Blankenbuehler-helmed KISS OF THE SPIDER WOMAN in the works?

[jacobsnchz14]

Posted: 4/8/23 at 12:11pm

According to a casting notice, this may be something in the works for the summer (workshop/lab, etc.?) 

Music Director: Lily Ling
Associate Director: Ioana Alfonso
Associate Choreographer: Ahmad Simmons
Director/Choreographer: Andy Blankenbuehler

https://www.playbill.com/job/kiss-of-the-spider-woman-nyc-ecc-dancers-04-17-23/9b54a234-7c90-43c6-a333-9dbeb4bf85b2

Updated On: 4/8/23 at 12:11 PM

[quizking101]

Posted: 4/8/23 at 12:21pm

I’ll believe it when I see it

[Broadway61004]

Posted: 4/8/23 at 1:21pm

It makes sense since they pulled the rights from the Kennedy Center, so something must be happening with this show.

[CoffeeBreak]

Posted: 4/8/23 at 1:26pm

Unfortunate Blankenbuehler is directing this too.  A great choreographer.  Not a great director.  This needs more than his voice and someone to shape the show with his choreography.  Hope they reconsider.

[ErmengardeStopSniveling]

Posted: 4/8/23 at 2:00pm

This could be good! Wonder who will play Aurora. Many names had been suggested in a previous thread, and Audra did a reading about 8 years ago. 

[Nicticorax]

Posted: 4/8/23 at 2:05pm

As well as Ariana DeBose, I've also heard some people tossing around MJ Rodriguez as an option. Entirely unsubstantiated, as far as I know, but I've seen two people mention they've heard rumors MJ might be involved. The fact that this is being directed by Blankenbuehler makes me think Audra is out--I heard the workshop with Audra was interested in making it much less of a dance show, and I can't imagine that Blankenbuehler will tone down the choreo like that.

[ljay889]

Posted: 4/8/23 at 2:15pm

Audra is completely wrong for the role in every aspect. 
 

I’m still hoping it’s DeBose. 

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 4/8/23 at 2:25pm

Wasn’t Amber Gray rumored for this a while ago?

[ErmengardeStopSniveling]

Posted: 4/8/23 at 2:53pm

This line makes me think it will be a Latina actress. 
 

This play takes place in a prison in Central America. Multiple ethnicities are found throughout the population, including migrant arrivals from Mexico, South America, Italy, Spain, and the Caribbean. Because of the world of the play, we are particularly interested in considering performers to play Latine characters.

[ljay889]

Posted: 4/8/23 at 3:27pm

Are they changing the location? Both the movie (Brazil) and musical (Argentina) take place in South America. 

[Nicticorax]

Posted: 4/8/23 at 3:46pm

Yeah, that seems to be a typo. The book and straight play both explicitly take place in Argentina. The musical is ambiguous, but since it is based on the book I assume that’s also where it takes place. The movie changed the location to Brazil, but that’s a change just made for the film. 

[muscle23ftl]

Posted: 4/8/23 at 4:59pm

I love how informed everyone is on this board, in fact I remember reading the novel which I highly recommend, and it's totally true what they say, the role of Moline lived in the neighborhood of Belgrano in Buenos Aires, Argentina in the original novel. Then, the director who directed the film version, I believe was Brazilian and changed the location, which isn't really right to me and it took place suddenly in Brazil and the lead role was played by a Brazilian actress-Sonia Braga. Not cool to change the identity of a show from another country and just make it seem like all of South America is the same thing, Brazilians and Argentines don't even speak the same language!

[Ke3]

Posted: 4/8/23 at 7:16pm

I would leap for joy of it was MJ. I've wanted it for years but never imagined she'd be a name producers would reach for. Those songs, in her key? My god it'll be thrilling.

[BJR]

Posted: 4/8/23 at 8:23pm

McNally's original book says South America. I guess they changed it to Central? I wonder why.

Not exactly thrilled by this team. But oh well.

[muscle23ftl]

Posted: 4/9/23 at 1:15am

I think Catherine Zeta Jones will be amazing in this, one can dream! Anne Hathaway, Lea Michele would also be amazing as the title role.

