Spider-Man the Musical on Broadway
Your friendly Spider-Man may just come slinging by with his trusty web to save the neighborhood of Broadway.
The beleaguered famous street that houses the life and blood of New York’s musical theater has been experiencing a Sweeney Todd like bloodbath of sorts that has seen the impending closure of Broadway hits such as Spring Awakening, Xanadu, Monty Python’s Spamalot, Legally Blonde and Hairspray.
The task of adapting the comic book franchise of Spider-Man to the stage is entrusted in the hands of Julie Taymor, the director of the groundbreaking Disney musical The Lion King, with Bono and The Edge of U2 providing the music.
Evan Rachel Wood, who worked with Julie Taymor in a Beatles inspired musical film entitled Across the Universe, auditioned for and was chosen to play the role of Peter Parker’s love interest — Mary Jane.
Asked to describe Spider-Man the musical, she told Cole Haddon of film.com — “It’s really spectacular, and they’re using new technology and wirework, and Spider-Man never sings in tights — only as Peter Parker. I’ve heard all the music, and it’s so good. It makes me cry.”
Evan Rachel Wood, who has been involved in theater ever since she was a child because of her actor, director, playwright parents, does admit to Jimmy Kimmel that Across the Universe was her first time to sing in public (go to 3:46) since Julie Taymor insisted that all the actors sing live while shooting the film (go to 3:12).
The clip below is Wood’s live performance of the Beatles hit — If I Fell — from the indie film Across the Universe.
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