Monday, February 28, 2011

Rehearsals are in full swing

Hey everyone.  It's Justin.  I've got another video update.  This one is a little longer.  It spans a couple of rehearsals, the first music rehearsal and a blocking rehearsal.  Also, as per some requests, I have a video from the creative process... as the creative process takes place at terribly awkward hours via ichat sometimes, this is a great example of just how unattractive writing a musical can be... but it's still really fun and worth it... even if I look like I might be certifiably insane.

Now that rehearsals are in full swing, between directing and trying to organize all the amazing volunteers for the technical stuff, I'm giving blog-access to some of the crew to update you as well.  Some of you may be interested in other aspects of this process and with a few of us dropping updates maybe we can better satisfy your appetites. 

Also also, if any of you have any questions about the development process, or what we're doing, or anything like that, feel free to comment these videos.  I can't guarantee that we'll be able to answer all your questions... (because of the ticking deadline immediately to the right) but hey, maybe we can try!

Again, thank you so much for your support!  But don't stop spreading the word now, tell your friends' cousins.

Sunday, February 27, 2011

A Friendly Neighborhood Hi from Jon Roufaeal

Hey Everybody,
Jon Roufaeal here, co-writer on the book & lyrics for “The Spidey Project: With Great Power Comes Great Responsibility.”  I just wanted to take a second to introduce myself and thank all of you who have been supporting this show.  I have been blown away by all the people who have  offered their time and talents to make this thing become a reality: from actors to musicians, writers, set-designers, lighting people, sound people, lawyers (seriously), choreographers, publicity people and all the fans of Spider-Man, musical theater or both who have been spreading the word.  
As of today, we’re deep into music rehearsals - and the cast sounds great together.  Adam and Doug, the two composers, have written some really fantastic songs - Peter Parker especially gets some epic moments that I can’t wait for people to hear.  
I’ll be adding to this blog along with Justin - between the two of us we should be able to get updates on here pretty regularly.  More to come real soon...Bye all!

Friday, February 25, 2011

Any scenic designers/painters wanna get down?

We're still looking for a few more volunteers with some sick artistic ability to help draw/paint scenery.  To any who have volunteered on this front already, we’ll be contacting you shortly.  If you’re interested in drawing/painting some comic-booky scapes on large pieces of cardboard just drop us an email at thespideyproject [at] gmail [dotcom] and put something scenic design related in the subject line.  If you have links to portfolios stick ‘em in the email, we love checking out awesome artwork.

Thursday, February 24, 2011

The Table Reading

Hey everyone.  Now the cast is in place, I want to thank everyone who submitted resumes and sweet youtube links!  There was an incredible amount of talent both vocal and comedic.  I'm sorry I wasn't able to reply to everyone who submitted, there were just so many of you and my precious seconds keep ticking away, but you guys are awesome!  And thanks again!

Here's a quick glimpse into the first rehearsal, and a brief introduction to the cast. This was the first time anyone besides us has read the script or heard any of the score.  It was an exciting night, things are moving along.

Monday, February 21, 2011

Update Video 3

We've got the script entirely done, the score is nearly complete too. Rehearsals start Wednesday, we're just waiting to hear back from our last few potential cast members. The board is set up, the pieces are moving.

Now that the creative development is done, on to the next chunk of hard work. As far as the videos go, we're gonna start heading out and recording in rehearsals and meetings and things, so no more of my tiny spare bedroom with a green screen.

Some FAQs

Updated 2/24

Hey everyone, amid the many fantastic emails I've been receiving from volunteers and supporters there have been a few questions that keep popping up, so I figured it would be easier for me to answer them in one blanket post here instead of a bunch of different emails.

How can I get tickets?
Tickets will be available in the coming weeks from the PIT's website, keep an eye here and we'll let you know just when.


We can confirm that all tickets will be completely FREE!  A special thanks to Jeff Lapine and the PIT for waiving all costs to everyone!  Since online tickets will probably go fairly quickly, they'll also hold about 20 seats at the door so anyone who can't get tickets online can try there.

Also, the performance date (and ONLY performance date) is Monday, March 14th.  Put it in your planners!

Can I play Mary Jane?
Bad news ladies (and some dude with flowing red hair) there is no Mary Jane in this musical. This story pre-dates her a bit.

Can I play Julie Taymor?
Bad news on this front too, there is no character based on her. This musical isn't about her specifically or her production, just a great musical about a hero we all know and love.

