Tag Archives: Kiss of the Spider Woman

Diego Luna to Star Opposite Jennifer Lopez in Film Adaptation of Broadway Musical “Kiss of the Spider Woman”

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Diego Luna is spinning a new web…

The 44-year-old Mexican actor, director and producer will star opposite Jennifer Lopez in Kiss of the Spider Woman, the feature adaptation of the 1993 Broadway musical based on Manuel Puig’s landmark 1976 novel.

Diego LunaLuna will portray Valentin Arregui in the musical film.

Meanwhile, Tonatiuh will star in the adaptation as Luis Molina.

They join Lopez, who was previously announced in the titular role.

The show, which won seven Tony Awards, was written by Terrence McNally with a score by composer John Kander and lyricist Fred Ebb. The film is scripted and directed by Oscar winner Bill Condon, with Barry Josephson, Tom Kirdahy and Greg Yolen producing alongside Ben Affleck and Matt Damon for Artists Equity, which has secured independent financing for the film.

Michael Joe, Dani Bernfeld and Kevin Halloran will executive produce for Artists Equity alongside Condon on behalf of 1000 Eyes; Lopez and Elaine Goldsmith-Thomas for Nuyorican Productions.

The musical is set in an Argentinian prison in 1981, against the backdrop of what is historically referred to as the Guerra Sucia (“Dirty War”) waged by the military dictatorship. Molina is a department store window dresser serving an eight-year sentence after being entrapped by police for allegedly corrupting a minor. To escape the horrors of imprisonment, he imagines a movie starring classic silver screen diva Ingrid Luna (Lopez) as both fashion editor Aurora and the Spider Woman, who kills her prey with a kiss. Molina’s life is upended when forced to share a cell with Marxist revolutionary Valentin, with whom an unlikely bond is formed.

Luna most recently starred in Disney+ series Andor, which earned him some of the best reviews of his career, as well as Golden Globe and Emmy recognition. He recently wrapped production on Season 2.

Tonatiuh can be seen next in the Netflix thriller Carry On; other credits include the TV series Vida.

Broadway Legend Chita Rivera to Release Memoir in Early 2023 via HarperOne

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Chita Rivera is ready to share her story…

The 89-year-old half-Puerto Rican Tony Award-winning actress, singer, dancer and Broadway legend will be recapping her illustrious career in a memoir for HarperOne, an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers.

Chita RiveraThe book, with a publication release date set for early 2023 and title to be determined, will also be published simultaneously by Harper Español.

Rivera will be writing the book with Emmy-winning TV commentator and arts journalist Patrick Pacheco.

Rivera is one of the most nominated actors in Tony Awards history, garnering 10 bids during her long career. Her credits include West Side Story, Bye Bye Birdie, Chicago and Kiss of the Spider Woman.

She plans to detail her associations with Leonard Bernstein, Stephen Sondheim, Arthur Laurents, Jerome Robbins, Bob Fosse, Hal Prince, Gower Champion, John Kander, Fred Ebb, Jerry Herman, and other titans of the Broadway world.

She will also share her stories about Gwen Verdon, Elaine Stritch, Dick Van Dyke, Liza Minnelli, and Sammy Davis Jr., among others.

“I’ve long considered writing my memoirs, but I’ve never been one to look back…until now,” Rivera said in a statement. “Now it feels right, and with Patrick Pacheco, I couldn’t be more pleased to pass on my experience to a new generation. I hope my words and thoughts about my life and career resonate and readers just might discover some things about me they never knew.”

Lisa Sharkey, SVP director of creative development, HarperCollins Publishers, acquired the North American rights for English and World for Spanish, first serial, and audio from Mel Berger at WME.

The book will have Rakesh Satyal as executive editor, HarperOne Publishing Group, and will be edited with HarperEspañol editor Ariana Rosado-Fernández.

Rivera to Receive “Woman of Valor Award” from Victory Dance Project

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It’s a special Victory for Chita Rivera…

The 84-year-old half-Puerto Rican actress, dancer and singer will be honored by the New York-based Victory Dance Project at its third anniversary celebration.

Chita Rivera

Rivera, a Broadway legend, will be presented with the company’s Woman of Valor Award at the celebration at the Manhattan Movement & Arts Center on June 15.

The award honors “a woman whose artistic excellence, advocacy, and legacy represents the highest level of integrity and artistic vision.”

The event, themed From This Movement On, will also include a world premiere piece choreographed by the company’s artistic director Amy Jordan, as well as pieces from the company’s repertoire.

Jordan and Rivera share a similar experience. Victory Dance Project was founded in 2014 by Jordan after she survived a bus accident that nearly claimed her life. She says she resolved that if she survived, she would do a “victory dance” to celebrate, and launched VDP Project with the mission to “Make the Impossible Possible with the Power of Movement.”

Rivera survived a 1986 Manhattan car accident that shattered her left leg. After therapy, she returned to the stage, winning the 1993 Tony Award for Best Leading Actress in a Musical for her performance in Kiss of the Spider-Woman. She had previously won a Tony for her performance in The Rink.

Her additional credits include the original Broadway productions of Guys and Dolls, West Side Story, Bye Bye Birdie, Can-Can, Chicago, Merlin, The Visit and her autobiographical musical, Chita Rivera: The Dancer’s Life.

“We are thrilled to be honoring the amazing Chita Rivera with Victory Dance Project’s Woman of Valor Award. I can’t think of a more apt recipient—Her incredible talent, spirit and strength inspire us on so many levels—she is truly a woman of valor,” said Jordan in an interview with Playbill.

Braga to Star Opposite Rosario Dawson on Marvel’s “Luke Cage” Series for Netflix

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Sonia Braga is ready to Marvel…

The 65-year-old Brazilian actress and three-time Golden Globe nominee has joined the cast of Marvel’s Luke Cage, the third series in the comic book publisher’s four-series package for Netflix.

Sonia Braga

Braga, best known for her roles in Kiss of the Spider Woman and Moon Over Parador, will portray Soledad Temple, mother of the Rosario Dawson-portrayed Claire Temple – whom we’ve previously met in Marvel’s Daredevil and briefly in Marvel’s Jessica Jones.

Set to debut with a 13-episode first season on the streaming service in 2016, Luke Cage has American Horror Story: Coven alum Mike Colter playing the ex-con with super strength who tries to get his life back on track and becomes a hero for hire to pay the bills in contemporary New York City.

Fans of the long established Marvel character, who first appeared back in 1972, Colter’s Cage also is a featured player and love interest in Jessica Jones, which debuted November 20 on Netflix.

Ray Donovan‘s Cheo Hodari Coker is Luke Cage’s showrunner and will write the series’ first 2-episodes. Marvel’s Luke Cage is produced by Marvel Television in association with ABC Studios for Netflix.