Evan Rachel Wood and Alan Cumming to Headline SPIDER-MAN on Broadway

Evan Rachel Wood and Tony winner Alan Cumming are set to star in SPIDER-MAN Turn Off the Dark on Broadway. The show, written by Tony winner Julie Taymor and Glen Berger, features music and lyrics by U2's Bono and The Edge. The production, directed by Taymor, begins performances at Broadway's Hilton Theatre on February 25, 2010. A new official opening date will be announced shortly.

Wood stars in the musical as Mary Jane Watson, Peter Parker’s girlfriend. The actress’ film credits include Whatever Works, Across The Universe (directed by Taymor), The Wrestler, Little Secrets, Thirteen (Golden Globe nom) and Running With Scissors. She recently received the Young Hollywood Superstar Award. Her many television appearances include Once and Again (Young Artist Award – Best Ensemble in a TV Series) and American Gothic. She recently appeared on stage in Romeo and Juliet at Theatre in the Park in Raleigh, North Carolina. SPIDER-MAN marks her New York stage debut.

Across The Universe was my first opportunity to work with Evan Rachel Wood,” director Taymor said in a statement, and it was a sublime experience. Evan is unique: She is a young actress with incredible depth for both serious and comic drama in films and theater, and on top of that, she has an extraordinary lyrical voice. We are thrilled to have her as our Mary Jane.

Cumming stars in the show as Norman Osborn (a.k.a. Green Goblin), Spider-Man’s most notorious nemesis. The actor won the Tony, Drama Desk and Theatre World Awards for his performance in Cabaret. Other Broadway credits include The Threepenny Opera and Design For Living. His films include the soon-to-be-released The Tempest (directed by Taymor), Titus (also directed by Taymor), X2: X-Men United, Sweet Land (Independent Spirit Award), The Spy Kids Trilogy, Eyes Wide Shut and The Anniversary Party, which he wrote and directed. His London stage appearances include Hamlet, Accidental Death of an Anarchist (Olivier Award), Bent and The Bacchae.

I obviously love him as this is my third collaboration with Alan—and finally we get to do it on stage,” Taymor said about Cumming. “He has such range and such charisma as a performer that I feel confident his Green Goblin will bring many surprises that will move and entertain us.

It was originally announced that SPIDER-MAN would begin performances in January 2010. Producers David Garfinkle and Martin McCallum explained the later performance dates in a statement: “The process of obtaining all the necessary state and city building permits, and landmark approvals to prepare the Hilton Theatre for a production the size and scope of SPIDER-MAN has taken longer than anyone expected, but we now have everything that is required to bring this visually powerful show to Broadway next spring.

The musical follows the story of teenager Peter Parker, whose unremarkable life is turned upside-down—literally—when he’s bitten by a genetically altered spider and wakes up the next morning clinging to his bedroom ceiling. This bullied science-geek—suddenly endowed with astonishing powers—soon learns, however, that with great power comes great responsibility as villains test not only his physical strength but also his strength of character.

Additional casting of SPIDER-MAN will be announced at a later date.