Bootleg Theater (Los Angeles, CA)
Havok Theatre Company presents Kiss of the Spider Woman. Terrence McNally, John Kander, and Fred Ebb's musical won seven Tony Awards, including Best Musical. The story of two inmates in a Latin American prison, it dazzlingly mixes gritty realism with opulent fantasy. The show's music will be performed live by a six-person ensemble.
Event summary prepared by the Goldstar Editorial Team.
All dates for this event have expired.
The last event was Sunday November 9, 2008 / 3:00pm (Closing Show). (view all dates)
This was, without a doubt, the best small theater production I have ever seen in Los Angeles. The leads all had great voices and were excellent actors....
The male dance corps could dance anywhere.....Broadway, London....That they were able to get them to do this production is fantastic........
The size of the theater made it a personal experience and brought real clarity to this show.
Don't miss seeing this show!
The Spiderwoman and dancers were great! However, the warden forget his lines a couple of times in the beginning and stumbled several times throughout the play. Other than that, my girl and I enjoyed it. Beware, the Bootleg Theatre is in the Rampart District, a very seedy part of L.A. Right as we parked, there were cops arresting some gangstas in the alley right next to the parking lot.
This is such a terrific production of a terrific show. This was the first time I have seen this musical...the story is better explained through music than it was in the film......Run to see it before it closes!
A superb cast; Vocally strong and beautifully directed and choreographed throughout this eye-popping, seldom done Kander and Ebb musical. A multi-award winning spectacular (7 Tony Awards including Best Musical) the show opened on Broadway in 1993 with Chita Rivera who also won the Tony for Best Actress in a Musical. The show later hosted Vanessa Williams in the title role before its 1995 closing. A storyline full of heart, humor and pathos enhanced by a riveting score and a lush, live orchestra - don't miss what could be the last time you'll be able to see a production of this show in Los Angeles, let alone one of such caring and professional quality. One of the best shows of the year! Hats off to the Havoc Theatre Company for their consistency in bringing excellence to Los Angeles theatregoers.
I dont think this play appeals to a younger Audience :/ I am 19 years old and i found the play nothing like i thought it was going to be...
Solid performances from most of the cast (though I found some of the supporting characters rather wooden) which will only get better as the run wears on. High production value in an intimate setting. I highly recommend this if you are a fan of Kander and Ebb, though I do find this show a bit less palatable than their more popular shows "Chicago" and "Cabaret".
Innovative and provocative!
This is not a "pleasant" story---not good for a "feel good date night" experience. However it is VERY worth your time. There is homosexual sex in this one---not my favorite thing---but very tastefully done and it is a valid part of the story (not put in for shock value). The acting and production values (e.g. sets) were outstanding. All in all, it was a truly wonderful evening/afternoon in the theater. Recommended ---but not for the squemish.
Outstanding female lead. Kander/Ebb = only so-so score, but very well performed.
It was a wonderful musical show, my wife and I enjoyed very much.
We skipped the original touring company when it was at The Music Center because we like our musicals intimate. BOOTLEG is the former EVIDENCE ROOM and we had many good experiences there so the venue was a plus.
Kander and Eb, when they want to be dark like the Bad Girl Trilogy of Flora The Red Menace, Cabaret, and, Chicago always excited us (as compared to R&H), so because the reviews were positive, we chose this over the latest offering at the Music Center. We were not disappointed. The intimacy worked and the story of "Love?" and honor and possibly county had a Casablanca feel to it. We never saw the film but this show did justice to the material it had to work with and it was some material. You could feel that it was a Chita Rivera show with a Hal Prince influence but even the current director Nick DeGruccio and choreographer Lee Martino, respectfully honored the (well there are no words to describe) FOSSE.
We loved what we saw. I hope Bootleg and Havok continue in their partnership and bring scaled down musicals of impact to Los Angeles. We love feeling the theatre. We do not like being lost in the stratosphere. Keep it up.
Kevin and Don Norte
Hollywood, U.S.A.
This was a truly exquisite production. Every aspect of the show was first-rate. Terra Macleod was absolutely stunning as the Spider Woman. Chad Borden's Molina was captivating and heart-breaking, and Daniel Tatar's Valentin was powerful...they had a great chemistry together. The dancers and the choreography were amazing. I also couldn't believe how great the band sounded. This is the third show I've attended by the Havok company, and they have all been well worth seeing. This show is not your standard musical fare, but it's definitely a MUST-SEE!!!
If this musical interests you in the least, you must go see this stunning production. Every element of the show is outstanding. The leads are not only terrific actors, but also excellent singers. The ensemble is everything you would want in solid support. I rate the small orchestra well above what you might expect, and to top it off, this production is beautifully directed with great respect for the creative team of Kander and Ebb. (free parking lot is a bonus!) Go see it!
The subject of arrest without trial, indefinate period of detention, and interrogation accompanied by torture remain current. How they managed to make a highly entertaining musical out of this is incredible.
The Spider Woman herself was perfectly cast, coldly alluring and beautifully costumed. Every member of the cast held their own. They had both vocal and dance capabilities without sacrificing one for the other.
The leading men were outstanding, but the "Warden" is also commendable. He plays an evil part with great control, and resists hamming it up.
See this. It's moving, fun, beautiful, and better than a lot of the fluff musicals out there.
The theatre was very small, but the production was very big. The singing was excellent. I enjoyed this show very much.
What a great staging of this show. From the first scene I knew this would be an exceptional production. The singing, dancing and the orchestra were all exceptional. I have liked everthing I have seen featuring Chad Borden, and this show was no exception. Do not miss this show.
I was shocked at how professional the whole show was given that it was a small theatre. All the musical/dance numbers were done so perfectly. The cast was super talented. Not a dull moment. The theatre was packed and they brought in extra chairs to fit even more people in there. this was the best show I've seen in LA.
Very strong production all the way around. Strong cast, direction, choreography and design. Certainly this is one of the theatrical highlights of the year. Don't miss it.
this was my second time seeing this production and i brought more friends to see it with me. it's amazing the talents that work in some of our 99 seat theatres here in los angeles. the committment of the actors, director and the countless efforts of all the other hard working crew is very noticable in this production. it effortlessly glides along like a well oiled machine. the talent, whether AEA members or not, are all top notch. i'm sure i'll see it again and share it with more friends.
It's amazing theatre that you really cannot miss.
The newly formed Havok Theatre Company in association with the Bootleg Theatre is thrilled to present its third production, the Los Angeles Intimate Theatre Premiere of Kiss of the Spider Woman, book by Terrence McNally, Music by John Kander, Lyrics by Fred Ebb, choreography by Lee Martino, with musical direction by Michael Paternostro and directed by Ovation Award winner and Artistic Director of the new Havok Theatre Company, Nick DeGruccio.
Based on the novel by Manuel Puig and winner of seven Tony Awards including Best Musical, Kiss of the Spider Woman revamps a harrowing tale of persecution into a dazzling spectacle that juxtaposes gritty realities with liberating fantasies. Thrown together in a Latin American prison, Valentin is a tough revolutionary being tortured for political information, and Molina is an unabashed homosexual serving eight years for deviant behavior. Molina shares his fantasies about a movie actress named Aurora with Valentin to help him mentally escape from the horrors of the prison. One of Aurora’s movie roles is a “Spider Woman” who kills with a kiss. Two unlikely cellmates, Valentin and Molina play a breathless cat-and-mouse game as they struggle to survive.
Director Nick DeGruccio and Choreographer Lee Martino will create an intimate chamber piece with this brilliant musical, accompanied by a live six-member orchestra, bringing the action of the show literally close enough to touch.
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