By Michael Ventura
DNAinfo Senior Editor
MANHATTAN — A lead actress in "Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark" is leaving the production after suffering a concussion, the New York Times reported.
Natalie Mendoza, who plays "Arachne" in the production, suffered a concussion in the first preview of the show that's seen four actors injured since preview performances began this month.
In addition to the injury, Mendoza was also shaken up by the injury to actor Christopher Tierney, who was seriously injured after falling more than 30 feet during a performance last week, the Times said. The incident caused state labor officials to briefly halt the show so new safety procedures could be put into place.
"Please pray with me for my friend Chris,my superhero who quietly inspires me everyday with his spirit. A light in my heart went dim tonight." Mendoza wrote on Twitter after Tierney's injury.
Tierney recently had back surgery and is starting to walk again.
Mendoza was hurt when she was hit in the head by a rope that was holding a piece of equipment off stage, the Times reported.
A spokesman for the "Spider-Man" production did not immediately return a call for comment.
The show recently pushed back its opening at the Foxwoods Theatre on Broadway to February.
Arachne, Mendoza's character, is a supervillain created by the show's director, Julie Taymor, who becomes obsessed with Spider-Man, the Times reported.
Taymor told the paper she created the character after having a dream about a teenager becoming a superhero, the paper said.
