SPIDER-MAN THE MUSICAL MOVING AHEAD

[MattBrady]

Three years ago, when Variety carried a brief mention of a Spider-Man musical in July of 2004, the news went under the waves without much of a ripple, thanks to either nothing much coming of it at the time, or the combined disbelief of fans.

Turns out, it wasn’t a joke.

According to Playbill, a reading of the Spider-Man musical will take place in New York City on July 12th and 13th. According to the trade, rehearsals will begin on July 2nd.

As reported in 2004, the production has major muscle attached: Tony Award winner Julie (director and costume designer of The Lion King musical, Titus) Taymor will direct; Taymor and Glen (The Wooden Breeks) Berger will write the book (i.e., script); U2’s Bono and The Edge will write the music; and Matthias “Teese” Gohl will serve as musical supervisor. Marvel will produce, along with Hello Entertainment/David Garfinkle and Martin McCallum.

A “reading” means that the musical is still in its earliest stages – a test balloon of sorts to attract attention, money, and theater owners to see both if its worth staging, and where – either on or off Broadway.

From Playbill:

Among the roles being sought to fill are the young-man-turned-hero Peter Parker/Spider-Man ("male, late teens to early 20's...[with a] great pop/rock voice") and love-interest Mary Jane ("female, late teens to early 20's...[with a] great pop/rock voice") as well as villain Norman Osborn/Green Goblin and Daily Bugle publisher J. Jonah Jameson (both call for "male, 50s.")

The character breakdowns provide some insight to plot points as the character Arachne ("female, 20-35 years old, any ethnicity") is described as "a beautiful, boastful young woman turned into a spider for her hubris and lack of respect for the gods. She subsequently appears to Peter Parker and the audience as in turn a powerful spider-woman who comes from another time to inspire Peter; an otherworldly lover; a bride; a terrifying (and sexy) dark goddess of vengeance; a dance partner in a charged and violent spiders dance of death; and, finally, a lonely, fragile young woman." Casting is seeking a "strong Celtic, Balkan style, e.g., Sinead O'Connor," noting, "outside the box ideas are welcomed. Could be someone from the music industry."

Also, a "Geek Chorus" consisting of "three teenage boys and one girl" are described to "meet to ritualistically retell the greatest Spider-Man stories.

In moving forward, Spider-Man joins other comic characters who've taken steps towards to musical theater: the never-produced Batman (by Jim Steinman, David Ives, and Tim Burton, songs can be found here, and one was even covered by Meatloaf); and Superman, which actually happened.

[newavenger]

So it isn't a joke.....that's interesting........

[MattBrady]

Originally Posted by newavenger

So it isn't a joke.....that's interesting........

if it is a joke, it's a well-done one, going on for nearly three years, and involving people in the public eye who would quickly refute it.

So the chances for it being the most elaborate Punk'd segment ever are dwindling, yes.

MattB

[RichJohnston]

Originally Posted by MattBrady

if it is a joke, it's a well-done one, going on for nearly three years, and involving people in the public eye who would quickly refute it.

So the chances for it being the most elaborate Punk'd segment ever are dwindling, yes.

MattB

Featuring the hits:

Where The Streets Have No Namor
I Still Haven't Found What I'm Loki For
Stuck in A Molten Man You Can't Get Out Of
Sandman Bloody Sandman
Elevulture
Sweetest Thing

[Bevbos]

Well, they made a musical out of Les Miserables, which isn't exactly light fare, so if they can desecrate that, I hardly think Peter Parker is beyond the fare.

[Bevbos]

Originally Posted by RichJohnston

Where The Streets Have No Namor
I Still Haven't Found What I'm Loki For
Stuck in A Molten Man You Can't Get Out Of
Sandman Bloody Sandman
Elevulture
Sweetest Thing

Devil With The Devil Suit On
Stand By Your Aunt

[xdemon]

I wonder if they will use this song:

[RichJohnston]

Originally Posted by Bevbos

Devil With The Devil Suit On
Stand By Your Aunt

What have they got to do with U2?

[Salieri]

Insane...completely and utterly insane.

But still, that's Showbiz!

[spidertour02]

Wow, this is actually serious ... I don't know HOW to react, really.

[Bevbos]

Originally Posted by RichJohnston

What have they got to do with U2?

Um... they don't. Is the musical being written by Bono? Did I miss something? Can anyone play this game?

[MattBrady]

Originally Posted by RichJohnston

Featuring the hits:

Where The Streets Have No Namor
I Still Haven't Found What I'm Loki For
Stuck in A Molten Man You Can't Get Out Of
Sandman Bloody Sandman
Elevulture
Sweetest Thing

you can waste an entire day doing that...it's addictive.

MattB

[nickmaynard]

Originally Posted by RichJohnston

Featuring the hits:

Where The Streets Have No Namor
I Still Haven't Found What I'm Loki For

i just spit my soda out. that is really really funny.

