Quick Takes: ‘Spider-Man’ musical fights on

Like a superhero after a bad beat-down, the Broadway musical starring Spider-Man has dusted itself off and is fighting back against perhaps its greatest nemesis — its own complications.

After the first preview performance Sunday, in which “Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark” had to be halted five times because of technical glitches, two subsequent shows have each been stopped only once.

“We’ve worked out 80% of our bugs,” says lead producer Michael Cohl. “We’re way ahead of the game.”

But the show will have to go on at least through the weekend without actress Natalie Mendoza, who has been sidelined after being hit in the head by a rope during the first preview. Mendoza, who plays Spider-Man’s evil love interest Arachne, will be out “for a brief period” but remains with the production, Rick Miramontez, a spokesman for the show, said Friday.

Cohl said the reported $65-million megashow will open as planned Jan. 11 at the Foxwoods Theatre.

—Associated Press

‘Dora’ actress drops lawsuit

A teenage actress has dropped her claim that Nickelodeon massively underpaid her for lending her voice to the plucky cartoon heroine of “Dora the Explorer,” and the network said Friday she would do some more work on the pioneering children’s show.

Caitlin Sanchez agreed to dismiss her lawsuit against the network and its corporate parents last month, federal court records show. Nickelodeon said Friday that Caitlin would finish some future episodes. It declined to say how many or otherwise detail its arrangement with the Fairview, N.J., teen. Caitlin’s lawyer, John Balestriere, would say only that the lawsuit was withdrawn after discussions.

Caitlin’s lawsuit accused family-oriented Nickelodeon of cheating a “hardworking” high school student out of millions of dollars. The network at one point said the 14-year-old, who took over the role in 2007, had vocally outgrown her perennially 7-year-old character.

—Associated Press

Israeli conductor supports Wagner

Israeli conductor Daniel Barenboim says the perception of composer Richard Wagner is unjustly influenced by the fact he was Hitler’s favorite composer.

“We need one day to liberate Wagner of all this weight,” Barenboim told reporters in Milan Friday. He is conducting Wagner’s “Die Walküre” for the gala premiere of La Scala’s season next week.

“I think a bit of the problem with Wagner isn’t what we all know in Israel, anti-Semitism, etc. It is how the Nazis and Hitler saw Wagner as his own prophet.... This association with Nazism conditions the way in which many people see Wagner today.”

Barenboim said Wagner, who died in 1883, was politically on the left and could not have foreseen the Nazi Holocaust that killed 6 million Jews in World War II.

—Times Wire Services

Norris named honorary ranger

There’s only one man tough enough to take down “Walker, Texas Ranger.” And that’s Chuck Norris, Texas Ranger.

The 70-year-old actor and martial-arts expert was named an honorary member of the elite Texas law enforcement force Thursday by Texas Gov. Rick Perry, a nod to the television character that enshrined Norris as the ultimate tough guy.

The television show, in which Norris played karate-kicking lawman Cordell Walker, ran on CBS from 1993 to 2001.

Norris’ younger brother, 59-year-old stunt coordinator and producer Aaron Norris, who supported him during his career, also received the honorary Texas Ranger designation.

“Together they helped elevate our Texas Rangers to truly mythical status,” Perry said.

—Associated Press

’ The Godfather’ mansion for sale

The eight-bedroom New York City mansion used in the 1972 mobster epic “The Godfather” is for sale.

FOR THE RECORD:
“The Godfather” mansion: A Quick Takes item in the Dec. 4 Calendar about the offering for sale of a mansion used in the movie “The Godfather” described the New York property as a 4-acre estate. Connie Profaci Realty, which is selling the site, said the property is about half an acre. —

The owners of the Staten Island home are asking $2.9 million — or an offer they can’t refuse.

The movie was directed by Francis Ford Coppola. It starred Marlon Brando, Al Pacino and Robert Duvall. Scenes were filmed inside and outside the 4-acre estate, which features two fireplaces, a basement pub and a four-car garage.

Owner James Norton said his mother kept many artifacts from the movie, including Brando’s cue cards.

Realtor Connie Profaci says it needs some work, but the family is betting on the house’s history as a selling point.

—Associated Press

Finally

Guest stars: “CBS Evening News” anchor Katie Couric will appear as herself in an episode of “Glee” scheduled to air after the Super Bowl.... Jeremy Irons will play a sex therapist on an episode of NBC’s “Law & Order: Special Victims Unit.”