Are you comicbook fans?
I used to be a Spider-Man fanboy especially of the cartoon, until I started in on this I hadn't reread the early comics in years... though I did recently play though 'Ultimate Spider-Man' for the Gamecube. My co-author, Jon Roufaeal, is a huge comic nerd and was much more familiar with (and a stickler for) all the details than I was. The result is something we feel is a true homage to the comics, but creative and unique to what we are trying to do.

Are you serious?
Yup, totally.

There's a hyphen in Spider-Man?
Shh! You want us to get sued!?

Wait… so, is it a parody or not?
Yup! Absolutely. But like we said, it’s not specifically a parody of JT or SM:TOtD; we’d leave that to Forbidden Broadway... if only... 

Thursday, February 17, 2011

Smackdown Update - 2/17

We have a venue locked down. The scoring has begun. Rehearsals start next week. Here's a bunch more details!

Press Release

‘Spiderman Smackdown’ Project Aims to Launch Original Spiderman Musical on $0 Budget One Day Before $65 Million Broadway Production


Feb. 16 2011, New York, NY: ____ Veteran humorist and playwright, Justin Moran, launches “Spiderman Smackdown”, a guerilla theatre project to write, rehearse, and perform a fully realized musical based on the character Spiderman in under 30 days with a budget of $0. Set to open one day before the $65 Million Broadway musical “Spiderman: Turn Off the Dark”, Moran’s musical will be the first Spiderman Musical to officially open in New York City.

Moran has launched a blog (thespideyproject.blogspot.com) and YouTube page to promote the project and to enlist a troupe of volunteer writers, designers and actors. “How important is $65 Million in making good theatre?” jokes Moran. “We’re going to develop a story, write a complete musical score and script, design sets and costumes, cast, rehearse, advertise and ultimately mount the production on March 14th, 2011 at the The People’s Improv Theatre in NYC.”

Moran is collaborating with writer Jon Roufaeal on the story and book, based on the origin story from “the Amazing Spiderman” comic books, and has brought on composers Adam Podd (POPE! the Musical, ImgineOcean) and Doug Katsaros (Broadway's Hair; The Rocky Horror Show; Grammy nominated Footloose; TV's The Tick) to write and arrange the score. “The outpouring of volunteers in these first 4 days has been overwhelming,” says Moran, “and I am extremely confident in the level of talent that is going into creating this completely original Spiderman Musical.”

Justin Moran is no stranger to new thinking in creative theatre production. He is a resident writer and performer with two improv comedy groups at The Magnet Theatre in NYC, and his original musical, “POPE! The Musical” (Fringe Festival NYC 2010 Winner: Outstanding Music and Lyrics) which he wrote the book and lyrics for played off-Broadway at the Lucille Lortell Theatre in 2010. The Spidey Project will open at the People's Improv Theater (the PIT, 123 East 24th St), March 14th, 2011.

To find out more on the project or volunteer your creativity, visit http://thespideyproject.blogspot.com.

Monday, February 14, 2011

Smackdown Update

Making haste. The creative team is fully assembled, the script/libretto is well underway, and a venue is secured. I'm still hoping to find a larger venue, but I know that I'm really lucky to have been given a free venue in NYC at all, it's a 50 seat theater on 30th street. More on it soon.

Thank you to all the composers who volunteered their time! I figured it would be best to go with only two, those are Adam Podd and Doug Katsaros. More on those guys soon too.

Another thank you to all you authors who support the cause and wanted to get involved. I was only planning on working with one writing partner on this, but I'm amazed that so many out there were so interested! I'm writing the book/lyrics with a classy gentleman named Jon Roufaeal, more on us soon... But here's the newest video. Keep spreading the word, and fighting the good fight!

Saturday, February 12, 2011

Spiderman Smackdown - 2/11/11

I released this video yesterday. An explosion of action after some pent up musical-theater rage... I am totally serious about it. The support and response it has been getting is tremendous! The amount of you who believe in the project and want to volunteer your time is inspiring. I've been in touch with some of you already, and I will be in touch with more. I'm trying to get things done as swiftly as possible (obviously with the time constraint) but if you haven't heard back from me, don't worry, it's likely I'm just not at the right step of the project yet.

Keep reposting and sharing with your friends, and I will keep everyone posted on the progress.