"the staging by Gisela Cardenas is perhaps second only to Julie Taymor's wizardry for sheer theatricality on the New York musical stage at present.."
Variety

"an enigmatic triple play genderf--k spin on the different faces of the Spider Woman; powerful, alluring, comforting and dangerous all at once."
Edge New York

"The Vortex Theater Company's "Kiss of the Spider Woman" is the antithesis of Disney's "The Lion King"; the entire physical production would fit in the back of a large SUV, with the seats removed. Even so, the staging by Gisela Cardenas is perhaps second only to Julie Taymor's wizardry for sheer theatricality on the New York musical stage at present.

This "Spider Woman" may not be for everyone, but Cardenas and her talented associates have created a musical theater experience out of the ordinary. With a limited number of performances remaining and less than 50 seats per, a quick trip to the Vortex may well be in order. "
Variety

"hard-hitting....bold and provocative...."
Theatermania

" This Spider Woman follows the current trend of taking large-scale Broadway works and reducing them to minimal orchestrations and visuals. Granted, this trend flows from the impossible economics of producing musicals in New York City. But in the hands of gifted artists, the approach can yield surprises. It's not an easy night at the theatre, but Kiss of the Spider Woman shouldn't be easy."
Nytheatre.com

"The newly refurbished Sanford Meisner Theater has been turned into an appropriately grim and minimal prison. Not so much a set as an immersion experience. Bold and imaginative..."
Edge New York

"Your grandma's Kiss of the Spider Woman this ain't. "
Backstage

"The Vortex Theatre's stark, in-your-face production of the Kander-Ebb musical is packed wall to wall with bold and inventive ideas..."
Show Showdown

Music by John Kander, Lyrics by Fred Ebb
Book by Terrence McNally, based on the novel by Manuel Puig
Originally directed by Harold Prince

September 13 - October 6, 2007
at the Sanford Meisner Theater

Directed by Gisela Cardenas

Musical Direction by
Milica Paranosic

Set by Jian Jung

Costumes by Oana Botez-Ban

Lights by Lucrecia Briceno

Sound by Marcelo Anez

Asst. Direction by Cara Scarmack

Produced & Choreographed
by Joshua Randall

Kim Shipley
"Warden"

Nikki Van Cassele
"Spider Woman"

Rolfe Winkler
"Esteban/Guard"

Michael Yeshion
"Mother/Prisoner"

BIOGRAPHIES

Gisela Cardenas (Director) is one of the current Directors In Residence at the Vortex Theater Company where she has directed AGAMEMNON (2006 Drama Desk nomination “Outstanding Direction of a Play”), FIRES adapted from Marguerite Yourcenar’s novel of the same name, and IN DELIRIUM…(NY Innovative Theater nomination, “Outstanding Solo Performance”) based on Goethe’s The Sorrows of Young Werther.  Ms. Cardenas directed Jose Watanabe’s version of Antigone which premiered at the 2007 Sibiu International Theater Festival in Romania, as well as a workshop production of AJAX as part of Target Margin Theater’s “On The Greeks” season in New York.  As the recipient of the 2007 Princess Grace Theatre Fellowship, Ms. Cardenas will be working with INTAR on Von Horvath’s Figaro Gets a Divorce.

Milica Paranosic (Musical Director) is an award winning composer, performer, producer and educator who is currently on staff as a manager of Juilliard‘s Music Technology Center. She is a native of Belgrade (Serbia) and hold a Masters Degree in composition from The Juilliard School in New York City, where she has been on the faculty since 1995 teaching music technology, as well as a cofounder and producer of Beyond The Machine, a Festival of Electronic and Interactive Music.  Milica's work has been supported by such organizations as Meet the Composer, American Music Center, and has had her music released by Electroshock Records and The New Sound.

Joshua Randall (Producer/Choreographer): As the Producing Artistic Director for the Vortex Theater Company, Joshua has produced H.M.S. PINAFORE (2007 Drama Desk Nomination "Outstanding Revival of a Musical"), AGAMEMNON directed by Gisela Cardenas (2006 Drama Desk nomination, "Outstanding Director of a Play"),  LEARegardless, Kristjan Thorgeirsson's the blind: adapted by Bathsheba Doran, (Pier 63, Frying Pan as well as its extension at Classic Stage Company), A. Rey Pamatmat's DEVIANT, and IN DELIRIUM: after the sorrows of young werther, for which he received an NY Innovative Theater Award Nomination for Outstanding Solo Performance.  Through the Vortex, Mr. Randall has collaborated with groups such as Dave Dalton's Quinnopolis, NY, Opera On Tap, and The Punany Poets (as featured in HBO’s Real Sex series).  Joshua has worked in the administrative offices of New York City Opera , Manhattan Theatre Club,  American Ballet Theater and Second Stage Theatre. 

