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

I’ll believe it when I see it

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.

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.

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

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

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!

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 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.

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.

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.

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.

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