'Spider-Man' opening postponed again

Well, it's off again. "Spider-Man, Turn Off the Dark" has postponed its opening from Feb. 7 until March 15 so director Julie Taymor and U2's Bono and The Edge can keep working on the show and create a new ending.

This is the fifth postponement for the musical, which, before the extra work, was to have cost a record $65 million. The show has been running in full-price previews since Nov. 28 and, last week, beat out "Wicked" as Broadway's biggest grossing attraction.

In a statement issued Thursday night, producer Michael Cohl said: "We simply need more time to fully execute the creative team's vision before freezing the show. I picked a date in March that allows me to ensure that this will be the final postponement."

The show is the most expensive and most technically complex in Broadway history. With four major injuries, including those suffered by Christopher Tierney when he fell 30 feet during a stunt, the show is also the most dangerous. With the additional five weeks, the production will set a new Broadway record - for the most previews. It will have at least 100.

The previous record was held by "Nick and Nora," which had 71 previews in 1991. Like "Spider-Man," the show was charging full price without telling audiences they were buying tickets to watch practice. That got the attention of the city's Department of Consumer Affairs, which put pressure on producers to disclose previews in ads and point of sales.

Last week, Bill de Blasio, the city's public advocate, sent a letter to Consumer Affairs that said "Spider-Man" "may be in violation of consumer-protection laws." There has been no response yet.

The show was originally to open Feb. 18, 2010, but the producers ran out of money. Most recently, it was scheduled to open Dec. 21, then Jan. 11 and Feb. 7.