Kiss of the Spider Woman (musical)
Kiss of the Spider Woman | ||
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Book Terrence McNally | | |
Basis | Kiss of the Spider Woman by Manuel Puig | |
Productions | 1990 SUNY Purchase 1992 West End 1993 Broadway | |
Awards | Tony Award for Best Musical Tony Award for Best Book of a Musical Tony Award for Best Original Score |
Kiss of the Spider Woman is a
A film adaptation starring and co-executive produced by Jennifer Lopez is currently in production.
Plot
Luis Alberto Molina, a gay window dresser, is in a prison in Argentina, serving his third year of an eight-year-sentence for corrupting a minor. He lives in a fantasy world to flee the prison life, the torture, fear and humiliation. His fantasies turn mostly around movies, particularly around a vampy diva, Aurora. He loves her in all roles, but one role scares him: the spider woman, who kills with her kiss.
One day, a new man is brought into his cell: Valentin Arregui Paz, a
Again, Valentin is tortured, again Molina has to care for him afterwards. In his fantasies, Aurora is next to him, helping him do so.
The prison director announces to Molina that his mother is very ill and that Molina will be allowed to see her on one condition: he must tell them the name of Valentin's girlfriend.
Molina tells Valentin about a man he loves, a waiter named Gabriel, who does not return his feelings, and the two men cautiously begin to bond. Only a short while afterwards, Molina gets hallucinations and cramps after knowingly eating poisoned food intended for Valentin. He is brought to the hospital ward, talking to his mother and to the Spider Woman. As Molina is brought back, Valentin starts suffering from the same symptoms, also from poisoned food. Molina is afraid that Valentin will be given substances that might make him talk and so protects Valentin from being taken to the hospital. As Molina nurses him, Valentin asks him to tell him about his movies. Molina is happy to do so; Valentin also shares his fantasies and hopes with Molina.
Molina is allowed a short telephone conversation with his mother, and he announces to Valentin that he's going to be freed for his good behaviour the next day. Valentin begs him to make a few telephone calls for him. Molina at first refuses, but Valentin persuades him with sex. Molina is brought back the next day, heavily injured. He has been caught in the telephone call, but refuses to tell whom he has phoned. The warden draws his pistol, threatening to shoot him, if he doesn't tell. Molina confesses his love to Valentin and is shot. The scene then shifts to Molina in a heaven-like world, where all of the people in his life are watching his final "movie." The Spider Woman arrives and gives her deadly kiss as the curtain falls.
Songs
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Original casts
Character | Original Toronto & West End Production | Original Broadway Production | Original National Tour |
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1992 | 1993 | 1996 | |
Aurora | Chita Rivera | ||
Molina | Brent Carver | Juan Chioran | |
Valentin | Anthony Crivello | John Dossett |
Notable Broadway replacements (1993–95)
- Aurora: María Conchita Alonso, Carol Lawrence, Vanessa Williams
- Molina: Juan Chioran, Jeff Hyslop, Howard McGillin
- Valentin: Brian Stokes Mitchell
Productions
Kiss of the Spider Woman was first staged by New Musicals, whose goal was to create, develop, and provide a working home for sixteen new musicals over four years, at the Performing Arts Center, State University of New York at Purchase in May 1990. It was directed by Harold Prince with choreography by Susan Stroman and featured John Rubinstein, Kevin Gray, Lauren Mitchell, and Harry Goz.[1] An attempt to persuade New York critics not to review this initial production (a "work in progress") failed, with Frank Rich in The New York Times arguing that it is "presented to the audience as a full-dress commercial production rather than a workshop",[2][3] followed by other critics covering the production and also filing mostly negative reviews.[4] New Musicals folded after Spider Woman.
