Spider-Man’s Natalie Mendoza May Exit Production

Natalie Mendoza, who plays Spider-Man, Turn Off the Dark villainess Arachne, is in negotiations to exit the production, according to The New York Times.

Mendoza suffered a concussion during the show’s first preview on November 28 and missed a number of performances before returning to the show on December 15. However, she has not performed since December 20 due to a doctors’ ordered vocal rest.

Should Mendoza permanently leave the production, the role of Arachne will likely be played by America Olivo, who has been going on in Mendoza’s place since the original accident. The role was also played by T.V. Carpio at a recent performance.

Mendoza is best known for her role on the U.K. TV show Hotel Babylon. Her film credits include Moulin Rouge, The Descent, The Descent Part 2, Code 46 and The Great Raid. She has appeared on stage in Romeo and Juliet at the Sydney Opera House and in Les Miserables. Spider-Man marks her Broadway debut.

Spider-Man, Turn off the Dark features a score by U2’s Bono and The Edge and a book by Julie Taymor and Glen Berger. Reeve Carney stars as the title webslinger alongside Jennifer Damiano as Mary Jane Watson and Patrick Page as Norman Oswald/The Green Goblin. It is scheduled to open on February 7, 2011.