Kiss of the Spider Woman (El beso de la mujer araña)

Join us for a powerful revival of Kiss of the Spider Woman by Argentine playwright Manuel Puig.... A powerful story of love, identity, and survival under oppression.

First a novel, then a 1983 stage play, and later a Broadway musical starring Chita Rivera, Puig’s story continues to resonate—most recently inspiring the Hollywood musical film featuring Jennifer Lopez and Diego Luna, set to premiere in D.C. in October 2025.

Directed by award-winning Spanish director José Luis Arellano and set in an Argentine prison, Kiss of the Spider Woman (El beso de la mujer araña) follows two cellmates as they struggle to overcome prejudices and preconceptions—Valentín, a revolutionary political prisoner, and Molina, a queer idealist who copes by escaping reality into film noir fantasies. What begins as a clash of ideologies becomes an unlikely bond forged through vulnerability, imagination, trust and resilience. Lyrical, provocative, and emotionally charged, Puig’s story is a powerful meditation on love, identity, respect, and survival under oppression.
First staged in 1983, the play remains strikingly relevant today. It shed light on Argentina’s “Dirty War,” when the government used violence against its own people and the kidnapping, torture and disappearance of thousands to remain in power.

Featured in the production are Argentine actors Martín Ruiz as Molina and Rodrigo Pedreira as Valentín—who return to GALA after their standout performances in "Momia en el clóset: Evita’s Return."

PERFORMANCES: September 4–28, 2025, Thursdays through Saturdays at 8 pm and Sundays at 2 pm. Presented in Spanish with English surtitles.
Community Night: Sept 4
Noche de GALA, including a post-performance reception with the creative team and cast: Sept 6
Talk-back with director José Luis Arellano: Sept 7

TICKETS: Regular tickets are $50 Premium Center, $45 Orchestra Standard, $35 Orchestra Value, and $25 Balcony Value; $35 Seniors (65+), Military, and Groups (10+); $25 25 and Under; Noche de GALA: Chosen ticket price + $5 (per person). GET TICKETS