Artistic Director’s Welcome
I am thrilled to welcome you to REAL WOMEN HAVE CURVES!
Real Women Have Curves does what I believe musicals do best: move us through music, song, dance, and laughter, while simultaneously bringing us face-to-face with pressing issues of our time. In conversation with the other works in our season, this world premiere musical is an empowering story that explores the American dream, family, friendship, and what it means to feel welcome in our country.
This production was born from the collaboration of an incredible creative team, who adapted this new musical from the original play by Josefina López and the beloved film starring America Ferrera. With an original score by Grammy-winning recording artist Joy Huerta (from world-renowned Mexican pop duo Jesse & Joy) and Fred Ebb Award winner Benjamin Velez (Kiss My Aztec), this musical’s book is written by award-winning playwright Lisa Loomer (Roe; The Waiting Room; Girl, Interrupted) with additional material by Nell Benjamin (Mean Girls, Legally Blonde: The Musical).
Leading the team, Sergio Trujillo returns to the A.R.T. as director and choreographer. Sergio last directed and co-choreographed Arrabal at the A.R.T. in 2017, and is joined by previous A.R.T. collaborators including music supervisor Nadia DiGiallonardo (Waitress, Pippin), lighting designer Natasha Katz (The Glass Menagerie, Once, The Servant of Two Masters, Hedda Gabler, King Lear, Mastergate) and costume designer Paloma Young (Natasha, Pierre & the Great Comet of 1812; The Tempest). We welcome to the A.R.T. for the first time, set designer Arnulfo Maldonado, costume designer Wilberth Gonzalez, sound designer Walter Trarbach, video designer Hana S. Kim, hair, wig & make-up designer Krystal Balleza, and music director Roberto Sinha.
One of the A.R.T.’s core values is to lead with inquiry and ask questions in the spirit of brave curiosity in the never-ending journey of learning and growth. In collaboration with our creative and engagement teams, we develop an “essential question” for every production that we stage, which we share with our audiences, our students, our staff and our community. For this world premiere musical, we invite you to engage with this question: How do the curves of life teach us about who we are?
Thank you for coming to the theater and joining us!
Diane Paulus
Terrie and Bradley Bloom Artistic Director
American Repertory Theater
Terrie and Bradley Bloom Artistic Director:
Diane Paulus
Executive Director:
Kelvin Dinkins, Jr.
REAL WOMEN HAVE CURVES
Creative Team
First performance at the Loeb Drama Center on December 6, 2023.
Media Support of Real Women Have Curves is provided by WBUR.
A.R.T. Season support is provided by Harvard University, The Barr Foundation, The Bob and Alison Murchison New Work Development Fund, The Shubert Foundation, National Endowment for the Arts, Massachusetts Cultural Council, Barton & Guestier, and Meyer Sound.
The A.R.T. 2023/24 Season is supported in part by the Massachusetts Cultural Council, which receives support from the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and the National Endowment for the Arts.
Runtime: 2 hours and 40 minutes, including one 20-minute intermission
This production stages and discusses xenophobic commentary, racism, sexual themes, and body shaming, and contains haze and fog. Recommended for sixth grade and up.
Company & Staff
Cast (in Alphabetical Order)
Prima Flaca
Shelby Acosta
Prima Flaca
Shelby Acosta
(she/her) A.R.T.: Debut. Broadway: 1776 (Standby), Roundabout. Off-Broadway: Emojiland (Offstage Principal Understudy), The Duke on 42nd. Tour: 1776 (Sec. Charles Thomson, First National). Regional: Into the Woods (Cinderella), Zach Scott Theatre; In the Heights (Nina), UTEP Dinner Theatre. Concerts: 35mm: A Musical Exhibition, 54 Below. Education/
Actors’ Equity Association member
Izel
Satya Chávez
Izel
Satya Chávez
A.R.T.: Debut. Regional: Romance Depot, Goodman Theatre; Where Did We Sit on the Bus?, Marin Theatre Company, Cleveland Play House, Colorado Springs Fine Arts Center, Actors Theatre of Louisville; American Mariachi, Alabama Shakespeare Festival, Dallas Theater Center, South Coast Repertory, Arizona Theatre Company; Refuge, The Happiest Song Plays Last, Curious Theatre Company; Othello, Twelfth Night, Colorado Shakespeare Fest; Jesus Christ Superstar, Arvada Center. Workshops: Ghost of Lote Bravo, Undesirables, John F. Kennedy Center. Education: BFA, Acting, University of Colorado.