Lucrecia Briceno (Lighting Designer) is a native of Lima, Peru. Her body of work includes theatre, dance & opera, as well as collaborations in several non-performance projects. Her work was featured at Live Design Magazine and exhibited at the World Stage Design 2005 (Toronto, March 05). Recent work includes:  Alice in War at SPF, Grasmere, at 59E59 and C-Venues at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, Lee/gendary at the Asian American Theater Festival, The Sea, directed by Scott Evans; Crime & Punishment, directed by Juan Souki; Women of Trachis directed by Alice Reagan; Mike’s Incredible Indian Adventure at the Flea Theatre; Red Herring at the Connelly Theatre; Fay Lindsay Jones; In Delirium at the Vortex Theatre, Arabian Nights at the John Jay Theatre among others. She has worked as an assistant Lighting Designer at Seattle Rep, Glimmerglass Opera, Playwright’s Horizon’s, McCarter Theater, Berkeley Repertory, Signature Theater, Hartford Stage, and Women’s Project. MFA, Tisch School of Arts.

Marcelo Añez (Sound Designer) was born and raised in Caracas, Venezuela.  Early in his career, he worked as a recording engineer for the prestigious Teresa Carreño Theater in Caracas.  After moving to the US, he went on to work in the music industry, and has done so for the last sixteen years.  Añez has had the opportunity to work with various well-known recording artists such as Ricky Martin, Shakira, Los Amigos Invisibles and Gloria Estefan.  His engineering work has earned him three Grammy Awards.  In the last two years he's been venturing into other audio fields, such as theater sound design and sound applied to digital art.  This is his first collaboration with director Gisela Cardenas.

Jian Jung (Set Designer) has designed theater sets in New York, including In Delirium and Agamemnon directed by Gisela Cardenas. Crime and Punishment and Nocturne dir. Juan Souki ; Windows  dir. Sylvia Bofill ; Three Sisters and Kasimir and Karoline dir. Pavol Liska ; Uneventful Death for Agathon, Never as Happy and  Don Juan dir. Javier Gonzalez ; A Midsummer Night’s Dream dir. Jeff Janisheski. MFA in Environmental design from Ewha Women’s Univ. Seoul, MFA in Design for Theater and Film from NYU Tisch School of the Arts.

Melina Leon (Video Design) is a Peruvian filmmaker currently completing her MFA in Film Directing at Columbia University, New York. Her short films have been shown in major film festivals around the world. At this time she is developing the short "Lili's Paradise" and co-writing “Child Song”, her first feature film as a director.

Cara Scarmack (Assistant Director) is a native of Ohio. She has a B.F.A. in Theatre from Denison University.  She has also studied at the Will Geer Theatricum Botanicum in Los Angeles, The Lee Strasberg Theatre and Film Institute in New York and recently attended the LaMaMa International Symposium for Directors in Umbria, Italy.  New York directing credits include Scott T. Barsotti's "Tenacity" and "The Revenants" and Mercedes Sanchez's "The Doubtful Dead." As assistant director, Cara worked with Gisela Cardenas on her workshop of "Ajax: A Furious Study of Humanity" at Target Margin Theater.  She is thrilled to be working with Ms. Cardenas again on "Kiss of the Spider Woman."

Julianna Slaten (Assistant Producer) is a sophomore on hiatus studying stage management at Carnegie Mellon University’s School of Drama. At school she has worked on various crews including props, costumes, build, install, and strike, assistant stage managed for  A Chorus Line (under the direction of Chet Walker) and Miss Julie, Wardrobe Supervisor for the School of Music’s Albert Herring, and the A2 for Side Show.  Currently, she is interning at the Princess Grace Foundation and house managing at Cherry Lane Theatre.  This is her first show with Vortex, as well as her first shot at producing.

Liza Baron (Cast) Originally from Los Angeles, Liza earned her B.F.A. in Drama from NYU's Tisch School of the Arts (CAP 21).  Credits include: Room Service (Off-B'way), The Goddess Wheel (by Galt MacDermot), and American Family Theatre (tour).  She is honored to be a part of bringing this story to the stage and thanks the entire cast, crew, and production team for their creativity and dedication.  "With endless gratitude and heaps of love to Ma, Pa, Al, Pix, Gramz, Dani, Wen, Shmen, & Lay!"

Michael Beatty (Cast) has dedicated his life to a wide variety of musical, dramatic and creative pursuits. Some of his favorite Off-Broadway and regional theater credits include I. Berlin’s Music Box Revue, Hair, Pillowman, I Am A Camera, The Best of Broadway, As Bees in Honey Drown, A Chorus Line, The Sound of Music, Oliver,and Love Suite with The Seattle Symphony. TV includes Love Monkey. He has an M.A. in Performance Studies from NYU, and a B.S. in Communication Arts / Musical Theater from Emerson College. Michael studied vocal performance at Boston Conservatory and is a proud Conservatory Graduate of CTC Minneapolis. He is also a critically acclaimed Singer/Songwriter and is working on his fourth CD. Learn about his music at www.michaelbeatty.com or iTunes for a listen.

