'Spider-Man' Musical Star Talks Production Delays And Fighting Fear

"Things are constantly changing. It's a very creative process," T.V. Carpio told, explaining the seemingly ever-shifting nature of "Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark."

For some observers on the outside looking in, that might come off as spin, an "it's all good" mentality meant to calm the public while inside the musical's playhouse, "Spider-Man" continues to struggle to find its creative footing. But to Carpio, it's all part of the inspirational process of working with Julie Taymor, the visionary behind the "Lion King" musical and films like 2007's "Across the Universe."

"You have to be down to jump, because Julie is always having these crazy visions," said Carpio, who took on the role of the villainess Arachne after the original actress left the production. "She's amazing like that, and you just have to go with it."

Still, there's no doubting that the cast of "Turn Off the Dark" has had a lot to just go with. From multiple delays in the show's official Broadway debut to highly publicized safety issues and injuries, the musical is being buzzed about for all the wrong reasons. Recent reports suggest fresh behind-the-scenes talent is being welcomed into the fold.

Carpio, however, denied reports that Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa, a playwright and comics writer, has been hired to work on script issues. "I haven't heard anything about a writer joining us. Whenever they do change anything, they make an announcement to the cast," she said. "They told us that all the rumors, if we haven't been told about them, aren't true."

The cast has been working closely with musical supervisor Paul Bogaev, one of Taymor's longtime collaborators, to enhance various musical numbers. "There aren't any new songs," Carpio said. "Paul's just working with the songs we already have. Yesterday, he helped write a new part for my monologue in the second act. And we put in a new flight. He's just another set of outside eyes helping sculpt what's already there. But he is the only new one who's actually there and working.

"Although it's new, because he hasn't worked on 'Spider-Man' all along, Julie works with a lot of the same people," she added. "The family we have working on the music -- the choreographers, dancers, actors -- is sort of like the family from 'Across the Universe.' It didn't feel crazy, like, 'Who's this guy?' It was like, 'Oh hey, Paul!' "

Through all the changes, Carpio said she's kept anxiety at bay -- the original Arachne, Natalie Mendoza, dropped out after suffering a concussion during a high-flying stunt -- and focused on the task at hand: delivering an entertaining Broadway experience.

"To give the kind of performance you want to give, there's no room for fear. There's always adrenaline, but it's not about fear. You just have to trust you can do it," she said. "I don't care about what goes on outside. I can't control what people say; I can only control my performance. That's the only thing I can give."

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