Actors’ Equity Association member
Estela
Florencia Cuenca
Estela
Florencia Cuenca
(she/ella) A.R.T.: Debut. Off-Broadway: A Never Ending Line, Children of Salt (NYMF 2016 Best of Fest). Off-Off-Broadway: Desaparecidas (HOLA Awards Nominee). International: Shrek the Musical. Concerts: Broadway en Spanglish, Lincoln Center, Joe’s Pub, Little Island, MASS MoCA; Jaime Lozano & The Familia, Lincoln Center, Joe’s Pub. Album: Aquí: Los Nuevos Standards (Hot House Jazz Award 2016 for Best New Jazz Artist). Mexican Immigrant. HOLA Award Winner for Outstanding Performance in Musical Theater.
Actors’ Equity Association member
Ana
Lucy Godínez
Ana
Lucy Godínez
(she/her) A.R.T.: Debut. Regional: Something Rotten! (Bea), Fulton Theatre/
Actors’ Equity Association member
Mrs. Wright
Yvette González-Nacer
Mrs. Wright
Yvette González-Nacer
(she/her) A.R.T.: Debut. Broadway: Hadestown (Fate, Original Broadway Cast); Moulin Rouge! The Musical (Satine, First Broadway National Tour); In the Heights (Vanessa, First Broadway National Tour). Regional: West Side Story (Rosalia), Sacramento Music Circus; Sweet Charity (Nickie), Reprise 2.0; 3 Mo’ Divas (Diva, First National Tour); Much Ado About Nothing; Corridos REMIX (Craig Noel Award for Outstanding Female Lead), San Diego Repertory Theatre. Film: Replica. TV: Guest Starring roles on “9-1-1,” “Madam Secretary,” “Criminal Minds,” “Goldie & Bear,” ChaCha in FOX’s Grease: Live; “The Fresh Beat Band” (Emmy Award-winning series, two Imagen Award nominations for Best Actress).
Actors’ Equity Association member
Pancha
Carla Jimenez
Pancha
Carla Jimenez
(she/her) A.R.T.: Debut. Regional: Black Butterfly, House of Bernarda Alba, Mark Taper Forum; La Posada Mágica, South Coast Rep. National Tour: The Mikado. TV: “The Mick” (Alba), “Raising Hope” (Rosa), “Last Man Standing” (Blanca), “The Good Doctor,” “Freeridge,” “The Mindy Project,” “Desperate Housewives,” “Better Off Ted.” Film: Nacho Libre (Candidia), Friendsgiving (Nurse Julie), Spies in Disguise (Geraldine), Lady in the Water. Album: Mondo Christmas.
Actors’ Equity Association member
Carmen
Justina Machado
Carmen
Justina Machado
(she/her) A.R.T.: Debut. Broadway: In the Heights (Daniela); A Free Man of Color, Lincoln Center. TV: “One Day at a Time” (Penelope Diaz; two Imagen Foundation Awards, Critics’ Choice Award nominee), “The Horror of Dolores Roach” (Dolores Roach), “Six Feet Under” (Vanessa Diaz; SAG Award), “Queen of the South” (Brenda Parra), “Jane the Virgin” (Darcy Factor).
Actors’ Equity Association member
Raúl
Edward Padilla
Raúl
Edward Padilla
(he/him) A.R.T.: Debut. Opera: The Marriage of Figueroa, LA Opera Connects. Regional: Matthew Modine Saves the Alpacas (Abraham), Geffen Playhouse. TV/
Actors’ Equity Association member
Henry
Mason Reeves
Henry
Mason Reeves
(he/him) A.R.T.: Debut. National Tour: Frozen (Kristoff, First Natl.) Regional: Footloose (Ren), MUNY; Once On This Island (Daniel), PCLO; Mamma Mia! (Sky), Connecticut Repertory Theatre. University: We Are Proud to Present… (Actor 2), The Last Days of Judas Iscariot (Jesus of Nazareth). Film: Inhuman (Elliot). Proud graduate of the University of Michigan.
Actors’ Equity Association member
Rosalí
Jennifer Sánchez
Rosalí
Jennifer Sánchez
(she/her) A.R.T.: Debut. Broadway: The Rose Tattoo, Pretty Woman (OBC, cast album), Sunday in the Park with George (Nurse, cast album), On Your Feet! (OBC, cast album), Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark, Ghost (OBC), Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown (OBC, cast album), West Side Story (Rosalía, cast album, Chita Rivera Award). Off-Broadway: The Alchemist, Little Miss Sunshine, I’m Getting My Act Together and Taking It on the Road. Film: Mikey’s Army. OCU alumna.