Gabe Belyeu (Cast) just completed playing Renfield in the Midtown International Theatre Festival production of Bloody Lies.Tours include Jesus Christ Superstar, Oliver!, Cinderella, and Showboat. Regionally he has been seen in Joseph...Dreamcoat (Palace Theatre), Cats (Virginia Music Theatre), and Forever Plaid (Braodway Theatre), among others. Thanks to Sam, Cimma, Bryan, Mom, Dad, and all my friends and family.

Damien DeShaun Smith (Cast) NYC: Williamsburg The Musical! (Village Theatre), Songs For A New World (Tribeca PAC), Across the Universe directed by Julie Taymor. International Tour: Rent ('01-'05) directed by Michael Greif. BFA Shenandoah Conservatory. Equity Member since July '05.  

Max Ferguson (Cast) is delighted to be making his Vortex debut.  He was last seen on board the Disney Magic playing Prince Charming in their main stage productions.  His New York credits include Return of the Wayward Son (NY International Fringe Festival), The Capital Mall (Theater at St Clements) and Cell Phones (La MaMa ETC).  He has participated in the apprentice programs at both Actors Theater of Louisville where he played Oliver in the Humana Production of Kid Simple, and The Williamstown Theater Festival.

Marc Ginsburg (Cast) A native Philadelphian and huge Philly sports fan, Marc is very excited to be working with the Vortex Theatre Co. on this amazing project.  Favorite roles include Benvolio in Romeo and Juliet, Freddie Fellowes in Noises Off, Jud Fry in Oklahoma, Billy Flynn in Chicago, Perchik in Fiddler on the Roof (with Eddie Mekka), Pontius Pilate in Jesus Christ Superstar, Cliff Bradshaw in Cabaret, Pseudolus in ...Forum and understudying and performing the role of Fagin in the NETworks National Tour of Cameron Mackintosh's Oliver!  Thanks to Josh, Gisela and Milica.  Much love, as always, to my family and friends. 

Harold Lewter (Cast) is excited to not only be making his Vortex debut in one of his favorite shows, but to also be performing in his hometown. Most recent regional show: West Side Story (Bernardo) @ Circa 21'. Thanks to all of my family and my Mom, The Boys @ ITL, and BM, TT, DM, DL, TW, TP, CL for all of your love and support. "You've got to give it room and let it sing."   www.haroldlewter.com

David Macaluso (Cast) was recently featured in the Vortex Theater’s Drama Desk Nominated production of H.M.S. Pinafore, as Sir. Joe & Buttercup!  He also performed as Ko-Ko in The Mikado at New York’s City Center (in addition to many other G&S roles with NYGASP.) Upon graduating from Manhattan School of Music David has performed in tours, regionally and abroad, including a stint Off Broadway in Naked Boys Singing! Some other performances: Che in Evita, Frank in Rocky Horror, Motel in Fiddler, Rooster in Annie, Seymour in Little Shop, Finch & Frump in How to Succeed, Frankie & Sparky in Forever Plaid. David is also a part of the vocal group Dacoda. (Dacodanyc.com). Member of AEA.

Kim Shipley (Cast)  New York: The Eleventh Commandment at Theatre Row, Urinetown at Gallery Players, Star Power at the WED Theatre, Still Life and Cafe Coward at the Abbingdon, Come September at the Wonderhorse Theatre and Brute Farce at Manhattan Punchline.  Regional: Kiss Me, Kate!, Company, Love! Valour! Compassion!, Six Characters in Search of an Author, Back to Methuselah, K2, Much Ado About Nothing, and Gardenia, among others.  Spent two seasons with both the North Carolina and Georgia Shakespeare Festivals.  Kim is a graduate of the North Carolina School of the Arts, studied with Lloyd Richards and Scott Freeman at the Actor’s Center, is an affiliate of the Emory Playwrights Lab, and is a member of the New Jersey Repertory Company.

Nikki Van Cassele (Cast) Is thrilled to be working with the Vortex Theater on this production! Last seen at Walnut Street Theatre in a re-imagined production of Godspell.  National tour: Cabaret. Other favorites: Pump Boys and Dinettes, Jesus Christ  Superstar, and Brilliant Traces. Proud member of Actors Equity.

Rolfe Winkler (Cast) is thrilled to be working with Gisela, Josh, and the whole gang at Vortex.  He moved to NYC from Florida this summer, where he was a hedge fund analyst by day and active in the theater community by night.  Favorite roles include Tobias in Sweeney Todd ('07 AACT/SETC/FTC awards), Bat Boy in Bat Boy: The Musical ('06 SETC/FTC awards, Handy nomination) and Tony in West Side Story (Sarasota Magazine award, Handy nomination).  A graduate of the University of Chicago, Rolfe is a CFA Charterholder and a member of Actor's Equity.  This performance is for his new niece Olive and his less new but still ultracool nephew Peter!  www.youtube.com/rolfewinkler.

Michael Jared Yeshion (Cast) was King George in the recent Theatreworks tour of The Midnight Ride of Paul Revere. Favorite roles include Adam/Noah (Children of Eden), Richard III (Richard III), and Herschel (Warsaw). Michael holds a BFA in Acting from Southern Methodist University.