After winding its way through the courts for almost a year, and with a trial date set for early 2013, the case, currently in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York, was ordered terminated by Judge Katherine B. Forrest, with each side to pay its own legal costs.
However, any of the litigating parties has the option of reopening the matter with written notice to the court within the next 60 days. Specific terms of the settlement have not yet been disclosed.
Spider-Man had been plagued by numerous production problems since it opened, including cost overruns, injuries to performers, a continually extended preview period, and widespread criticism in the press. In response to these issues, the producers decided to make some major changes to the show, with the result being that Taymor and the production parted company.
The show recently celebrated its 500th performance at Broadway's Foxwoods Theatre where it continues to report strong ticket sales.
Off Stage - Shrek the Musical will close at the Theatre Royal Drury Lane in February after a run of 19 months. Bill Damaschke, chief creative officer for DreamWorks Animation, and producer of Shrek, said, "When we moved in to Theatre Royal, Drury Lane in March 2011 we knew that it would be the perfect home for Shrek the Musical and so it has proved to be. Joining an illustrious list of new musicals that have played this venue is a source of pride for me personally, and for the whole transatlantic team that works on the show every day."
Folk News - BBC Four Television will broadcast an evening of programmes celebrating the forty-fifth anniversary of Fairport Convention, Britain's best-known folk rock band. The screening is scheduled for Friday 14 September with the first programme going out at 9pm.
Highlight of the evening will be a 60-minute documentary titled Who Knows Where The Time Goes? It will chart the band's career from their earliest days in north London to their current status as the most enduring and popular act on the UK folk scene. Formed in 1967 and championed by John Peel, Fairport Convention not only pioneered the genre of British folkrock but became the musical cradle for such major talents as Richard Thompson and Sandy Denny.
(Jim Evans)
