Julie Taymor to ‘Spider-Man’ Producers: Pay Up!

The Stage Directors and Choreographers Society says that producers of the problem-plagued Broadway musical have failed to pay royalties to Julie Taymor, the show’s original director

Producers of Broadway's "Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark" have yet another problem on their hands: The union representing the original director filed a claim Thursday morning saying producers owe Julie Taymor about $300,000.

Although Taymor is credited as "original director" in the playbill, she has received no royalties.

"We intend to get Julie paid for the work that she has done and for the ongoing use of her directorial work," Laura Penn, executive director of the Stage Directors and Choreographers Society, told TheWrap Thursday.

A spokesman for the producers declined comment.

Penn told TheWrap that Taymor received a $125,000 fee a little more than five years ago and has been paid nothing since.

Standard practice is for directors to receive such a fee. Most of their payment comes from royalties once the play opens for previews. It did so Nov. 28.

"She should have gotten royalties starting November 28," Penn said.

Taymor also is an author of the play — and hasn't received royalties for her work writing the show.

The show's producers, Michael Cohl and Jeremiah J. Harris, issued a statement in March saying that Taymor would no longer be directing.

Also Read: 'Spider Man's' Troubled Road to Broadway

"The additional time commitment required by this new plan will make it impossible for director and co-book writer Julie Taymor to continue on in her day-to-day duties with the production," they said, adding, "Julie Taymor is not leaving the creative team."

The rest of their statement implied that they would continue using her work:

"Her vision has been at the heart of this production since its inception and will continue to be so. Julie's previous commitments mean that past March 15th, she cannot work the 24/7 necessary to make the changes in the production in order to be ready for our opening."

The musical, featuring music by U2's Bono and The Edge, has been plagued by troubles. In December 2010, an actor Christopher Tierney fractured his skull in an accident, and the show's opening night has been delayed several times. 

Taymor also directed, wrote and produced the 2010 "The Tempest." Her production of "The Magic Flute" is among the most successful ever at New York's Metropolitan Opera.

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