Kiss of the Spider Woman

Kiss of the Spider Woman (1993), a musical play by Terrence McNally (book), John Kander (music), Fred Ebb (lyrics). [Broadhurst Theatre, 906 perf.; Tony, NYDCC Awards.] In a South American prison, cellmates Molina ( Brent Carver), a gay window dresser sentenced for corrupting the morals of a youth, and Valentin ( Anthony Crivello), a revolutionary, move from being cold strangers to close friends and even lovers under the harsh conditions they suffer together. Molina deals with the situation by fantasizing about the screen goddess Aurora ( Chita Rivera) who is also the symbol of death. When Molina is freed in the hopes of leading the police to Valentin's comrades, the plan misfires and Molina is executed. Notable songs: Where You Are; Anything for Him; You Could Never Shame Me; Gimme Love. Although the Manuel Puig novel and 1984 film made for an unlikely subject for a musical, the Hal Prince–directed show was both gripping and entertaining. The Livent‐produced musical had tried out at SUNY Purchase and was rewritten in Toronto and London before arriving on Broadway where it was a critical and popular success.