Julie Taymor sues producers of Spider-Man

[StrongGirl]

Oh what a tangled web we weave.... 

The saga continues....

NEW YORK (AP) -- Director Julie Taymor filed a lawsuit Tuesday against the producers of "Spider-Man: Turn off the Dark," alleging they violated her creative rights and haven't compensated her for the work she put into Broadway's most expensive musical.

Charles Spada, an attorney who filed the suit on behalf of the Tony Award-winning director, said Tuesday in a statement that "the producers' actions have left her no choice but to resort to legal recourse to protect her rights."

Rick Miramontez, the show's spokesman, was not immediately aware of the lawsuit, filed in federal court in New York. Taymor was not available to comment.

Taymor who had been the "Spider-Man" director and co-book writer, was fired from the $75 million musical that features music by U2's Bono and The Edge in March after years of delays, accidents and critical backlash.

Philip William McKinley, who directed the Hugh Jackman musical "The Boy From Oz," in 2003, was hired to steer the ship. He was billed as creative consultant when the musical opened in June.

The show has been doing brisk business ever since, most weeks easily grossing more than the $1.2 million the producers have indicated they need to reach to stay viable. Last week, it took in $1.4 million and 86 percent of the 1,930-seat Foxwoods Theatre was filled.

According to Spada, "producers have failed to compensate Ms. Taymor for their continued use of her work to date, despite the fact that the show has consistently played to capacity or near-capacity houses since its first public performance in November 2010."

Taymor's lawsuit comes less than a week after the Tony Awards Administration Committee ruled that only Taymor will be considered eligible for the show's Tony for best direction of a musical category.

Taymor is also seeking compensation from the union that represents theater directors. The Stage Directors and Choreographers Society filed an arbitration claim in June against the show's producers over unpaid royalties.

The legal fights are in contrast to the wide smiles and hugs shared by the creative team on opening night. In the months since then, Taymor hasn't spoken at length about the behind-the-scenes turmoil, but has said she is still proud of the show and is not bitter.

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National Writer Jocelyn Noveck contributed to this report.

[Belisama]

SG I was just about to post this. I have really mixed feelings about it. If they are using parts of the musical she wrote, etc than she should be compensated. To the best of my knowledge you cannot copyright an idea but it may be a little different for musicals and per her contract.

Again if I understand this tar baby, Bono, Edge and McGuiness are also producers but no where did it specifically say they were being sued. Unless I misread.

I don't want to second guess the Tony Committee's ruling so I am thinking that there was more trimming and reworking than fresh writing for the revamped version? If anyone has seen both and can weigh in?

I think Julie is a major talent and hope that she will be known for far more than the Spiderman Era.

And on a final positive note-- kudos to all for playing to capacity or near capacity. For a Broadway show that is epic. For this show in this economy that is nothing short of a miracle and a tribute to all who were/are involved.

[StrongGirl]

Yes, I agree with everything you said, Beli. I only saw the Taymor version but from what I understand,  a lot of her stuff is still in that show. Now the producers have stated in the news here that they have compensated her so they'll have to fight that out in court I suppose. I think Bono, Edge, McGuiness are probably named in the suit as producers which they are if I am not mistaken.

Julie is brilliant and I believe she will always be remembered as the genius who created the most amazingly creative show Broadway has ever seen with the Lion King.  I know she will go on to do so much more.

I am thrilled as well that Spider-Man is doing well after the hits they took from so many before. Bravo! It was amazing! So entertaining!!

[silvrlvr]

SG I was just about to post this. I have really mixed feelings about it. If they are using parts of the musical she wrote, etc than she should be compensated. To the best of my knowledge you cannot copyright an idea but it may be a little different for musicals and per her contract.

Again if I understand this tar baby, Bono, Edge and McGuiness are also producers but no where did it specifically say they were being sued. Unless I misread.

I don't want to second guess the Tony Committee's ruling so I am thinking that there was more trimming and reworking than fresh writing for the revamped version? If anyone has seen both and can weigh in?

I think Julie is a major talent and hope that she will be known for far more than the Spiderman Era.