Two years later, the producer Garth Drabinsky became involved, and in June 1992 his company, Livent, produced the show in Toronto at the Bluma Appel Theatre of the St. Lawrence Centre for the Arts. Harold Prince directed a cast that starred Brent Carver as Molina, Anthony Crivello as Valentin and Chita Rivera as Spider Woman/Aurora.[5][6] (Of the original Purchase staging, Frank Rich had written that the title role needed "a dazzling musical-comedy presence of the Chita Rivera sort who has always ignited the flashiest Kander and Ebb songs."[3]) Vincent Paterson choreographed the production assisted by Kim Blank. Keith McDaniel served as the production's dance captain and lead dancer who was featured as a dance partner to Chita Rivera in the original staging.[7]
Kiss of the Spider Woman then transferred to the
It opened on Broadway at the
The US regional theater premier took place at Masquerade Theatre in Houston, TX in May 1999. Directed and choreographed by Jim Williams, the show featured scenic and lighting design by Amy Ross and music direction by Brandon Matthews. The cast included Gina Nepoli-Holmes as Aurora, L. Jay Meyer as Molina, Pablo Bracho as Valentine, Monica Rial as Molina's Mother, Jacqui Williams as Marta, Tim Wroble as Gabriel, and Todd Porter as The Warden.
A 1996 touring version featured Chita Rivera again along with Juan Chioran as Molina and Dorian Harewood as Valentin.
It opened in Buenos Aires, Argentina at the Lola Membrives Theatre on May 2, 1995.
It opened in São Paulo, Brasil, in 2000, with Cláudia Raia and Miguel Falabella in the main roles.
A reduced production with a cast of 7 opened at The Darlinghust Theatre in Sydney, Australia on 13 July 2010. Directed and choreographed by Stephen Colyer and music directed by Craig Renshaw, the cast included Alexis Fishman (Aurora/Marta), James Lee (Molina), Frank Hansen (Valentin), Jennifer White (Molina's Mother), Wayne McDaniel (The Warden), Jim Williams (Estabon/Gabriel), and Matt Young (Marcos/Aurelio).
Upcoming film adaptation
In December 2023, Jennifer Lopez was announced to star as Aurora in a film adaptation of the musical with Bill Condon as writer and director. The independently-financed production will be executive produced by Lopez, Elaine Goldsmith-Thomas and Benny Medina through their Nuyorican Productions banner, while Barry Josephson, Tom Kirdahy, Greg Yolen and Matt Geller will serve as producers and Sergio Trujillo will choreograph the musical sequences. Upon the announcement, a casting call opened for an unknown to play the role of Molina. Filming began in March 2024 in New Jersey. In March 2024, Tony Dovolani joined the cast as a mob boss. In April 2024, Diego Luna and Tonatiuh joined the cast as Valentin and Molina respectively, with Ben Affleck and Matt Damon joining the producing team under their Artists Equity banner.[11] [12][13][14]
Reception
In his review of the Broadway production for The New York Times, Frank Rich wrote that the musical "does not meet all the high goals it borrows from Manuel Puig's novel. When it falls short, it pushes into pretentious overdrive (a "Morphine Tango", if you please) and turns the serious business of police-state torture into show-biz kitsch every bit as vacuous as the B-movie cliches parodied in its celluloid fantasies. Yet the production does succeed not only in giving Ms. Rivera a glittering spotlight but also in using the elaborate machinery of a big Broadway musical to tell the story of an uncloseted, unhomogenized, unexceptional gay man who arrives at his own heroic definition of masculinity."[15]
Awards and nominations
Original London production
Year | Award | Category | Nominee | Result |
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1993 | Laurence Olivier Award
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Best New Musical | Nominated | |
Best Actor in a Musical | Brent Carver | Nominated | ||
Best Director of a Musical | Harold Prince | Nominated | ||
Best Set Design | Jerome Sirlin | Nominated | ||
Best Lighting Design | Howell Binkley | Won |
