"Spider-Man" to Resume with New Safety Measures
NEW YORK (CBS/AP) Producers announced late Wednesday that the scheduled re-opening of "Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark" that evening would not take place as planned.
It's the latest setback for the troubled production, following a fourth actor being injured on Monday while performing in the Broadway musical.
PICTURES: "Spider-Man" Actor Injured
The curtain is now set to go up again on Thursday, after the producers of the accident-plagued show musical agreed to new safety precautions to prevent another fall.
The state Department of Labor said it is satisfied the producers of the $65 million musical have made the necessary adjustments.
Wednesday night's performance was canceled so that the cast and crew could rehearse the new precautions, which include a requirement that a second person ensure that the harnesses used by performers during the show's high-flying stunts have been put on properly.
Stunt actor Christopher Tierney, 31, is now recovering in New York's Bellevue Hospital after suffering broken ribs and internal bleeding after his harness failed and he fell about 30 feet (You can see video of his fall here.) during Monday night's performance, according to reports.
Tierney, who was reportedly scheduled to have back surgery on Wednesday, will be released from the hospital tomorrow or Saturday. He is expected to make a full recovery and return to the stage, his brother, Patrick, told the New York Post.
"He's a dancer, he landed on his feet," Patrick said of his brother. "If he didn't land on his feet, he wouldn't be with us."
An understudy, who has little experience doing such stunts, will take over Tierney's role, a source told the paper.
The much-anticipated "Spider-Man" musical, which paired "Lion King" creator Julie Taymor with songwriters Bono and The Edge of U2, has had a rocky route to Broadway. Already the most expensive show in Broadway history, it has been plagued by technical glitches, money woes and three other injuries, including a concussion and two broken wrists.
"At this point we are satisfied they have put in place the appropriate controls," said Maureen Cox, director of safety and health for the state Department of Labor.
State officials had no authority to close the show, but could have disallowed the heart-stopping stunts that make it special. The musical has 38 separate moves in which actors are put in harnesses to go up in the air.
Cox added that the investigation is continuing into what went wrong in Tierney's accident and who is to blame. Investigators said they are looking into whether it was caused by equipment failure or human error.
"We're also making sure that the actors and the stagehands know that if everything is not right, they can say, 'We're not going to go,'" Cox said.
"Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark" has been in previews for a month, and its official Broadway opening has twice been postponed. It is now set for early February.
