Most expensive theatre production on Broadway

“Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark”, the musical based on the legendary comic superhero, is the most expensive production in the history of the theatre. As of 14 June 2011, the show’s record cost climbed to $75 million, the largest investment ever for not only a Broadway production but for the West End or anywhere in the world where there has ever been a stage. The total expense was triple the previous record of some $25 million set by another musical based on yet another animated character, “Shrek”. (The cost of “Shrek”, as cited in the NY Times, is footnoted below. “Shrek’s” producers would never confirm the cost of the show, only saying the total was less than $25 million. “Spider-Man” had its “official” opening on 14 June 2011 at The Foxwoods Theatre on Broadway, just steps away from Times Square, right in the heart of New York’s theatre district - but only after a full rewrite, new director, new songs, and more than six months of previews. (See record for most previews for a Broadway show.) Despite what may seem to be insurmountable heights to be scaled, the show’s producers still expect to turn a profit, although it may take years. In fact, “Spider-Man” has already set the record for the highest weekly gross for a Broadway show (some $2.7 million), but this record will inevitably be broken again by “Spider-Man” or another hit show like “Wicked” or “The Lion King” before the GWR deadline so it is placed here for background for the editors only.