GALA Theatre launches The Golden Season, its milestone 50th anniversary season, with a powerful revival of Kiss of the Spider Woman by Argentine playwright Manuel Puig. 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 DC in October 2025. Directed by award-winning Spanish director José Luis Arellano, GALA’s production runs September 4–28, 2025, at GALA in Columbia Heights.
Set in an Argentine prison, Kiss of the Spider Woman 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.
This revival revisits a landmark moment in GALA’s history: the acclaimed 1994 production that earned GALA co-founder Hugo Medrano a Helen Hayes Award for Outstanding Lead Actor — the first ever for a Spanish-language performance in DC. Directed by Abel López, the production was also presented at the National Theatre of El Salvador in San Salvador, the first production produced at the National Theater after the end of the Salvadoran civil war.
COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT PROGRAM
Throughout the run, GALA will host a series of events to spark conversation and build community. A talkback with the director and cast will follow the performance on Sunday, September 7, and a panel on the state of the gay community will take place on Sunday, September 21. Afters at GALA, our Friday night socials featuring live Latino musicians and karaoke will take place Friday nights through September 26 in the GALA lobby.
ABOUT THE PRODUCTION
Featured in the production are 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.
The creative team includes Tony Cisek (Scenic Design), Hailey LaRoe (Lighting & Projections Design), Cidney Forkpah (Costumes Design), Koki Lortkipanidze (Sound Design), and Tessa Grippaudo (Properties Design). Luz Nicolás is Assistant Director and Technical Director is Anson Stevie. Ilyana Rose-Dávila is Production Manager, Company Administrator is Lorena Suárez, and Delbis Cardona is Artistic Associate.
ABOUT THE PLAYWRIGHT AND DIRECTOR
Manuel Puig (Playwright) was an Argentine novelist, playwright, and screenwriter known for his bold explorations of pop culture, sexuality, and politics. His best-known work, Kiss of the Spider Woman, challenged literary norms and inspired a celebrated stage and film adaptation. Puig’s style blended melodrama with radical narrative innovation. Deeply influenced by Hollywood cinema, he used dialogue-driven storytelling to expose emotional and social undercurrents. His work remains a touchstone in queer and Latin American literature.
José Luis Arellano (Director) is a Spanish stage, opera, and television director, and Artistic Director of LaJoven in Madrid. A longtime collaborator with GALA, this marks his twelfth production with the company. He studied at the Royal School of Dramatic Art in Madrid and began his career at Teatro Real, assisting on The Little Sweep and El tutor burlado. In 2012, he directed Guillem Clua’s Skin in Flames at Spain’s Centro Dramático Nacional, earning a MAX Award nomination. Under his leadership, LaJoven won the 2024 Talía Award for Best Company. At GALA, Arellano has directed numerous acclaimed productions, including Yerma (winner of nine Helen Hayes Awards), La Revoltosa (2023 Helen Hayes Award for Outstanding Ensemble), and Fuenteovejuna (2025). He also directs the Municipal School of Theater in Parla, mentoring over 300 emerging artists. His opera work includes Cinderella by Sir Peter Maxwell Davies, the first opera in Spain performed entirely by children.
TICKETS & INFO
El Beso de la Mujer Araña (Kiss of the Spider Woman) runs September 4-28 at GALA Hispanic Theatre, 3333 14th St NW, Washington, DC 20010. Performances are Thursdays-Saturdays at 8:00 PM and Sundays at 2:00 PM. Regular tickets range from $25 to $50. Discounted tickets are available for $35 (Seniors 65+, Military, Groups 10+) and $25 (Under 25). Visit www.galatheatre.org or call (202) 234-7174 for more details.
