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NEW YORK – Weekend performances of Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark will go on as scheduled after an accident causing a serious leg injury to a castmember forced Thursday night’s show to be halted.
Dancer Daniel Curry was rushed to Bellevue Hospital from the Foxwoods Theater after his leg was pinned in a trapdoor-like piece of stage machinery.
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“Following last night’s accident at Spider-Man: Turn Off The Dark, Daniel Curry remains in the hospital in stable condition having sustained an injury to his foot,” a spokesman for the production, Rick Miramontez, said in a statement. “Tonight’s performance will go on as scheduled. The technical elements of the show are all in good working order, and we can confirm that equipment malfunction was not a factor in the incident. Our thoughts are with Daniel and his family.”
The accident happened soon after the start of the show’s second act, causing the remainder of the performance to be canceled.
While the official statement indicates that human error rather than a technical malfunction was the cause of the accident, the incident is a reminder of the show’s rocky gestation during its prolonged preview period, when the production repeatedly made national and international news with a string of cast injuries.
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The most serious of these was when performer Christopher Tierney fell more than 20 feet from a stage platform into the pit due to an improperly fastened body harness. The actor subsequently recovered and returned to the production.
However, aside from minor injuries that are standard for dance- and movement-heavy Broadway musicals, Spider-Man has been running smoothly since its delayed official opening in June 2011.
Actors’ Equity Association expressed concern in a statement over the latest Spider-Man mishap, saying that an investigation into the incident has been initiated.
“Acknowledging that theatre can be an inherently dangerous profession as technology continues to challenge the boundaries of creativity, and because of the technical difficulties and challenges in Spider-Man, the show has worked hard to have safety protocols in place,” the Equity statement read.
While the production’s box office has dipped slightly in recent months, it continues to gross more than $1 million a week, with a cumulative haul on Broadway to date of $191.5 million.
Producers are currently auditioning for a replacement lead to step in to the title role following the scheduled departure of original star Reeve Carney on Sept. 15. An open audition set for Aug. 19 in New York will go ahead as planned. However, in light of this week’s cast accident, Miramontez confirmed that the media portion of that event has been canceled.
Justin Matthew Sargent, until recently a castmember of Rock of Ages on Broadway, has joined the Spider-Man company as alternate lead, playing Peter Parker and his superhero alter ego at select performances.
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