Actress Natalie Mendoza has dropped out of Broadway's troubled "Spider-Man" musical - one month after suffering a concussion during a preview show. Mendoza, who played villainess Arachne in "Spider-Man: Turn off The Dark", was hit in the head with a weighted rope during the production's first preview performance last month, on November 28.
She returned three days later but took another two weeks off after suffering nausea and a headache. Understudy America Olivo took over the role.
The actress recently hinted at her departure in posts on her Twitter.com blog, writing "Can feel a trip to India coming on & visiting my magic little orphanage Ramana's Garden in Rishikesh. Raising funds as we speak. Be the change." She returned three days later but took another two weeks off after suffering nausea and a headache. Understudy America Olivo took over the role.
The New York Times reports Mendoza's representatives and "Spider-Man" producers have been negotiating an exit agreement for days. Mendoza is one of four actors who have suffered injuries during onstage mishaps in the $65 million (GBP43.3 million) production, and she is not the first star to leave the show. Earlier this year, both Alan Cumming, who was set to play the villainous Green Goblin, and Evan Rachel Wood, cast as Spider-Man's leading lady Mary Jane, quit, citing scheduling difficulties.
All parties involved in Mendoza's departure have refused to comment on the report.