Spider-Man Cancels December 22 Performance to Implement New Safety Measures

The December 22 preview of Spider-Man, Turn off the Dark has been canceled in order to put new safety measures in place in the wake of actor Christopher Tierney’s onstage injury on December 20. A production spokesperson issued the following statement three hours before the now-cancelled evening performance was scheduled to begin:

"Spider-Man, Turn Off the Dark, Occupational Safety and Health Administration, and the New York State Department of Labor have agreed on the implementation of additional protocols which will be rehearsed today and this evening [December 22]. As such, tonight's performance of Spider-Man, Turn Off the Dark has been cancelled. Performances will resume tomorrow evening (Thursday).”

Just before the production announcement was issued, a letter from New York State Assemblyman Rory Lancman, Chair of the Assembly Subcommittee on Workplace Safety, was released by Actors’ Equity. “We urge you not to proceed with any further performances,” he wrote, “until the following has occurred:

"a) Full compliance with OSHA and DoL recommendations for an independent expert to evaluate the flying and safety line sequences;

"b) There has been sufficient rehearsal for every understudy performing aerial or tethered sequences, including flying seminars for all performers involved with aerial work or the removal of such sequences from the show;

"c) There is sufficient crew and stage management to run the show safely;

"d) The tether that the Spider-Man double is attached to is shortened so the actor is not as close to the end of the platform; and e) The final sequence called 'The Net' is removed or altered to eliminate safety concerns."

The production statement did not address the points raised in Assemblyman Lancman’s letter or indicate what changes might be implemented.

Spider-man, Turn Off the Dark has been in previews at the Foxwoods Theatre since November 28 and is currently scheduled to open on February 7, 2011.