Audra McDonald, Alan Cumming & Steven Pasquale Lead a Kiss of the Spider Woman Reading; Is B'way in the Works?

Could Kander and Ebb’s Kiss of the Spider Woman return to Broadway? A reading of the show took place early in January, and according to The New York Times, the cast was a doozy. Six-time Tony Award winner Audra McDonald took on the title character (portrayed originally by Chita Rivera, who is Broadway-bound in another Kander and Ebb musical), while current Cabaret (yet another tuner from the duo) Tony winner Alan Cumming and Great White Way alum Steven Pasquale played the roles of Molina and Valentin, respectively. John Tiffany helmed the reading, which was organized by producer Tom Kirdahy.

“I think everyone is interested in having further conversations,” Kirdahy told the newspaper of their potential to move forward, “but there is no game plan for a production at this point.” Kirdahy is married to Terrence McNally, who penned the book for the tuner.

Kiss of the Spider Woman explores the relationship between Luis Alberto Molina and Valentin Arregui Paz, two prisoners in a Latin American country jail. Luis, a window dresser, mentally escapes captivity through fantasizing movies and the diva Aurora, whose many roles include a spider woman with a lethal kiss. The musical premiered in the West End in 1992 before transferring to Broadway in 1993, going on to win seven Tony Awards including Best Musical, Best Actor for Brent Carver and Best Actress for Rivera.

McDonald has won Tony awards for Lady Day at Emerson’s Bar and Grill, Carousel, Master Class, Ragtime, A Raisin in the Sun and Porgy and Bess. On screen, she has appeared in The Sound of Music Live!, Annie, Private Practice and Wit. She is rumored to be attached to the projects Corrina, Corrina and Night, Mother opposite Oprah Winfrey.

Cumming earned two Broadway.com Audience Choice Award nominations for Macbeth and has also appeared on the Great White Way in The Threepenny Opera and Design for Living. His film and TV resume includes The Good Wife, X2, Spy Kids, Web Therapy, Burlesque, Spice World, Josie and the Pussycats, Annie and The Anniversary Party.

Pasquale most recently appeared on Broadway in The Bridges of Madison Country. His additional stage credits include Reasons to Be Pretty on Broadway and Fat Pig, The Intelligent Homosexual's Guide... and A Soldier's Play. He was the star of NBC's short-lived drama Do No Harm, and for seven seasons he starred as Sean Garrity on FX’s Rescue Me.