Spider-Man Turn Off the Dark injury causes cancellations.

The 20 Dec 2010 performance of Spider-Man, Turn Off The Dark was stopped seven minutes before the performance was due to end, due to Christopher W. Tierney sustaining severe injuries after he "fell several feet from a platform approximately seven minutes before the end of the performance." The actor, who performs stunts dressed as 'Spider-Man,'was rushed to Bellevue Hospital for treatment, where he remains in intensive care.

The Asssociated Press reports that Tierney will remain in intensive care until at least 27 Dec 2010. His injuries include: "hairline skull fracture, four broken ribs, a bruised lung, internal bleeding and cracks in three lumbar vertebrae."

As a result of the accident, the show initially announced it would cancel its next performance - matinee on 22 Dec - but would resume its normal schedule beginning with the evening performance on 22 Dec 2010.

A statement from Rick Miramontez, the show's press representative, read, "OSHA [Occupational Safety & Health Administration], Actors' Equity and the New York State Department of Labor have met with the Spider-Man company today to discuss additional safety protocols. It was agreed that these measures would be enacted immediately. Tomorrow's [December 22] matinee has been postponed and will be rescheduled. Tomorrow evening's, and all subsequent performances will proceed as scheduled."

Actors Equity released a statement on 21 Dec 2010 which said, "Actors' Equity Association worked today with the Department of Labor, OSHA and the production to determine that the cause of the accident at last night's performance of Spider-Man was, in fact, human error."

Three hours before the 22 Dec 2010 evening performance of Spider-Man, Turn Off The Dark was to take place, came news that the performance had been cancelled.

The statement announcing the cancellation said, "Spider-Man, Turn Off The Dark, Occupational Safety and Health Administration, and the New York State Department of Labor have agreed on the implementation of additional protocols which will be rehearsed today and this evening [December 22]. As such, tonight's performance of Spider-Man, Turn Off The Dark has been cancelled. Performances will resume tomorrow evening." (23 Dec)

Not long before the cancellation was made, Actor's Equity released a letter from NY State Assembly member, Roy Lancman, addressed to the producers of the show which reads:

"We urge you not to proceed with any further performances until the following has occurred:

a) Full compliance with OSHA and DoL recommendations for an independent expert to evaluate the flying and safety line sequences;

b) There has been sufficient rehearsal for every understudy performing aerial or tethered sequences, including flying seminars for all performers involved with aerial work or the removal of such sequences from the show;

c) There is sufficient crew and stage management to run the show safely;

"d) The tether that the Spider-Man double is attached to is shortened so the actor is not as close to the end of the platform; and e) The final sequence called 'The Net' is removed or altered to eliminate safety concerns."

The Broadway premiere of Spider-Man, Turn Off The Dark, in previews since 28 Nov 2010, will open at the Foxwoods Theatre on 7 Feb 2011.

Spider-Man, Turn Off The Dark has been blighted by injuries. During rehearsals two actors suffered serious injuries; one breaking both wrists, while another broke both feet. Natalie Mendoza who plays who stars as 'Arachne,' was injured during the musical's first preview on 28 Nov 2010 when she was struck on the head by a piece of rope that was holding production equipment. Though the actor performed that evening, she was later diagnosed with concussion and was ordered to rest. Mendoza only recently returned to the producion.

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 with direction by Tony Award-winner Julie Taymor ('The Tempest,' 'Across The Universe,' 'The Lion King') and a book by Julie Taymor and Glen Berger ('Underneath The Lintel').

A press release for the show reads "Spider-Man, Turn Off The Dark represents the consummate collaboration of cultures by joining the theatrical and cinematic vision of Julie Taymor with the thrilling musicality of Bono and The Edge, and the iconic Spider-Man brand. This project has allowed these artists to create a work specifically designed for a theater environment, one that can't be produced as a stadium show, and is the natural evolution of three remarkable careers. Spider-Man, Turn Off The Dark promises to be the most ambitious production ever undertaken on Broadway.

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

The cast also features Natalie Mendoza, Michael Mulheren, Ken Marks, Isabel Keating, Jeb Brown, T.V. Carpio, Mat Devine, Gideon Glick, Jonathan Schwartz, Matthew James Thomas, Laura Beth Wells, Matt Caplan, Dwayne Clark, Luther Creek, Gerald Avery, Collin Baja, Marcus Bellamy, Emmanuel Brown, Erin Elliott, Craig Henningsen, Dana Marie Ingraham, Ayo Janeen Jackson, Heather Lang, Ari Loeb, Natalie Lomonte, Kevin Loomis, Kristin Martin, Jodi McFadden, Kristen Oei, America Olivo, Jennifer Perry, Kyle Post, Brandon Rubendall, Sean Samuels, Dollar Tan and Christopher Tierney.

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.