Spider-Man on Broadway: The Show Must Go On. Or Must It?

Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark, the high-profile collaboration between the Disney-owned Marvel, U2 and director Julie Taymor that is now in previews on Broadway, cancelled its matinee performance today following an injury that took Christopher Tierney, one of the actors playing Spider-Man last night, to the emergency room — the fourth accident since previews began.

Officials from NYC's Actors Equity, the New York Dept. of Labor and OSHA today investigated the accident. According to AP, the show's producers have promised to implement additional safety measures in order for Wednesday night's performance to proceed, reports Billboard (and an eagle-eyed reader).

Some are questioning whether it's safe for the actors to return to the high-flying production; and there's still the question of whether there will be any damage to the show's run, the Spider-Man franchise, and Marvel's brand.

In the works before Disney acquired Marvel, the additions of U2 and Taymor sent the show's budget (and ambitions) soaring, making the troubled production the most expensive show in Broadway history. A behind-the-scenes peek is after the jump.Continue reading...