[New Warrior]

I heard rumblings about this years ago and it scared me then.

I am a music teacher, a huge fan of Broadway musicals and an avid comic book collector (about 90 or so titles a month) so you would think this marriage between these two facits of my life would be exciting news, but in order for me to not be extremely worried about this, I would have to hear/see something really cool.

Julie Taymor is no joke though. As the article stated, she was one of the masterminds behind bringing the Lion King to the stage and EVERYONE thought that was going to be a disaster in its earliest of stages,,, It turned out to win Tony Awards (think Oscars for Broadway musicals) and start a whole new tradition of Disney musicals plus it changed the way we look at staging, costuming, and storytelling on a live stage. If anyone can make this happen, my guess is it would be her.

Music by Bono and The Edge, could go either way...

And, if you're looking for a good laugh, try to find songs from the Superman show "Its A Bird, Its A Plane, Its Superman". Oh man, is it bad.

[Knavehart]

Originally Posted by Bevbos

Um... they don't. Is the musical being written by Bono? Did I miss something? Can anyone play this game?

as the article says....

As reported in 2004, the production has major muscle attached: Tony Award winner Julie (director and costume designer of The Lion King musical, Titus) Taymor will direct; Taymor and Glen (The Wooden Breeks) Berger will write the book (i.e., script); U2’s Bono and The Edge will write the music; and Matthias “Teese” Gohl will serve as musical supervisor. Marvel will produce, along with Hello Entertainment/David Garfinkle and Martin McCallum.

[Brent Sienna]

I'm curious to see how it works out. I've enjoyed Phantom of the Opera and The Scarlet Pimpernel as musicals and there was Jeckyl and Hyde The Musical and even Titanic and they weren't what most people would consider sources for a musical. So what the hell... bring on Spidey the musical. It couldn't be as bad as the Superman musical was.

[Simon DelMonte]

I will wait and see, but odds are it will be another rather bland, if entertaining, modern day Broadway production. It won't offend any comic book fans, since they want our money, but it won't do much else. Like every ofther major B'way production since The Lion King (possibly the last innovative adaptation of anything).

But it can't be worse than the Superman musical. Or the spoof Batman musical on Batman Beyond.

[Ignatius Prime]

Originally Posted by MattBrady

if it is a joke, it's a well-done one, going on for nearly three years, and involving people in the public eye who would quickly refute it.

So the chances for it being the most elaborate Punk'd segment ever are dwindling, yes.

MattB

It's strange, though, that no one has actually CONFIRMED any of it either. Taymor, Bono, no one on that original notice has said ANYTHING about it.

And the stories all seem to just back each other up - you guys have "according to Playbill." Playbill's story reads "according to Superhero Hype." Nowhere can I find anything from any of the players actually involved, which is very odd.

Taymor is also supposedly busy cutting Across the Universe, which makes taking three weeks off to direct a reading of Spider-Man seem also very odd.

Plus, no one I know who works in New York theatre (quite a few people) has heard anything about this.

It could be true, I suppose, but an awful lot about this seems very peculiar.

[Tom Daylight]

why would it be a joke? you could easily make a fortune out of this.

[Bird Flu Man]

Originally Posted by RichJohnston

What have they got to do with U2?

Archangel of Harlem
Nighthawkmoon 269
Hold Me, Cull Me, Kiss Me, Skrull Me
Electro Storm
Mysterio Ways

Or, if they're going for an Ultimate take on the charatcer . . .
Kitty Pryde (In the Name of Love)

[A_Tanzarian]

Originally Posted by Fetsur

why would it be a joke? you could easily make a fortune out of this.

"Easily"..?

Go ahead, then. We'll wait.

[vbartilucci]

If this is real, it looks to be a train wreck worthy of Gomez Addams.

I remember when the Batman musical was being talked about, was interested for exactly one reason - Jim Steinman.

This...this could be this generation's Howard the Duck.

Does a copy of the Superman Musical as performed on TV exist anywhere out there? That I might be able to...obtain? Find?

[tbumpkins]

Okay, I'll bite. This actually sounds interesting.Talent seems to be there and I like the whole "Arachne-dark goddess of vengeance" bit, and more importantly the Geek Chorus!

Hey, anyone think RAS had anything to do with this? Doesn't he have background in theater/ playwrite? Maybe he pointed Marvel in the right direction.

[TigerGot'Em]

Originally Posted by Fetsur

why would it be a joke? you could easily make a fortune out of this.

Therein lies the tragedy; taking advantage of the current spidey-fad and running an iconic property's name into the ground just to make some extra dough.

[MattBrady]

Originally Posted by TigerGot'Em

Therein lies the tragedy; taking advantage of the current spidey-fad and running an iconic property's name into the ground just to make some extra dough.

"current spidey fad?" you mean the one that started in 1961 and continues today, and has seen Spider-Man on underwear and a horrible live-action television show?

That fad?

MattB