Spider-Man: new Mary Jane and Arachne in Nov 2011

In Nov 2011 Rebecca Faulkenberry (Rock of Ages) and Christina Sajous (Baby It's You, American Idiot) will be joining the cast of Broadway's Spider-Man, Turn Off The Dark, in the roles of 'Mary Jane Watson' and 'Arachne,' respectively.

Rebecca Faulkenberry (Mary Jane Watson) recently made her Broadway debut in 'Rock of Ages' coming straight from the show's national tour, reprising her role as 'Sherrie.' West End credits include 'Aunt Dan and Lemon.' Other stage credits include 'The Shape of Things,' 'The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe,' 'The Royal Family,' 'Slow Dance With a Hot Pickup' and 'Smoke on the Mountain.' TV/Film: "Doctors" (BBC1).

Christina Sajous' (Arachne) original Broadway cast credits include 'Baby It's You' (Shirley Owens) and Green Day's 'American Idiot' (The Extraordinary Girl). Off-B'way: 'King Lear' (The Classical Theatre of Harlem).

Jennifer Damiano, who currently plays the role of 'Mary Jane,' will play her final performance on 6 Nov 2011, while T.V. Carpio, the show's current Arachne, will play her final show on 13 Nov 2011.

As previously announced Reeve Carney has extended his contract and will continue in the role of 'Peter Parker/Spider-Man' through to May 2012. Patrick Page will also continue in his role as 'Norman Osborn/Green Goblin.'

For several weeks this winter Carney will take a leave of absence while he films the starring role in Jake Scott's upcoming untitled Jeff Buckley biopic, during his absence it is intended that alternate Matthew James Thomas and cast member Matt Caplan will assume the role 'Peter Parker/Spider-Man.'

Spider-Man, Turn Off The Dark opened at the Foxwoods Theatre on 14 Jun 2011, following previews from 28 Nov 2010, where it is currently booking through to 29 Apr 2011.

Drawing from more than 40 years of Marvel comic books for inspiration, Spider-Man, Turn Off The Dark 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, Turn Off The Dark features music and lyrics by 22-time Grammy Award-winners Bono and The Edge of U2, and a book by Julie Taymor and Glen Berger ('Underneath The Lintel').

Spider-Man, Turn Off The Dark currently stars Reeve Carney as 'Peter Parker/Spider-Man,' Jennifer Damiano as 'Mary Jane Watson' and Patrick Page as 'Norman Osborn/The Green Goblin.'

The principal cast also features T.V. Carpio (Arachne), Michael Mulheren (J. Jonah Jameson), Ken Marks (Uncle Ben), Isabel Keating (Aunt May), Laura Beth Wells (Emily Osborn), Matt Caplan (Flash), Dwayne Clark (Boyle/Busker) and Luther Creek (Kong).

The creative team includes Daniel Ezralow (Choreography), George Tsypin (Scenic Design), Academy Award-winner Eiko Ishioka (Costume Design), Tony Award-winner Donald Holder (Lighting Design), Jonathan Deans (Sound Design), Kyle Cooper (Projection Design) and Julie Taymor (Mask Design).

Spider-Man, Turn Off The Dark is being produced on Broadway by Michael Cohl, Jeremiah J. Harris, Land Line Productions, Hello Entertainment/David Garfinkle, Sony Pictures Entertainment, Billy and Fernando Rovzar Diez Barroso, Jeffrey B. Hecktman, Omneity Entertainment/Richard G. Weinberg, Nederlander Organization/James L. Nederlander, Terry Allen Kramer, S2BN Entertainment, Jam Theatricals, the Mayerson/Gould/Hauser/Tysoe Group, and Patricia Lambrecht, by association with Marvel Entertainment.

Spider-Man, Turn Off The Dark previewed for an unprecedented seven months as the original creative team struggled to finalise the production.

Eventually, the musical's director and co-book writer, Julie Taymor, give up controll of day-to-day duties in Mar 2011, and Philip William McKinley was appointed as creative consultant/director. With the aid of Playwright Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa and choreographer Chase Brock, who were also added to the creative team at this time, new staging, book rewrites and additional choreography was introduced to the show. The musical then went into hiatus for three weeks, from 19 Apr - 12 May 2011, while the new version went through final rehearsals in preparation for opening night on 14 Jun 2011.

The press release announcing the re-worked production read, "The revamping of Spider-Man, Turn Off The Dark represents an unprecedented and historic moment on Broadway. The new version takes the best aspects of the original, adds great new songs by Bono and The Edge, tells the story from a different angle, and will offer an even more thrilling audience experience."