Swinging in the Rain
I use Google to have news items of interest show up in my RSS reader. Over the last few days I've seen blips in that filtered stream of information indicating that there is to be a musical - a Broadway musical production - based on Spider-Man. This weekend the staff of Pink Kryptonite received a press release about it. What blows my mind is that Bono and The Edge wrote the music. That... that sounds pretty awesome, actually.
From the press release:
Michael Cohl said, "Having started early on with SPIDER-MAN and now taking on the lead producing role is extremely exciting and a welcome challenge. Knowing the details and intricacies of this wildly ambitious project, I want to 'turn off the dark' on all the wild speculation about the show -- it's moving forward!"SPIDER-MAN director Julie Taymor said, "With a team that includes Bono, Edge and Glen Berger, there was never a question in my mind that SPIDER-MAN would happen - it was just a matter of when. I am delighted that Michael Cohl is making this a reality."
After an exhaustive search that included a casting call tour spanning six cities and thousands of candidates, the producers and creative team have selected Reeve Carney to play the role of Peter Parker, The Amazing Spider-Man. Carney joins previously announced cast members Evan Rachel Wood as Mary Jane Watson, Peter Parker's girlfriend and Alan Cumming as Norman Osborn (aka Green Goblin).
OK, first, as others of our staff have said, Alan Cumming as Norman Osborn? Personally, I am a little thrilled by that because the man has more of the look I associate with the Green Goblin - waify and gangly and nimble - than the current comic book Osborn, who looks like the state wrestling champion's psychopathic dad.
AHR has used multiple exclamation points in her endorsement of this musical, as she is a huge fan of Julie Taymor. I am, too, though I didn't realize it until I researched her career: she's done everything from acting to directing to costume to set design and she's won Tonies, Emmies and Oscars. She directed Titus. I mean... dude.
That said, the press release made me think two things:
First, comics have long since been being brought over into TV and film, but the stage? As a musical? I just fawned over an episode of Batman: the Brave and the Bold for being a musical, I know, but I'm kind of surprised to see an entire musical about a known superhero. There's no reason for me to be surprised: it's not like it's the first musical about someone swinging around on stage (Peter Pan) or the first musical about a superhero (Dr. Horrible) or the first time a comic book has been adapted to another medium (oh, honey, please). Still, I found myself thinking it was a little out of left field to turn Spider-Man into a musical. With names like that, though, and with Peter Parker - who is possibly the most sympathetic male* superhero ever written - as the star character, I think surely it would be difficult for it not to be exciting.
Second, have you seen the little elfin studcakes they've got playing the title character? Let's just say I had a variety of autonomic responses to the press photo, presented to you here. As soon as I get done posting this I'm going to be writing the producers a heartfelt letter inquiring as to whether they have cast the part of Doctor Octopus or plan to use him, as I would be perfect for the role. I can guarantee that if they left me alone in a room with this guy I'd be all hands and aggressive tendencies.
At the very least, surely Broadway is the place for Spider-Man and the Green Goblin to kiss and make up at last. Or just, y'know, kiss.
Spider-Man on Broadway Official Site - [Warning: the page plays music.]
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* I actually think Promethea features the most sympathetic superhero ever written, but that's just me.
Klarion
Posted to Superheroes on 9 November 2009
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Other stuff like this: Broadway, Spider-Man
Don't forget _It's a Bird... It's a Plane... It's Superman_, the stage musical about Superman, produced in the 60s.
Actually, let's do forget that one. ;)