'Spider-Man' Lead Actress To Depart Broadway Show

Natalie Mendoza leaving 'Turn Off the Dark,' New York Times reports.
By Terri Schwartz

Natalie Mendoza
Photo: Bruce Glikas/ FilmMagic

While one "Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark" actor is desperate to return to Broadway's most-expensive musical once he recovers from his injury, another is headed out the door. The New York Times reports Natalie Mendoza, the lead actress who suffered a concussion after she was struck on the head with a rope, has been negotiating an exit agreement for days.

Mendoza seemed to confirm her exit with the tweet, "Can feel a trip to India coming on & visiting my magic little orphanage Ramana's Garden in Rishikesh. Raising funds as we speak. Be the change."

The Times learned of her departure from two people who work on the show and who spoke on the condition of anonymity. A spokesperson for "Turn Off the Dark" could not confirm to the paper that Mendoza is leaving, and a spokesperson for the actress declined to comment.

The actress, best known for her role in "The Descent," suffered a concussion November 28, and though she returned to the production three days later, she took another two weeks off after experiencing nausea and headaches.

Mendoza played Arachne, the spider-villainess who becomes obsessed with Spider-Man. Director Julie Taymor created the character specifically for the mythology of the musical. The role required that the actress perform flying sequences while upside down, something she wasn't able to handle after she was injured.

Mendoza is expected to be replaced by her understudy, America Olivo. Mendoza wrote on her Facebook page Sunday that she was "almost back to normal" and had reduced her medicine intake to two nausea tablets and four painkillers a day.

After a fourth accident December 20 sent stunt double and aerialist Christopher Tierney to the emergency room, the production instituted a series of new safety measures. Taymor released a statement saying, "Nothing is more important than the safety of our 'Spider-Man' family and we'll continue to do everything in our power to protect the cast and crew."

Preview performances continue at the Foxwoods Theater in Times Square, and the musical's official Broadway opening date is February 7.

Check out everything we've got on "Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark."

Source: http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1654996/20101228/story.jhtml

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