Real Women Have Curves (musical) explained
Real Women Have Curves is a stage musical with a book by Lisa Loomer with Nell Benjamin 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]
Broadway (2025)
On September 12, 2024, it was announced the show plans to transfer to Broadway in 2025 with additional details to be announced. It was also announced Nell Benjamin was added to the creative team. Producers of the show include the theatrical husband and wife team Barry and Fran Weissler. [6]
Original cast and characters
| Character | Cambridge[7] [8] |
|---|
| 2023 |
|---|
| Ana García | Lucy Godinez |
|---|
| Carmen Garcia | Justina Machado |
|---|
| Raul Garcia | Edward Padilla |
|---|
| Estella Garcia | Florencia Cuenca |
|---|
| Pancha | Carla Jimenez |
|---|
| Rosali | Jennifer Sanchez |
|---|
| Izel | Satya Chavez |
|---|
| Henry | Mason Reeves |
|---|
| Mrs. Wright | Yvette Gonzalez-Nacer |
|---|
| Prima Fulvia | Sandra Valls |
|---|
| Prima Flaca | Shelby Acosta | |
|---|
Musical numbers
- Act I
- "Aylarala"
- "Make It Work"
- "Blood Thicker Than Mole"
- "Flying Away"
- "Jugglin'"
- "Always On The Run"
- "If I Were A Bird"
- "Drivin' Next To You"
- "Oye Muchacha"
- Act II
- "Done With It All"
- "Adios Andres"
- "Siempre Mi Gente"
- "Be A Gringa"
- "Curves"
- "Doin' It Anyway"
- "Life Is Like A Dance"
- "Flying Away (reprise)"
- "Finishing The Dresses"
- "Always On The Run (reprise)"
- "I Got It Wrong"
Notes and References
- 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 .
- 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 .
- 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 .
- 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 .
- 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 .
- https://broadwaydirect.com/real-women-have-curves-the-musical-to-premiere-on-broadway-in-2025/?utm_source=awin&utm_medium=affiliate&sv1=affiliate&sv_campaign_id=407399&awc=28987_1726832682_60d0ccc2696c2aba451f11e1bb8460b5&sn=1 BroadwayDirect.Com
- 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 .
- 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 .
