Quick Takes: Retuning Broadway’s ‘Spider-Man’

Broadway’s trouble-plagued “Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark” has hired Paul Bogaev, a veteran musical director, to work with U2’s Bono and the Edge to improve the quality of music on the $65-million show.

Bogaev was musical director on Andrew Lloyd Webber’s “Starlight Express” and “Sunset Boulevard.” He has a history of working with rock musicians who are crafting musicals, including “Tarzan” with Phil Collins and “Aida” with Elton John.

“Spider-Man” is set to open March 15. It has been delayed several times, had a main actress quit and numerous accidents have left several actors hospitalized.

—Associated Press

Cirque to dip toes in Russia

Cirque du Soleil will invest a record $57 million in a new show in Moscow next year to test the waters for a possible permanent show in Russia by 2015, its president said Monday.

“Zarkana” is Cirque du Soleil’s first new show in Russia and will be the most expensive non-permanent show the company has made, Daniel Lamarre told reporters.

“‘Zarkana,’ for us, is a test to see if the market can bear a permanent show,” Lamarre said. “[The show] will tell me much more about the clientele in Moscow. If we have the success that I think we will have, this will definitely confirm the means for a permanent presence.”

—Reuters

Smithsonian is game for voters

The Smithsonian American Art Museum is asking the public to help select video games that will be included in its first exhibit to explore the art and visual effects of gaming.

The exhibit, “The Art of Video Games,” is scheduled to open in March 2012 with a focus on the evolution of games as an artistic medium over the last 40 years.

The public can vote among 240 candidates at https://www.artofvideogames.org through April 7. The games on the site were chosen for their graphic appeal, artistic intent and innovative game designs.

The winning games will be displayed at the museum next year as screen shots or short video clips.

—Associated Press

Taylor Swift fever spreads

Wrapping up the Asian leg of her world tour, Taylor Swift is relishing her growing international appeal as the singer-songwriter steadily gains fans outside the United States with her combination of confessional lyrics and country sound.

Shortly before taking the stage at Hong Kong’s AsiaWorld-Expo arena late Monday, the 21-year-old received a long line of Universal Music executives from across Asia who presented her with platinum sales plaques. Swift’s previous album, “Fearless,” sold 400,000 copies in the region.

Her latest release, “Speak Now,” is also performing well, achieving platinum status in Taiwan, South Korea, Indonesia and the Philippines.

“I love country music, and I love the fact that it’s being accepted all over the world. That is so exciting for me,” Swift said in an interview.

—Associated Press

Bieber film to add new footage

Only hours after Justin Bieber trimmed his trademark bangs for a video shoot Monday, Paramount announced plans to release a new version of Jon M. Chu’s 10-day-old documentary, “Never Say Never,” which follows Bieber on his recent concert tour.

For one week only, beginning Friday, the studio is releasing a version containing 40 new minutes of footage. The movie’s running time will only be extended by 10 minutes, however, because about half an hour from the version released Feb. 11 will be cut.

The new movie will run in place of all 3-D screenings of the original, so fans will have to pay a premium to see the added scenes. The older version will continue to screen in 2-D.

The release is a ploy to capitalize on the interest of Bieber’s rabid fan base. Concert films don’t traditionally have a long shelf life, and a quick turnaround re-release is a way to keep the momentum going.

—Amy Kaufman

Larry King to sit with Morgan

CNN said Monday that Larry King would be a guest this week on “Piers Morgan Tonight,” which replaced “Larry King Live” in December, setting up a face-to-face showdown between the former talk show host and the man who succeeded him.

CNN did not say what day the program would air.

The announcement came only days after King, 77, told the BBC that Morgan may have been “oversold” to U.S. audiences when his show replaced King’s in January.

—Reuters