{"id":371835,"date":"2025-09-07T21:19:20","date_gmt":"2025-09-08T01:19:20","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/dctheaterarts.org\/?p=371835"},"modified":"2025-09-24T11:49:41","modified_gmt":"2025-09-24T11:49:41","slug":"an-emotive-and-intimate-kiss-of-the-spider-woman-at-gala","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/dctheaterarts.org\/2025\/09\/07\/an-emotive-and-intimate-kiss-of-the-spider-woman-at-gala\/","title":{"rendered":"An emotive and intimate \u2018Kiss of the Spider Woman\u2019 at GALA"},"content":{"rendered":"

Two prisoners \u2014 one a revolutionary, the other a queer idealist \u2014 are forced to share a cell while outside the prison an authoritarian regime uses state-sanctioned terror to remain in control. Set in 1970s Argentina, Kiss of the Spider Woman<\/em> by Manuel Puig is a classic of Latin American literature, brought back to the stage of the GALA Hispanic Theatre as part of its 50th anniversary. The story of Valent\u00edn and Molina is a reminder that even in the darkest times, people find ways to build connection through stories and to show kindness even to those who are different from them.<\/p>\n

This is a particularly emotive revival for GALA. The play was staged in 1994 with GALA co-founder Hugo Medrano in the role of Molina, which earned him a Helen Hayes Award for Outstanding Lead Actor, the first for a Spanish-language performance in DC. On opening night, his wife, executive director of GALA Rebecca Medrano, offered a moving tribute to her late husband and dedicated the production to him.<\/p>\n

\"\"
Mart\u00edn Ruiz as Molina and Rodrigo Pedreira as Valent\u00edn in \u2018Kiss of the Spider Woman.\u2019 Photo by Daniel Martinez.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The play opens with Molina (Mart\u00edn Ruiz) narrating a movie about a \u201cpanther woman\u201d to his reluctantly enthralled cellmate Valent\u00edn (Rodrigo Pedreira). Molina is feminine and passionate, obsessed with Hollywood films, and imprisoned for being homosexual (under the charge of \u201ccorrupting minors\u201d). He stands in stark contrast to Valent\u00edn, a rigidly idealistic and aggressively masculine political prisoner committed to the fight against exploitation and inequality. As Molina attempts to distract them from their ordeal and bring a domestic normalcy to their relationship, Valent\u00edn pushes back, fearful that accepting kindness will compromise his ability to continue his fight against tyranny. But as the story progresses, their vulnerability and openness bring them into each other\u2019s worlds, a brief respite from the pain and fear of their reality.<\/p>\n

Ruiz and Pedreira have an undeniable chemistry, even when they are at odds with each other. Ruiz portrays Molina with a mix of vulnerability and impeccable comedic timing, a Hollywood heroine who refuses to lose her dignity. Pedreira\u2019s Valent\u00edn is a caged tiger, his body language as clear as his line delivery, unwinding gradually as the character slowly puts down his defenses and allows himself to open up, which is the ultimate act of courage.<\/p>\n

The production supports the performances through a mix of lighting and original music to mark the transition between scenes and reflect the characters\u2019 emotional tenor. The stage is designed like a black box, the stark gray walls of the cell looming large over the actors. A square platform in the center of the stage serves as their beds and where the prisoners store their limited belongings. Wardrobe is also used to great effect, both as another visual reminder of the differences between the two men and, as it is shed during several powerful scenes, as a way to mark their growing closeness and dependence on each other.<\/p>\n

\"\"
TOP: Rodrigo Pedreira as Valent\u00edn and Mart\u00edn Ruiz as Molina; ABOVE: Mart\u00edn Ruiz as Molina and Rodrigo Pedreira as Valent\u00edn in \u2018Kiss of the Spider Woman.\u2019 Photos by Daniel Martinez.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Award-winning director Jos\u00e9 Luis Arellano weaves deeply intimate moments between the two actors with dramatic and often hilarious interactions. The production maintains a satisfying pace and connects with the audience through the characters\u2019 emotional journey. This is Arellano\u2019s 13th collaboration with GALA and the first time GALA is bringing to the stage an Argentinian play, selected in part as a commentary on the current political climate in Washington. Even if outside the theater, military vehicles and soldiers roam the streets of DC, inside GALA Hispanic Theatre, the audience can find a few hours of escape, of connection and storytelling.<\/p>\n

