Julie Taymor, the director and co-book writer will no longer continuing with her daily duties. The show’s producers Jeremiah J. Harris and Michael Cohl took this decision after the official opening of the musical has been pushed from 15 March to a non-specified date in “early summer, 2011”.
The producers said that “Julie’s previous commitments mean that past March 15th, she cannot work the 24/7 (schedule) necessary to make the changes in the production in order to be ready for our opening”, but they added that she will remain part of the creative team.
As she prepares to take a demoted role on the $65 million musical it was reported that rock star Bono is to take control in a last ditch effort to rescue the accident prone production. The most expensive Broadway show will delay opening for sixth time due to the events.
Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa, playwright and comic-book writer, Broadway director Phil McKinley, sound designer Peter Hylenski and musical consultant Paul Bogaev have all been brought together as a new management team to help with the changes in the show.
“We cannot exaggerate how technically difficult it is to make such changes to a show of this complexity,” the producers said. Bono and The Edge, who wrote the production’s music and lyrics, have announced that they are working at “a couple of new songs we are very very excited about putting into the mix.” They also referred at ex-director Taymor as being a “truly gifted and imaginative director.”
Despite all the problems faced until now, which include a string of injuries to cast and crew, technical mishaps and cost over-runs, the musical has fared well at the box office – last week the show took $1.28m (£790,000), the second highest behind smash hit Wicked. As for when Spider-man musical show will get a clear new opening date, all Bono and The Edge had to say was this: “We are confident (the show) will reach its full potential and when it does, it will open.”