It’s been a long wait through false starts, injuries, firings and mishap after mishap. But the finished “Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark” has finally opened. Here’s our web-slinging timeline.
Summer-fall 2002
Producers Tony Adams and David Garfinkle get provisional rights from Marvel Comics for a Spider-Man musical. They approach Bono and The Edge about writing the score; the musicians bring in Julie Taymor.
March 2004
Marvel finally assigns the rights.
October 2005
While signing contracts in The Edge’s NYC apartment, Adams has a stroke and dies two days later. Garfinkle takes over.
July 12-13, 2007
First table read.
June 2009
Lucky AmEx cardholders are invited to buy tickets for previews set to start Jan. 16, 2010, for a Feb. 18 opening. Alan Cumming is cast as Green Goblin, Evan Rachel Wood as Mary Jane Watson.
August 2009
Hit hard by the recession and the cost of customizing the Hilton Theatre, the production runs into “an unexpected cash flow problem” and suspends operations. Previews are pushed to Feb. 25, 2010.
November 2009
Garfinkle is ousted and replaced by music promoter Michael Cohl, who raises more money. Reeve Carney is hired to play Peter Parker/Spider-Man.
March-April 2010
Sighting a looming iceberg, Wood and Cumming jump off the “SS Spider-Man.”
July 2010
Publicity firm Boneau/Bryan-Brown abandons the account after nearly three years. O&M bravely takes the assignment.
August 2010
The Hilton is renamed the Foxwoods Theatre, after the casino.
Oct. 29, 2010
It’s revealed that stuntman Kevin Aubin broke both wrists during a presentation to ticket brokers and group-sales agents.
Nov. 28, 2010
First preview! The show is interrupted several times because of technical difficulties and goes on for three and a half hours. Natalie Mendoza (Arachne) is clobbered by a cable offstage and suffers a concussion. She leaves the show the next month.
Dec. 4, 2010
Andy Samberg plays Spidey’s “fourth understudy” on SNL’s Weekend Update: “The last guy just exploded. It’s a musical, it happens!”
Dec. 20, 2010
The safety harness of stunt Spider-Man Christopher Tierney fails and he falls 30 feet. Actors’ Equity blames the accident on “human error.” Suffering severe injuries, Tierney’s out of the show until April 25.
Jan. 4, 2011
Bono sees his baby for the first time — five weeks into previews.
Feb. 8, 2011
Opening has been delayed again, but critics come anyway. It does not go well. “An inconsistent, maddening show that’s equal parts exciting and atrocious,” says The Post.
March 9, 2011
The producers fire Taymor, then bring in a new director, script doctor and choreographer. Opening (scheduled for March 15, 2011) is postponed again.
April 17, 2011
The show goes on a three-week hiatus to implement changes. RIP, Spidey 1.0…
May 12, 2011
…and welcome, Spidey 2.0!
May 25, 2011
Reeve Carney, Bono and The Edge perform “Rise Above” on the “American Idol” finale.
June 14, 2011
After 183 previews and five postponed openings, the $70 million “Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark” officially opens.