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Spider-Man the Musical Opening May Be Delayed Again

By DNAinfo Staff on November 5, 2010 3:16pm  | Updated on November 6, 2010 10:36am

The opening of
The opening of "Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark" may be postponed once again.
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Sony Pictures

By Mariel S. Clark

DNAinfo News Editor

MANHATTAN — The Broadway show "Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark" is once again tangled in a web of delays after the producers were unable to demonstrate all of the show's stunts for safety inspectors.

The $60 million musical, which will have more aerial maneuvers and special effects than any other in history, was supposed to open Nov. 14 at the Foxwoods Theater, the New York Times reported.

Inspectors from the State Department of Labor were on hand Wednesday to approve all of the flying stunts, of which there are roughly 35, but instead producers were only able to demonstrate a few of the maneuvers, according to Department of Labor spokesman Leo Rosales.

"We have to make sure the performers are protected and if they're flying over the audience we must make sure that no one is in danger at any time," Rosales said adding that the amount and scale of the stunts was unprecedented.

The stunts, which are done without nets, raised safety concerns after two actors were injured during rehearsals, according to the Times.

The musical, starring Reeve Carney of the rock band Carney, directed by Julie Taymor and composed by The Edge and Bono of U2, is the most expensive show in history. It was supposed to open in February but was delayed because the original producers couldn’t raise enough money, the paper reported.

If postponed, the show may miss some or all of the money-making holiday season.

"We are waiting for the producers of the play to let us know when they are prepared to show us the rest of the aerial maneuvers," Rosales said. "Until that point we can't sign off on any of the stunts that they're going to be doing."