Press Association
NEW YORK —The troubled Broadway musical Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark was plagued by its fourth accident since it began previews last month when an actor performing an aerial stunt fell about 30 feet, fire officials said.
Firefighters were called to the Foxwoods Theatre after the 31-year-old actor fell near the end of the latest preview performance. He was taken to Bellevue Hospital with minor injuries, police said.
Police did not release the actor’s name, but a performer in the show identified him as Christopher Tierney. A nurse at Bellevue Hospital said that a Christopher Tierney was admitted and was in stable condition, but would not provide details.
Actress Natalie Mendoza, who plays Spider-Man’s evil love interest Arachne and was herself injured during the show’s first preview last month, posted a Twitter message asking people to pray for the actor.
“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.”
Tierney is the show’s main aerialist and performs stunts for the roles of Spider-Man, and the villains Meeks and Kraven.
He fell during a scene in which Spider-Man rescues his love interest, Mary Jane, but managed to land on his feet, the performer said. It was unclear if the actor was properly harnessed before the accident.
Rick Miramontez, a spokesman for the production, said the fall happened about seven minutes before the end of the performance, and the show was stopped. “All signs were good as he was taken to the hospital for observation,” Miramontez said.
The 65 million dollar musical was conceived by Tony Award-winning director and co-writer Julie Taymor and U2’s Bono and The Edge, who wrote the music.
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