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How Spider-Man Spent $75M

$9 million on sets, costumes alone

By Matt Cantor, Newser Staff

Posted Jun 23, 2011 2:17 PM CDT

(Newser) – Amid injuries, delays, and firings, Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark has managed to eat through $75 million, New York state financial statements reveal. To put that in perspective: The play The Book of Mormon cost $9 million, reports the New York Times. Here’s where some of the money—and time—has gone:

$4 million to rent the theater for two years before opening (most shows need it just months in advance)
$9 million on sets, costumes, and, er, shoes

$8 million borrowed to renovate the theater
$6 million to stagehands
$1.2 million a week in operating costs
$1 million to lawyers
Nine years in development

“The bad news is that it was very expensive,” says a top producer. But “the good news is that we will not quit and we will make this a success and that’s that.” Click through for a detailed Spider-Man cost report.

Patrick Page, right, Jennifer Damiano and Reeve Carney appear onstage at the curtain call for the opening night performance of "Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark” in New York, Tuesday, June 14, 2011. (AP Photo/Charles Sykes)

Julie Taymor and Bono appear onstage at the curtain call for the opening night performance of the Broadway musical "Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark" in New York, Tuesday, June 14, 2011. (AP Photo/Charles Sykes)

Fans watch the arrivals at the opening night performance of the Broadway musical "Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark" in New York, Tuesday, June 14, 2011. (AP Photo/Charles Sykes)

Spider-Men react to audience applause during the curtain call for "Spider-Man: Turn Off The Dark" at the Foxwoods Theatre in New York. (AP Photo/Tina Fineberg)

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How Spider-Man Spent $75M

$9 million on sets, costumes alone

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Spidey Musical Finally Opens

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More flying stunts, clearer love story hope to save show

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