Injured stuntman takes legal action against Broadway’s ‘Spider-Man’

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The web of legal woes grows for ‘Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark.’

A ‘Spidey’ stuntman has filed court papers seeking information about the death-defying stunts performed in the Broadway mega-musical -- a legal move that could mark the prelude to a lawsuit.

Richard Kobak claims he was injured while performing the show’s many aerial acrobatics, and the production was slow to take action to fix safety equipment.

In an affidavit filed with the New York Supreme Court, Kobak claims in one such incident he was left with whiplash, a concussion and herniated discs in his back after an airborne stunt gone wrong slammed him face-first into a wall.

The accident-prone production, which opened in June, has seen plenty of crash landings. About a half dozen performers were injured during the rehearsals and previews.

This is not the only legal action for the production. Julie Taymor, the show’s original director and co-creator, is suing producers for copyright issues. Producers have countersued the ousted director for breach of contract.

Despite the troubled backstory, the production, which was $70 million in the making, has done well at the box office -- often ranking among Broadway’s top-selling shows. And the Tonys could boost the show’s onstage presence now that it’s eligible for awards.

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--Jamie Wetherbe