The world premiere of Real Women Have Curves: The Musical is now playing at the American Repertory Theater through January 21, 2024. Based on Josefina López's 1993 play and its 2002 film adaptation, the production features music and lyrics by Joy Huerta and Benjamin Velez—hear what they had to say about the making of the musical in the video above.
Real Women Have Curves: The Musical officially opened at the Massachusetts company's Loeb Drama center December 14, after beginning previews December 6. Tony winner Sergio Trujillo directs and choreographs.
The work follows a first-generation child of Mexican immigrants torn between joining the family garment business or embarking on her own dream of attending college in NYC. Along with Huerta and Velez's music and lyrics, the musical features a book by Lisa Loomer.
"The world of the factory feels so rich, in terms of all the different women who work there," Velez says. "[They] have different stories of how they got to the U.S., and why they're there...people might come in with preconceived notions about who these people are, and I think this story really humanizes them in a way that they just feel like people you know."
"Through music, we could also enhance their stories, or bring some backstories to these women," Huerta adds. "This is not going to be a stereotype of something. This has its own sound, its own voice."
Lucy Godínez leads the company as Ana, with Shelby Acosta as Prima Flaca, Satya Chávez as Izel, Florencia Cuenca as Estela, Yvette González-Nacer as Mrs. Wright, Sandra Valls as Prima Fulvia, Carla Jimenez as Pancha, Justina Machado as Carmen, Edward Padilla as Raúl, Mason Reeves as Henry, and Jennifer Sánchez as Rosalí. Shadia Fairuz, Elisa Galindez, Michael Keyloun, Christopher M. Ramirez, and Arusi Santi make up the ensemble, with swings Amy Lizardo, Kayla Quiroz, Sage, and Gus Stuckey rounding out the company. Casting is by Victor Vazquez and Duncan Stewart.
The production features music supervision by Nadia DiGiallonardo, scenic design by Arnulfo Maldonado, costume design by Wilberth Gonzalez and Paloma Young, lighting design by Natasha Katz, sound design by Walter Trarbach, and projection design by Hana S. Kim. Roberto Sinha is music director. Molly Meg Legal serves as production stage manager, with assistant stage managers Alfredo Macias and Cate Agis.
Visit AmericanRepertoryTheater.org.
