The consequences of a first kiss are at the core of Diana Son’s drama Stop Kiss, the next show in the El Paso Community Foundation Jewel Box Series at the Philanthropy Theatre. The performance is at 2:30 pm Sunday, February 9.

General admission tickets are $15, on sale at the Plaza Theatre Box Office (no service fees) and Ticketmaster (with service fees).

Stop Kiss is produced by Star on the Mountain Theatrical Productions, and directed by Rachel Mullins. It’s their second Jewel Box show this season, after November’s This Murder Was Staged, which sold out.

In Stop Kiss, two women share their first kiss late one night on a street in New York’s West Village. They are brutally attacked, leaving one hospitalized in a coma. Throughout Stop Kiss relationships are explored, formed, and even ended. Diana Son (TV’s Blue Bloods and Law & Order: Criminal Intent) elaborates on the depths of human emotion and compassion in the play. The story is told out of chronological order. Alternating scenes take place before and after the assault, which is not shown onstage. Stop Kiss is for mature audiences and includes some explicit language.

The play debuted off-Broadway in 1998 with Sandra Oh and Jessica Hecht in the lead roles. The Jewel Box production features a seven-member cast: Mariana Prieto; Emily James; Angel Delgado; Jesus Guillermo Reyes; Drea Hurell; Johnathan Cantrell; and Debra Venegas.

Now in its ninth season, the Jewel Box Series was created in partnership with El Paso Live in 2014 to host local performing artists and groups in that jewel box of a venue, the Philanthropy Theatre in the Plaza Theatre Performing Arts Centre.

The venue allows only clear bags or small clutches. For policy details go to elpasolive.com.

Remaining Jewel Box Series 2024-2025 Season

Peter and the Starcatcher

• SOMOS Performance Group
• 2:30 pm March 9, 2025
• The Tony Award-winning play tells the backstory of Peter Pan, Tinker Bell and Hook.

Requiem for Rosa Elena’s Dream

• Félix Arenas
• 2:30 pm April 13, 2025
• A new, original play about how life takes its toll on Rosa Elena’s family in El Paso.

The Mad Flower

• Mad Flower Productions
• 2:30 pm May 11, 2025
• Three women meet in a dance class and learn about love, loss, and life.