Updated On: 4/9/23 at 01:15 AM

[Ke3]

Posted: 4/9/23 at 9:08am

muscle23ftl said: "I think Catherine Zeta Jones will be amazing in this, one can dream! Anne Hathaway, Lea Michele would also be amazing as the title role."

I'll only take CZJ if they drag Rob Marshall straight from The Little Mermaid press tour to direct it. 

[BETTY22]

Posted: 4/9/23 at 9:34am

I cannot wait. Sign up Andrew Garfield. 

[CarlosAlberto]

Posted: 4/9/23 at 9:44am

muscle23ftl said: "I love how informed everyone is on this board, in fact I remember reading the novel which I highly recommend, and it's totally true what they say, the role of Moline lived in the neighborhood of Belgrano in Buenos Aires, Argentina in the original novel. Then, the director who directed the film version, I believe was Brazilian and changed the location, which isn't really right to me and it took place suddenly in Brazil and the lead role was played by a Brazilian actress-Sonia Braga. Not cool to change the identity of a show from another country and just make it seem like all of South America is the same thing, Brazilians and Argentines don't even speak the same language!"

The change of location did absolutely nothing to harm the intent and integrity of the piece. 

[Tag]

Posted: 4/9/23 at 10:57am

When there were rumors of a 2009ish Drabinsky-led revival of an all black company, Heather Headley was involved. She'd be great.

[pmensky]

Posted: 4/9/23 at 6:44pm

muscle23ftl said: "I love how informed everyone is on this board, in fact I remember reading the novel which I highly recommend, and it's totally true what they say, the role of Moline lived in the neighborhood of Belgrano in Buenos Aires, Argentina in the original novel. Then, the director who directed the film version, I believe was Brazilian and changed the location, which isn't really right to me and it took place suddenly in Brazil and the lead role was played by a Brazilian actress-Sonia Braga. Not cool to change the identity of a show from another country and just make it seem like all of South America is the same thing, Brazilians and Argentines don't even speak the same language!"

I think the reason for the relocation from Argentina to Brazil may have been because the novel took place in 1975 when there was military rule and civil unrest from Marxist groups like Valentin’s. Democracy had been restored to Argentina by the time the movie would have been filming around 1983, yet there was still a military dictatorship in Brazil. If they were setting the movie in present day, it would have made more sense to change the setting to a country more politically relevant. Ironically, the military dictatorship in Brazil ended just a few months before the film debuted. Also, Manuel Puig, who wrote the novel, also co-wrote the screenplay, and the actors stated that Puig would make revisions of the script on a daily basis. As an Argentinian, I think Puig would have objected to the location change if it couldn’t be properly justified. If he didn’t care, no one else should.

[muscle23ftl]

Posted: 4/9/23 at 7:00pm

Well, that's your opinion and I have mine as a fellow Argentinian!

I meant to say Molina BTW.

[Nicticorax]

Posted: 4/9/23 at 9:08pm

I do think people are jumping to conclusions here. The location change could just as easily be a mistake or miscommunication rather than an actual change. It’s one job listing for one workshop.

Also, frankly, even if it was intentional, it wouldn’t change a word of the show. There is no indication of what country the musical takes place in, aside from the fact that it’s a Spanish-speaking one. The only way the audience would know the exact setting is if they wrote it in the playbill, which most people don’t read carefully.

[The Distinctive Baritone]

Posted: 4/10/23 at 12:41am

Interesting that the casting call section on the Equity website has two ECC's (one for singers, one for dancers), but not an EPA. I'm sure the three leads have already been cast with "name" actors (or Hamilton alums that Blankenbuehler has worked with before), but what about The Warden, Molina's Mother, etc.? I'm very curious who the principals will be. Any rumors?

[RippedMan]

Posted: 4/10/23 at 2:21am

I just feel like without an A lister, who cares? and Andy is all wrong for this. 

[binau]

Posted: 4/10/23 at 3:51am

I’ve seen the show live twice, both with a ‘name’ (Caroline O’Connor) and an unknown. I did find the tone of the show varied greatly - when Caroline was on it felt like her show whereas with the unknown it put the focus more on the two male leads and their relationship. I would say it actually worked and I’d be open to anything as long as there is some strong and interesting direction. My fear is that this will turn out like the Thomas Kail Sweeney (serviceable if a little bland and stale). I hope I’m wrong!