And on a final positive note-- kudos to all for playing to capacity or near capacity. For a Broadway show that is epic. For this show in this economy that is nothing short of a miracle and a tribute to all who were/are involved.

They are not among the defendants. But Taymor is not very nice to them throughout the lawsuit, which makes you wonder why she didn't add them to the list of people she is suing. I wonder if there is a private agreement amongst the three of them.

You can read the full document here: http://artsbeat.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/11/08/document-taymors-spider-man-lawsuit/?ref=theater

[Inishfree]

I'm not sure.  I didn't know Bono and Edge were also producers.  I thought they were the musical team.

[StrongGirl]

I'm not sure.  I didn't know Bono and Edge were also producers.  I thought they were the musical team.

Yes, and Paul McGuiness as well , Inishfree. Who knows what really goes on behind the scenes. It will be interesting to see how this plays out.

[Manos73]

Good for her.

[Belisama]

Looks like Bono and Edge are in the docket afterall

http://nymag.com/daily/entertainment/2011/11/julie-taymor-claims-bono-the-edge-falsely-criticized-her.html


Julie Taymor Claims Bono, the Edge Falsely Criticized Her

Julie Taymor, the ousted director of Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark, claims in a new interview with Esquire that collaborators Bono and the Edge unfairly painted her as “exhausted” and “overwrought” in order to wrest control from her and overhaul the volatile musical with secretly prepared changes. Taymor, who is currently suing the Spider-Man producers for creative infringement, disputes the characterizations about her, and says the only frustrating moments were because her collaborators were mostly not present during previews: “What was exhausting was the fact that the producers were absent … Those people weren’t there, so how does Bono know? I’m sorry.” Taymor says she would not want to repeat the nine-year development process for Spider-Man, at least “not with this group of people, not with these producers.” Really, the only person who has come out looking good from this whole ordeal is U2 bassist Adam Clayton.

[Kurukira]

Looks like Bono and Edge are in the docket afterall

http://nymag.com/daily/entertainment/2011/11/julie-taymor-claims-bono-the-edge-falsely-criticized-her.html


Julie Taymor Claims Bono, the Edge Falsely Criticized Her

Julie Taymor, the ousted director of Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark, claims in a new interview with Esquire that collaborators Bono and the Edge unfairly painted her as “exhausted” and “overwrought” in order to wrest control from her and overhaul the volatile musical with secretly prepared changes. Taymor, who is currently suing the Spider-Man producers for creative infringement, disputes the characterizations about her, and says the only frustrating moments were because her collaborators were mostly not present during previews: “What was exhausting was the fact that the producers were absent … Those people weren’t there, so how does Bono know? I’m sorry.” Taymor says she would not want to repeat the nine-year development process for Spider-Man, at least “not with this group of people, not with these producers.” Really, the only person who has come out looking good from this whole ordeal is U2 bassist Adam Clayton.

...and Larry.

[Belisama]

You never mess with Larry.

[Gavin Tuesday]

I've never been much of a fan of Julie Taymor's work, but I think she's completely right to sue in this instance.  Yeah, it was necessary for her to leave the production after it became a train wreck and bring in fresh blood...but she should still get paid.

Good for her, I hope she prevails and after reading the brief I believe she will.

[So Cruel]

Hopefully Bono and Edge never come within 1000 miles of a Broadway musical again. What a grand waste of time this has been.

[Belisama]

I've never been much of a fan of Julie Taymor's work, but I think she's completely right to sue in this instance.  Yeah, it was necessary for her to leave the production after it became a train wreck and bring in fresh blood...but she should still get paid.

Good for her, I hope she prevails and after reading the brief I believe she will.

Any quote I have ever read from Edge or Bono about Julie was nothing less than complimentary of her talent. I enjoy a lot of her work but she is a bit of a hit and miss. No in between. The Lion King's share of the issues with this production appear go to her participation. Especially when one considers that something that was a laughing stock is now selling out almost every night.

[mattressjedi]

I read a news brief recently( I forgot where) that the musical is starting to make money now. So that's a good sign.

But yeah, Taymor should get paid.

[JTBaby]

who's going to sue the person who came up with the idea of "hey, let's make a musical out of spiderman"

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