New director for Spider Man Turn off the Dark musical

Producers of  Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark have confirmed the departure of director and co-writer Julie Taymor. It was unclear if she quit or was fired. According to colleagues she boxed herself into a corner with the producers in the last few weeks by refusing their requests to allow outsiders to make changes to the show.

Spider-Man is now so troubled that the producers plan to shut down the show for two to three weeks in mid-spring to give the new director Philip William McKinley time to make some changes.  A lengthy shutdown would cost the show $1.3 million a week and cause it to miss out on any Tony Award nominations.

McKinley previously directed the Hugh Jackman musical “The Boy From Oz” in 2003 as well as several Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey circuses. He has also worked as a performer in Las Vegas which is famous for the sort of thrilling spectacle that the producers want in Spider-Man. Playwright and comic book writer Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa (“It’s a Bird ... It’s a Plane ... It’s Superman”) will work with McKinley on the changes.
The latest opening night of March 15th has now been moved back for the sixth time for another three months to “early summer”, with a closure planned for two to three weeks to put in some changes.

Las night the producers, along with Bono and the Edge, told the Spider-Man cast that Ms. Taymor was out with Bono saying said that she would still be part of the show, but that he felt sad she would not be there day to day. Her departure has left Broadway insiders speculating whether lead actor Reeve Carney will stay with the show as he was handpicked by Taymor for the role.

An insider familiar with the production has told Variety that the show has already cost between $70-$72 million.