Running Time: Approximately one hour and 50 minutes including intermission.<\/p>\n

Kiss of the Spider Woman (El Beso de la Mujer<\/strong><\/em>) <\/b><\/i><\/a>plays through September 28, 2025, with showtimes on Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays at 8 pm and Sundays at 2 pm at GALA Hispanic Theatre<\/a>, 333 14th St NW, Washington, DC. Regular tickets range from $25 to $50. Discounted tickets are available for $35 (seniors 65+, military, groups 10+) and $25 (under 25). For tickets and more details go online<\/a><\/strong> or call (202) 234-7174.<\/p>\n

The production is in Spanish with English surtitles. Friday night socials featuring live Latin music and karaoke will take place Friday nights through September 26 in the GALA lobby.<\/p>\n

GALA Theatre is fully accessible, with an elevator and wheelchair seating. Validated parking ($4) is available at the Giant garage on Park Road NW, with additional parking at the Target garage. GALA is one block from the Columbia Heights Metro (Green\/Yellow lines).<\/p>\n

The playbill is online here <\/a>(scroll down).<\/p>\n

Kiss of the Spider Woman
\n<\/em><\/strong>By Manuel Puig
\nDirected Jos\u00e9 Luis Arellano<\/p>\n

CAST
\nMart\u00edn Ruiz as Molina
\nRodrigo Pedreira as Valent\u00edn<\/p>\n

CREATIVE TEAM
\nTony Cisek (Scenic Design), Hailey LaRoe (Lighting & Projections Design), Cidney Forkpah (Costumes Design), Koki Lortkipanidze (Sound Design), and Tessa Grippaudo (Properties Design). Luz Nicol\u00e1s is Assistant Director and Technical Director is Anson Stevie. Ilyana Rose-D\u00e1vila is Production Manager, Company Administrator is Lorena Su\u00e1rez, and Delbis Cardona is Artistic Associate.<\/p>\n

SEE ALSO:<\/strong>
\nGALA Hispanic Theatre launches 50th season with \u2018Kiss of the Spider Woman\u2019 <\/a><\/strong>(news story, July 31, 2025)<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

The Spanish-language theater launches its 50th season with a classic of Latin American literature. By ANDREA MOYA MUNOZ<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":56,"featured_media":371839,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"apple_news_api_created_at":"","apple_news_api_id":"","apple_news_api_modified_at":"","apple_news_api_revision":"","apple_news_api_share_url":"","apple_news_cover_media_provider":"image","apple_news_coverimage":0,"apple_news_coverimage_caption":"","apple_news_cover_video_id":0,"apple_news_cover_video_url":"","apple_news_cover_embedwebvideo_url":"","apple_news_is_hidden":"","apple_news_is_paid":"","apple_news_is_preview":"","apple_news_is_sponsored":"","apple_news_maturity_rating":"","apple_news_metadata":"\"\"","apple_news_pullquote":"","apple_news_pullquote_position":"","apple_news_slug":"","apple_news_sections":[],"apple_news_suppress_video_url":false,"apple_news_use_image_component":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[19,3,18],"tags":[156,157,802],"class_list":{"0":"post-371835","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-washington-district-columbia","8":"category-featured","10":"tag-gala-hispanic-theatre","11":"tag-jose-luis-arellano","12":"tag-manuel-puig"},"acf":[],"apple_news_notices":[],"yoast_head":"\nAn emotive and intimate \u2018Kiss of the Spider Woman\u2019 at GALA - DC Theater Arts<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/dctheaterarts.org\/2025\/09\/07\/an-emotive-and-intimate-kiss-of-the-spider-woman-at-gala\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"An emotive and intimate \u2018Kiss of the Spider Woman\u2019 at GALA\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"The Spanish-language theater launches its 50th season with a classic of Latin American literature. 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