So this is interesting…

Apparently, despite the fact that Spider-Man: The Musical can’t seem to get off the ground on Broadway, DC is going to push forward with a new BATMAN LIVE production, but (sadly) not a musical.  Apparently, we won’t be hearing ol’ Bats belting out “A superstitious cowardly looooootttt!”

According to Robot 6, “he multimillion-dollar production uses 45 performers, a 100-foot stage and a 130-foot-wide video screen to recreate such Gotham City locations as Wayne Manor, the Batcave and Arkham Asylum.”

According to the Belfast Telegraph, the show opens with an Arkham jailbreak and pits Batman and Robin against such villains as the Joker — a 26-foot giant Joker head is somehow involved — Catwoman, the Riddler, Penguin, Two-Face and Harley Quinn. But at the story’s core is Dick Grayson’s transformation from traumatized orphan to Boy Wonder, and how Batman relates to his new sidekick.

I’ve got to be honest…despite the fact this the very existence of both a Spider-Man musical and a Batman live show remind me of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Coming Out of Their Shells live show (which I saw), it’s got me wondering…is there an audience for this kind of stuff?

I mean, sure…I’ll go if it comes out anywhere near here, but it seems to me that, given the high production values, these shows are going to price  themselves out of the family bracket.  I don’t anticipate many families dishing out $50-$75 (prices haven’t been announced yet – just a guess) per person to see a live action stunt show that more than likely won’t feature the best acting.  Even Disney on Ice tickets are about $20/person, and they offer family deals.  But they don’t sound anywhere near as elaborate as these.

I’m not trying to be a naysayer…as I said, I’ll see both if I can (though I’m worried that Spider-Man will go the way of Lestat, and be booted from Broadway before I can see it), and I hate to compare them to something like Disney on Ice, when they’re obviously more elaborate productions than that.  I just really am left confused as to what type of money they’re expecting to make off of something like this, in this economic times.

What do you guys think?