Californians now have a chance to get caught in the web of the Spider Woman -- Kander & Ebb's Kiss Of The Spider Woman, that is, the 1993 Tony winning musical based on Manuel Puig's novel of fantasy and despair behind the walls of a Latin American prison. Beginning tonight, Oct. 29, at TheatreWorks, Palo Alto, Kiss Of The Spider Woman features Francis Jue and Jay Montgomery as the imprisoned odd-couple. Jue is Molina, the gay window dresser; Montgomery plays Valentin, the macho revolutionary. Elena Ferrante will play Aurora, the fantasy role played by Chita Rivera on Broadway.
Bick Goss choreographs Kiss; Robert Kelley directs. Songs in the show include the title tune and "Dear One."
Opening Nov. 1, Kiss Of The Spider Woman runs to Nov. 23.
Also on the TheatreWorks schedule:
Moon Over Buffalo, a backstage farce by Ken Ludwig, (Dec. 3, 1997 Jan. 4, 1998, opens Dec. 6).
The Night Of The Iguana; Jules Aaron directs Tennessee Williams drama of a dissipated preacher, a lusty innkeeper and a genteel spinster. (Jan. 14-Feb. 1, 1998; opens Jan. 17).
Putting It Together; Barbara Valente directs and choreographs an evening of Stephen Sondheim songs. (March 4-April 5; opens March 7, 1998)
Romeo & Juliet; William Shakespeare's tragedy of star-crossed lovers, to be directed by Robert Kelley with a special emphasis on Irish dance and Celtic music. (April 15-May 3; opens April 18, 1998).
For tickets or more information, please refer to the TheatreWorks regional listing on Playbill On-Line.
-- By David Lefkowitz