'Close it before someone dies': Actors call for Spider-Man musical to be cancelled as stuntman's brother reveals he may never return to the stage
Broadway actors have banded together to demand that disaster-hit new musical Spider-Man: Turn Off The Dark be shut down before anyone else is hurt.
The production has been besieged with accidents during rehearsals and previews and the opening was postponed by four weeks because of technical glitches.
In horrific scenes caught on video on Monday, stuntman Christopher Tierney's safety harness seemingly malfunctioned as he jumped from a platform in a rehearsed stunt.
Mr Tierney plunged 30 feet into the orchestra pit as the audience screamed in horror.
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Before the accident: Stunt actor Christopher Tierney, the white figure at top of screen, prepares to jump from a platform as the actress playing Mary Kate screams for help below him
In position: A harness can be seen behind the stuntman, it is believed this failed to secure him
Off he goes: The stuntman plunges off the platform as planned, but his harness opens, swinging emptily over the audience as Tierney plunges 30ft
The 31-year-old was rushed to hospital in a 'serious condition' and is said to be suffering from multiple broken ribs and substantial bleeding.
His brother Patrick Tierney told Seacoastonline that Christopher is scheduled to have back surgery today at Bellevue Hospital.
'I don't know when he'll be back on stage if at all', Patrick said.
Several stars took to their Facebook and Twitter pages to voice their anger over the latest incident.
'Does someone have to die?', Tony Award-winning actress Alice Ripley voiced on Twitter. 'Where is the line for the decision makers, I am curious?'
Injured: Stuntman Christopher Tierney suffered multiple broken ribs and substantial bleeding from his fall into the orchestra pit
Questions are being raised as to why producers of the $65million production continue to allow the troubled show to go on.
The multi-million dollar show is the most expensive in Broadway history by a large margin. It even features music and lyrics by Bono and The Edge from rock band U2.
Veteran Rent leading man Adam Pascal blasted the producer of the show Julie Taymore.
'They should put Julie Taymore in jail for assault. I hope [Tierney is ok and sues the s*** out of Julie, Bono, Edge and every other a**hole who invested in that steaming pile of actor crippling s***'.
The doors of the acrobatic show may now never open after some investors called for the production to be closed permanently to avoid future accidents.
'This is a disaster', one investor told The New York Post. 'We should cut our losses and just get out'.
Producers have cancelled today's matinee performance to make changes to safety procedures but said the scheduled preview performances would resume tonight.
The latest incident took place seven minutes from the end of the show as love interest Mary Jane ran up a ramp and was followed by the stunt double, clad in a Spider-Man costume.
The harness for the actress playing Mary Jane held, but the stunt man's did not.
Audience member Mike James said: 'I'm pretty sure that wasn't supposed to happen - this guy topples off the stage ass over teakettle'.
He said everyone sat in stunned silence as the empty harness swung over the seats in the first couple of rows.
Then someone started screaming, 'Call 911'.
Jonathan Dealwis, a tourist from New Zealand, told reporters: 'it just went black, and the producer came on and said we're going to pause for a moment. You could hear Mary Jane weeping.'
Stable: The actor is said to be in 'serious condition' and is under observation in hospital
Concern: Audience members rushed outside to witness the actor being carried away
The musical has been besieged by problems from the very start, with critics rubbishing the show and the opening delayed by four weeks for artistic overhaul.
This is the fourth injury of members of the cast since previews began last month. A dancer reportedly suffered broken bones during an accident and actor Kevin Aubin broke both his wrists in a stunt during rehearsals.
And actress Natalie Mendoza suffered a concussion during the shows performance on December 2.
She has not resumed her work on the show and yesterday posted on her Twitter page: 'Please pray with me for my friend Chris, my superhero who quietly inspires me everyday with his spirit. A light in my heart went dim tonight'.
Star connection: Rock band U2 wrote music and lyrics to the show, billed as the most expensive on Broadway
The
New York State Department of Labor visited the theatre yesterday
to investigate the latest accident.
The Actors' Equity Association last night said an initial probe found Mr Tierney's accident 'was in fact human error', but they did not elaborate, according to the New York Post.
Tierney was transported to hospital on a gurney following the incident, where he remains in a serious condition.
Spokesman for the production, Rick Miramontez said: 'All signs were good as he was taken to the hospital for observation'.
The show, at Foxwood Theatre in New York, is in previews and due to officially open on February 7.
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