SPIDER-MAN: A BUMPY RIDE ON BROADWAY

“Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark” had all the makings of a mega-hit and was one of the most highly anticipated shows on Broadway. With music and lyrics by U2’s Bono and the Edge, direction by Julie Taymor (“The Lion King”) and a stellar cast, the show seemed destined for success. But, from the get-go, the musical seemed cursed, plagued with delays, financial troubles, stars bailing out and faulty flying equipment that caused a series of injuries. As things went from bad to worse, even the talented Ms. Taymor was fired. In short, the much-hyped show became something of a national joke, even after it was revised. This e-single, culled from the archives of The New York Times, recounts the very bumpy flight of “Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark,” which closed in January 2014 because of declining ticket sales. In the end, the cost of the troubled show escalated to a whopping $75 million, making it the most expensive production in the history of Broadway.