Julie Taymor 'Spidey' role shrinks

Director Julie Taymor is out of the day-to-day workings of "Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark," but she is not technically gone from what is described as "an expanded creative team."

According to a statement from the producers last night, Taymor has "previous commitments" that will keep her from the day-to-day work "necessary to make the changes in the production." She has been director, co-writer, mask designer and chief visionary of the troubled $65-million-plus mega-musical for the last nine years.

There was more trouble last night when a steering mechanism for an aerial battle froze, canceling the stunt.

As rumored for the past week, the opening has been delayed from Tuesday until an unspecified date in early summer. The statement did not address widespread reports that the show would shut down its previews for a period of time in order to rehearse the many changes.

Director Philip William McKinley has been hired to revise Taymor's staging, and playwright Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa, who has written for Marvel comics, will revise her script.

The statement describes McKinley's "vast experience directing technically complex productions on Broadway and beyond," though his major credits are directing "The Boy from Oz" (the 2003 Hugh Jackman vehicle) and the Ringling Bros. Barnum & Bailey Circus.

In the statement, composers Bono and The Edge said they have "written a couple of new songs we are very very excited to put in to the mix."

The musicians, who originally brought the project to Taymor, praised her as "a truly gifted and imaginative director," adding "All of us on the creative team are committed to taking 'Spider-Man' to the next level. We are confident it will reach its full potential and when it does, it will open."

This is the sixth delay for the show, which played its record-breaking 101st preview Wednesday night.

Rick Miramontez, show spokesman, compared McKinley's and Aguirre-Sacasa's hiring to calling in a "relief pitcher." Taymor will retain her billing on the program.