Spider-Man Hit With Safety Violations

Julie Taymor's Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark has run into more obstacles: The New York State Department of Labor has issued two safety violations against the stunt-heavy musical that has caused serious injuries amongst its cast members. An anonymous state official told The New York Times that the safety violations were related to accidents last year. One involved an actor who fell 35 feet during a performance and suffered a skull fracture and cracked vertebrae; the other was related to two performers injured while rehearsing a scene during which cast members are catapulted from the back to the front of the stage. The official said the Department of Labor has not issued financial penalties on the production, but will perform surprise inspections from now on. Producers have 60 days to appeal the Labor Department's findings.