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Lead Actress Quitting Spider-Man Musical
By
John Del Signore
Published Dec 28, 2010
Modified Dec 28, 2010
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By
John Del Signore
Published Dec 28, 2010
Modified Dec 28, 2010
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The Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark star who suffered a concussion during the show's first preview performance is quitting the production, Arts Beat reports. Producers have not issued an official statement yet, but Natalie Mendoza, who plays Arachne, is presumably leaving the show while she can walk away without a cane. The actress had been struck in the head by a rope holding a piece of equipment during the November 28th performance, and despite a doctor's recommendation that she take time off, she appeared in the next performance three days later, but later complained of headaches and nausea.
Mendoza was out for two weeks, but returned briefly to the production on December 20th, the same night that lead aerialist Christopher Tierney fell nearly 30 feet and broke his ribs. Mendoza did not return after that night; she's been "on vocal rest" ever since. On Sunday, she wrote on Facebook that she was down to two nausea tablets and four painkillers per day to cope with her concussion, adding, "Thank goodness I had such a brilliant neurologist who made sure I recovered properly. Nice to be almost back to normal…. almost anyway haha!"
For further insight, we turn to the All That Chat message board, were one wag reliably quips, "My speculation is that she just didn't want to perform that horrible and embarrassing 'shoe' number, which was one of the most incomprehensible numbers I have seen on a broadway stage in long time." As for Tierney, following back surgery he was able to walk for the first time since the accident on Friday, and his father tells CNN he wants to return to the show! That would be a miracle, because by the time Tierney's recuperated, there probably won't be a show to return to.
Tagged
natalie mendoza
spider man musical
spider man turn off the dark
John Del Signore
Originally from the Albany area, John Del Signore has called NYC home since 1995. In addition to his thousands of meticulously-crafted bespoke blog posts for Gothamist, his writing has also been published in The Awl, Deadspin, The Nervous Breakdown, and performed at The Brick Theater in Brooklyn.
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Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
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