year
there are just more than normal closing down. Because of the economy,
there's more anxiety around."
Hollingsworth said that by the time Spiderman opened, there should be
a rebound. "From what I hear, it's an ambitious show and won't start
for some time, so its timing may not be so bad after all," he said.
Adrian Bryan-Brown, the show's theatrical agent, said it could open as
early as next spring or as late as autumn. "It's a huge show with very
specialised technical needs, so it may take some time to fit out a
venue," he said.
Bryan-Brown said he was "optimistic" that the production would buck
the Broadway slump. "It's not going to be like any other show," he
said. "January and February are always tough on Broadway. This year
the seasonal downturn has just been exaggerated by the recession".
Bono has promised that the show will be "something the likes of which
no-one has seen or heard". He said the music will be part punk rock
and part opera. "It should be a hallucinogenic experience for
theatregoers," he said. "You have the visual energy brings. The myth
of the arachnid and the elasticity of these characters �?you can turn
theatre upside down."
Spiderman may need to demonstrate all his gravity-defying skill,
however, to rise above the downturn. Among the big budget productions
currently playing, only Billy Elliot is considered a success. A lavish
(EU)10m production of A Tale of Two Cities that opened in September
was forced to close two months later. To stimulate demand, Disney
shows, such as The Lion King and Mary Poppins, are offering a free
children's ticket with every full-price ticket, and other shows are
offering discounts to people over 65.
When the $12m ((EU)9m) Pirate Queen closed after three months, it was
estimated to have lost $8m. The stakes for Spiderman, with twice the
budget, are even greater.
Bryan-Brown says he remains confident. He predicts that Broadway
ticket sales will pick up when tourists begin to return to New York
next spring. "Broadway is the number one reason why tourists come to
New York. Visitor numbers are down but all the expectations are that
the industry will pick up. Talk of a Broadway crash is over the top �?/FONT>
a lot of the shows that are closing are seasonal attractions and would
have been expected to end anyway at this time of year."
The agent said that details of the cast and production schedule would
be released early in the new year. Evan Rachel Wood, a Hollywood
actress, has been tipped for the role of Mary Jane Watson, Spiderman's
girlfriend. Bryan-Brown confirmed that she had attended workshops for
the part.
Taymor previously directed Wood in Across the Universe, a musical
movie inspired by the songs of the Beatles that featured a brief guest
appearance from Bono.
She hopes to reunite the actress with her co-star from the film, Jim
Sturgess, as Peter Parker and Spiderman.
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