Original Broadway production
Year | Award Ceremony | Category | Nominee | Result |
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1993 | Tony Award
|
Best Musical | Won | |
Best Book of a Musical | Terrence McNally | Won | ||
Best Original Score | John Kander and Fred Ebb | Won | ||
Best Performance by a Leading Actor in a Musical
|
Brent Carver | Won | ||
Best Performance by a Leading Actress in a Musical
|
Chita Rivera | Won | ||
Best Performance by a Featured Actor in a Musical
|
Anthony Crivello | Won | ||
Best Direction of a Musical | Harold Prince | Nominated | ||
Best Choreography | Vincent Paterson and Rob Marshall | Nominated | ||
Best Scenic Design | Jerome Sirlin | Nominated | ||
Best Costume Design | Florence Klotz | Won | ||
Best Lighting Design | Howell Binkley | Nominated | ||
Drama Desk Award | Outstanding Musical | Won | ||
Outstanding Actor in a Musical | Brent Carver | Won | ||
Outstanding Actress in a Musical | Chita Rivera | Won | ||
Outstanding Music | John Kander | Nominated | ||
Outstanding Set Design | Jerome Sirlin | Nominated | ||
Outstanding Costume Design | Florence Klotz | Won |
Popular culture references
In 2020, an amateur production of the musical is the focus of "
References
- ^ Klein, Alvin."Purchase Campus Plays Host to Broadway Stars" Archived 2016-03-05 at the Wayback Machine The New York Times, May 6, 1990
- ^ "Reviewed Over Protest" Archived 2016-03-05 at the Wayback Machine The New York Times, June 1, 1990
- ^ a b Rich, Frank.Review/Theater; In a Prison Cell, 2 Men and a Movie Musical" Archived 2016-03-06 at the Wayback Machine The New York Times, June 1, 1990
- ISBN 0-19-512599-1, p. 338-339
- ^ Kander, John and Ebb, Fred. "Script,'Kiss of the Spider Woman' p.4", retrieved February 22, 2010
- ISBN 1-897045-08-5. p. 220
- ^ Jennifer Dunning (January 11, 1995). "Keith McDaniel, 38, Principal Dancer With Ailey Troupe". The New York Times. p. B8.
- ^ 'Kiss of the Spider Woman' listing Archived 2008-12-01 at the Wayback Machine broadwayworld.com
- ^ Hernandez, Ernio (2007-07-20). "Musical Kiss of the Spider Woman Returns to NYC Via Vortex Theatre Co". Playbill. Archived from the original on 2017-07-30. Retrieved 2017-07-30.
- ^ Suskin, Steven (2007-09-17). "Kiss of the Spider Woman". Variety. Archived from the original on 2017-07-30. Retrieved 2017-12-15.
- ^ "Jennifer Lopez Attached to Star in 'Kiss of the Spider Woman' Musical Film From 'Dreamgirls' Director Bill Condon (EXCLUSIVE)". Variety.
- ^ ""EXITING NEWS! Recording artist and film star, Jennifer Lopez, will star in a screen version of Kander and Ebb's 1992 musical Kiss of the Spider Woman. Our very own Tony Dovolani will play the role of a mob boss! #MustWatch #KissOfTheSpiderwoman #FADSct #fadsconnecticut fadsmassachusetts #jlo #jenniferlopez #tonydovolani"". www.instagram.com. Retrieved 2024-04-09.
- ^ https://www.broadwayworld.com/article/Jennifer-Lopez-Led-KISS-OF-THE-SPIDER-WOMAN-Film-Enters-Production-20240320
- ^ https://deadline.com/2024/04/artists-equity-kiss-of-the-spider-woman-jennifer-lopez-diego-luna-tonatiuh-1235879443/
- ^ Rich, Frank."Review/Theater; For the Musical, a Love Affair Beyond the Liaison in a Latin Jail" Archived 2012-07-29 at the Wayback Machine, The New York Times, May 4, 1993
- ^ Lee Lenker, Maureen (March 9, 2020). "Get a first look at the Katy Keene musical episode 'Kiss of the Spider Woman'". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved March 18, 2020.
- ^ "'Katy Keene' Special Musical Episode 'Kiss of the Spider Woman' Soundtrack Details". Film Music Reporter. March 19, 2020. Retrieved March 20, 2020.
External links
- Kiss of the Spider Woman at the Internet Broadway Database
- Working in the Theatre: Kiss of the Spider Woman, panel discussion featuring the creators of the Broadway production
- Look Back at Kiss of the Spider Woman on Broadway (Playbill, May 3, 2019)
- Vanessa Williams' Broadway Debut in Kiss of the Spider Woman (Playbill, March 18, 2020)
- The Guide to Musical Theatre - Plot summary, production photographs Kiss of the Spider Woman