BY THE ELECTRIC RAZOR

Spidey is coming to MSUM. The MSUM theatre department is working with students of the science department for this year’s spring musical.

“Spider-Man: Turn Off The Dark ” was taken off Broadway after its brief stint because of the dangerous nature of the production. While performing fl ying stunts, actors portraying the beloved webslinger broke a plethora of bones and probably even died.

With the help of the science department, MSUM will be the fi rst company able to produce the show using actual super powers.

For the last few months, theatre sophomore Elliott Heerman, who will play the role ofSpidey, has been taking the FDA approved drug “Araneaerrhage” which was developed by students of the science department. This drug was created specifi cally for the purpose of giving him symptoms such as web-slinging abilities, super strength, the ability to climb walls, superhuman refl exes and agility and, of course, the famous Spider-Sense.

“I’ve been training to use these powers for months,” Heerman said. “It’s been really fun.”

While Heerman is having a good time, he knows that having powers such as these is not all fun and games.

“With great power comes great responsibility,” he said. “The powers are for the show. I am supposed to just use them for training during rehearsals.”

Heerman’s powers, being meerly symptoms of the drug, will only be available for him until the show is over.

“We tested it on a wide variety of animals.” Beth Bellows, one of the chemistry seniors that developed the drug said. “In all of the subjects, the symptoms wore off after a week of not taking the pills.”

Jeremy Jelipson, another student who worked with Bellows, confirmed her statement.

“We only made enough pills to last Elliott through the show’s end,” he said. “It just wouldn’t be fair to anyone to give one person superhuman powers for life. It’s just for the play.”

The show opens at 7:30 p.m. on April 17 on the Hansen stage. Tickets are $35 for non-students and $20 for students.

“We realize that ticket prices are somewhat expensive,” Tiffany Tallonson, a box offi ce associate said. “But people need to realize that this is a once in a lifetime experience.”
According to Tallonson, ticket sales will also go to help pay off damages Heerman
caused during his training.

“In the movies they make it seem so easy,” Heerman said. “But it’s really not. It’s fun,
but, jeez, to go from being an ordinary kid to all of a sudden being able to shoot stuff out
of your wrists? It’s hard to control.”

Overall, all the students and faculty involved in this production are excited for it to open.

“My spider-senses are tingling,” Heerman said.