Kiss Of The Spider Woman at Lakewood Playhouse

At its core, Kiss Of The Spider Woman is a story about survival - but at Lakewood Playhouse, it becomes a powerful meditation on what it means to be a hero. Set inside a Latin American prison, two men - Valentín, a hardened revolutionary, and Molina, an imprisoned dreamer condemned for who he is - seem to stand on opposite sides of courage. Yet as their walls slowly come down, acts of heroism emerge not through grand gestures, but through compassion, vulnerability, and the radical choice to see one another fully.

In alignment with Lakewood Playhouse’s commitment to storytelling that builds empathy and connection, this production transforms a harrowing tale of persecution into a vivid theatrical experience, where fantasy becomes both refuge and resistance. Molina’s dazzling visions of the glamorous Aurora - and her deadly Spider Woman - offer escape, but also illuminate deeper truths about identity, sacrifice, and love.

This is a story where heroism is not defined by strength alone, but by the bravery to imagine, to trust, and to care in a world that punishes all three.

The original Broadway production won seven Tony Awards including Best Musical, Best Book Of AMusical and Best Original Score.

“Compelling, beautiful, funny and moving.” - New York Daily News

“Thrilling.” - The New York Times

Book by Terrence McNally

Music by John Kander

Lyrics by Fred Ebb

Based on the novel by Manuel Puig

Directed by Joseph C. Walsh