'Spider-Man' Musical Going Through 'Trial By Fire,' Julie Taymor Says

To say "Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark" has had its share of problems is to say "Avatar" was fairly successful or "The Twilight Saga" is moderately popular. It seems that anything that could possibly have gone wrong with the show has. There have been delays, injuries, bad reviews, script issues and actors leaving, and all before the show has officially opened. Fortunately, the preview shows are selling out across the board, but the musical is struggling and director Julie Taymor knows it.

The Tony-winning director hasn't made a public statement about the problems in production since aerialist and stunt double Christopher Tierney was severely injured back in December. But during the TED2011 conference in Long Beach, California, on Wednesday, Taymor discussed the current state of the musical with an audience of more than 1,000 people.

"I am in the crucible right now. It is my trial by fire. It's my company's trial by fire. We have survived because our theme song is 'Rise Above,' " Taymor said, according to The New York Times.

"Anyone who creates knows — when it's not quite there. Where it hasn't quite become the phoenix or the burnt char. And I am right there," she added.

At the moment, the show runners are deciding whether to continue with the planned March 15 opening or delay the musical for a sixth time. Lead actress T.V. Carpio talked to MTV News about the constant changes going on behind the scenes of the show and how she refuses to give in to the negative thoughts pressing on "Turn Off the Dark" from the outside. Both she and Taymor seem to feel that the musical is on the precipice of greatness, and they have the faith to continue on until it reaches that goal.

"It's right there in the palm of my hands," Taymor said. "In all of my company's hands. I have beautiful collaborators. We as collaborators only get there all together. I know you understand that. You stay there going forward and you see this extraordinary thing right in front of your eyes."

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