NEW YORK – Producers have once again delayed the opening of the troubled new Broadway musical “Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark,” the fourth major delay in performances this year for the much-mocked show.
The official opening was pushed back 27 days, from Jan. 11 to Feb. 7, because a key actor has missed several previews due to injury and after producers decided that the creative team needs to work out more kinks before allowing critics to weigh in.
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More than eight years in the making, the $65 million show has been plagued by delays and money woes. In addition, three accidents have injured actors, including one who had both his wrists broken while practicing an aerial stunt.
The first preview on Nov. 28 did not go well. The musical had to be halted five times because of technical glitches and actress Natalie Mendoza — who plays Spider-Man’s evil love interest Arachne — was hit in the head by a rope and suffered a concussion. Her injury would eventually keep her sidelined for two weeks.
The show — whose costs easily dwarf Broadway’s last costliest show, the $25 million “Shrek the Musical” — may be about a comic book hero, but it has now itself become easy fodder for comics, with both Conan O’Brien and “Saturday Night Live” spoofing the show.
Virginia school kids get a real presidential scoop
ARLINGTON, Va. – He may be leader of the free world, but when he takes his dog for a walk, President Obama says he bends down to do the nasty work of cleaning up like anyone else.
Answering questions Friday from youngsters at an elementary school, Obama described going for nighttime walks with first dog Bo on the White House South Lawn. He says that’s fun. But, Obama says, “Sometimes I have to scoop up his poop, because I don’t want to just leave it in the lawn!”
The response from the kids: “Eeew!”
Obama admonished them: “If you guys have a dog, you’ve got to walk your dog, too — and clean up after him.”
McCartney’s gig an effort to save music landmark
LONDON – Former Beatle Paul McCartney played his smallest gig in more than a decade Friday in a bid to save a landmark London club faced with closure because of a steep rent increase.
McCartney played a lunchtime show before about 300 fans at the 100 Club in central London, wooing the crowd with “Magical Mystery Tour,” “All My Loving” and a host of other favorites.
It marked the first time McCartney had played the 100 Club, which once hosted the Rolling Stones, the Who, Metallica and others, including American jazz great Louis Armstrong.
Romo pops question
DALLAS – Injured Dallas Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo is engaged to be married to former Miss Missouri Candice Crawford.
Crawford works as a sports reporter for KDAF-TV in Dallas. The station reports that the 30-year-old player proposed to Crawford while the couple were celebrating her 24th birthday at a Dallas restaurant on Thursday. A wedding date has not been announced.
Romo has not played since breaking his collarbone on Oct. 25. He previously dated singer Jessica Simpson.
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