Real Women Have Curves (musical) explained

Real Women Have Curves
Music:Joy Huerta & Benjamin Velez
Lyrics:Joy Huerta & Benjamin Velez
Basis:Real Women Have Curves
By: Josefina López

Real Women Have Curves is a stage musical with a book by Lisa Loomer and music and lyrics by Joy Huerta and Benjamin Velez. The show is based on the play of the same name by Josefina López, and the television film based on the play, written by Lopez and George LaVoo.[1]

The show is set in 1987 Boyle Heights, Los Angeles and follows a young woman named Ana García, who works in a garment factory, as she struggles with societal expectations, difficult family dynamics, and finding the courage to follow her dreams.[2]

Production history

Cambridge (2023)

The musical premiered at the American Repertory Theater in Cambridge, Massachusetts on December 6, 2023, and closed on January 21, 2024. The show is directed and choreographed by Sergio Trujillo.[3] Orchestrations were done by Bill Sherman and Cian McCarthy.[4] Nadia DiGiallonardo served as musical director and vocal arranger. Scene design was done by Arnulfo Maldonado with costumes by Paloma Young and Wilberth Gonzalez.[5]

Original cast and characters

CharacterCambridge (2023)[6] [7]
Ana GarcíaLucy Godinez
Carmen Garcia Justina Machado
Raul Garcia Edward Padilla
Estella Garcia Florencia Cuenca
Pancha Carla Jimenez
Rosali Jennifer Sanchez
Izel Satya Chavez
HenryMason Reeves
Mrs. Wright Yvette Gonzalez-Nacer
Prima Fulvia Sandra Valls
Prima Flaca Shelby Acosta
EnsembleArusi Santi
EnsembleShadia Fairuz
EnsembleElisa Galindez
EnsembleMichael Keyloun
EnsembleChristopher M. Ramirez
SwingAmy Lizardo
SwingKayla Quiroz
SwingGus Stuckey
Standby for HenrySage

Musical numbers

Act I
Act II

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Aucoin . Don . 2023-12-15 . Yes, ‘Real Women Have Curves.’ And the ART has a winner. . 2024-05-05 . . en-US . 2024-04-29 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240429081728/https://www.bostonglobe.com/2023/12/15/arts/yes-real-women-have-curves-art-has-winner/ . live .
  2. Web site: Collins-Hughes . Laura . 2023-12-21 . ‘Real Women Have Curves’ and ‘Heart Sellers’: Snapshots of Immigrant Lives . 2024-05-05 . . 2024-05-02 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240502062956/https://www.nytimes.com/2023/12/21/theater/real-women-have-curves-the-heart-sellers.html . live .
  3. Web site: Real Women Have Curves . 2024-05-05 . . 2024-04-29 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240429172238/https://playbill.com/production/real-women-have-curves-regional-american-repertory-theater-loeb-drama-center-2023 . live .
  4. Web site: Real Women Have Curves at A.R.T. . 2024-05-05 . . 2024-04-29 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240429081736/https://americanrepertorytheater.org/shows-events/real-women-have-curves/ . live .
  5. Web site: Real Women Have Curves Digital Program . 2024-05-05 . . 2024-04-29 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240429081741/https://americanrepertorytheater.org/real-women-have-curves-digital-program/ . live .
  6. Web site: Real Women Have Curves Digital Program . 2024-05-05 . . 2024-04-29 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240429081741/https://americanrepertorytheater.org/real-women-have-curves-digital-program/#company-038-staff . live .
  7. Web site: Culwell-Block . Logan . 2023-10-16 . See Who's Starring In the World Premiere of Real Women Have Curves: The Musical | Playbill . 2024-05-05 . . 2024-04-29 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240429172435/https://playbill.com/article/see-whos-starring-in-the-world-premiere-of-real-women-have-curves-the-musical . live .