DESIRE, DANGER, AND
A SONG TO SURVIVE

Palm Canyon Theatre dives into one of
Kander and Ebb’s most intoxicating musical

Palm Canyon Theatre brings bold heat to the desert with Kiss of the Spider Woman, the Tony Award-winning musical by John Kander and Fred Ebb, with a book by Terrence McNally, running April 17–26, 2026. Set inside a South American prison under an authoritarian regime, the story follows two cellmates—Molina (Nathan Wilson), a dreamer imprisoned for his sexuality, and Valentín (Luís Salcido), a hardened revolutionary—whose uneasy coexistence slowly transforms into something deeper, more complicated, and ultimately life-altering.

As reality tightens its grip, Molina escapes into fantasies of old Hollywood glamour, conjuring the seductive and dangerous Aurora (Se Layne), a shimmering presence who blurs the line between illusion and survival. With a score that shifts from sultry to shattering—featuring songs like “Over the Wall” and the haunting title number—the musical balances stark political drama with lush theatricality.

Directed by David Brooks, with choreography by Nathan Wilson and music direction by Linda Mack Berven, this production promises both emotional intensity and visual flair. A strong supporting cast—including Stan Jenson, Nicole Kennedy, Jana Giboney, and JT Eberhard—along with a dynamic ensemble, rounds out a show that explores how connection, imagination, and love can endure even in the darkest conditions.

Nathan Wilson plays Molina in Kiss of the Spider Woman at Palm Canyon Theatre.

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photo by Tara Howard

Kiss of the Spider Woman
Palm Canyon Theatre
538 North Palm Canyon Drive, Palm Springs
Thu at 7; Fri–Sat at 7:30; Sun at 2
runs April 17–26, 2026
for tickets ($20–$46), call 760.323.5123 or visit Palm Canyon Theatre

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