Actors’ Equity Association member
Prima Fulvia
Sandra Valls
Prima Fulvia
Sandra Valls
(she/her) A.R.T.: Debut. Off-Broadway: Latina Christmas Special (Lead/Writer), Soho Playhouse. Regional: Roe (Connie Gonzalez; B. Iden Payne Award nominee), Zach Scott Theatre; Frida (Chavela Vargas), CASA 0101. Workshops: Guys and Dolls, Roundabout Theatre. Film/
Actors’ Equity Association member
Ensemble
Shadia Fairuz
Ensemble
Shadia Fairuz
(she/her) A.R.T.: Debut. Broadway: Sing Street (u/s Penny, Sandra; First Natl. Broadway Tour), On Your Feet!(u/s Gloria Fajardo, Consuelo). Off-Broadway: I Like It Like That. Regional: On Your Feet! (Gloria Fajardo), North Carolina Theatre (BroadwayWorld Raleigh Best Supporting Nominee); In the Heights (Daniela, Camila), La Mirada Theatre, Saugatuck PAC (BroadwayWorld Best Actor Nominee), Engeman Theater, GALA Theatre (Helen Hayes Best Supporting Actor Nominee), Axelrod PAC. TV/
Actors’ Equity Association member
Ensemble
Elisa Galindez
Ensemble
Elisa Galindez
(she/her) A.R.T.: Debut. Off-Broadway: Powerline Road. Regional: Head Over Heels (Pamela), Dirty Minds Theatre Co; West Side Story (Rosalia), Maltz Jupiter Theatre; Evita (Ensemble), Bay Street Theater; Hair (Dionne u/s), Pentangle Arts. Readings: Tears of La Llorona (Llorona), Theater Latté Da; Tap In: A New Musical (Ensemble); Queen Anne: A New Musical (Bloody Mary).
Actors’ Equity Association member
Ensemble
Michael Keyloun
Ensemble
Michael Keyloun
(he/him) A.R.T.: Debut. Off-Broadway: Rocket to the Moon, Peccadillo Theater Co; Drop Dead Perfect, Theatre at St. Clement’s. Regional: St. Louis Rep, Syracuse Stage, Pioneer Theatre Co, Asolo Rep, Denver Center, Shakespeare Theatre Co, Long Wharf, Hartford Stage, Goodspeed Musicals, Cincinnati Playhouse, Actors Theatre of Louisville, La Jolla Playhouse, among others. TV: “FBI: Most Wanted,” “The Equalizer,” “The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel,” “The Blacklist,” “Alternatino with Arturo Castro.” Education/Training: MFA, UCSD.
Actors’ Equity Association member
Ensemble
Christopher M. Ramirez
Ensemble
Christopher M. Ramirez
(he/him) A.R.T.: Real Women Have Curves. Off-Broadway: As You Like It (Touchstone), Delacorte Theater. Regional: Living and Breathing, Two River Theater; HAIR, Destiny of Desire, Twelfth Night, The Old Globe; Disney’s Freaky Friday, La Jolla Playhouse; Quixote Nuevo, Denver Center; Lookingglass Alice, Baltimore Center Stage; Man of La Mancha, Barrington Stage. TV: “Instinct,” “FBI,” CBS. Education/
Actors’ Equity Association member
Ensemble
Arusi Santi
Ensemble
Arusi Santi
(he/him) A.R.T.: Debut. Regional: A Christmas Carol, Guthrie Theater; Somewhere Over the Border, City Theatre, Syracuse Stage, Geva Theatre; Blood Knot, Flat Rock Playhouse; On Your Feet!, Aurora Theatre; Ironbound, B Street Theatre, MOXIE Theatre; Once (San Diego Theatre Critics Circle Award), Chaps, Lamb’s Players Theatre; Moon Over Buffalo, North Coast Rep; Annie Get Your Gun, The Liar, Creede Repertory Theatre; Clandestino, Mixed Blood Theatre. UK: Much Ado About Nothing, Edinburgh Fringe Festival. Mexico: La Alondra, Teatro UNAM. TV: “Naomi,” “El hotel de los secretos,” “Hasta que te conocí.” Training: University of Minnesota/
Actors’ Equity Association member
Swing
Amy Lizardo
Swing
Amy Lizardo
(she/her) A.R.T.: Debut. Regional: Twelfth Night; It’s Christmas, Carol!; The Tempest; Mother Road; La Comedia of Errors, Oregon Shakespeare Festival; Heisenberg, Rogue Theater Company; Mother Road, Arena Stage; Men on Boats, A Christmas Carol, The Unfortunates, American Conservatory Theater; Party People, Berkeley Repertory Theatre; The Rules, Dogfight, San Francisco Playhouse. Education: MA in Theatre, San Jose State University.
Actors’ Equity Association member
Swing
Kayla Quiroz
Swing
Kayla Quiroz
(she/her) A.R.T.: Debut. Regional: The Comedy of Errrorrs (Luciana), Pericles Prince of Tyre (Thaliard/
Swing
Gus Stuckey
Swing
Gus Stuckey
(he/they) A.R.T.: Debut. Off-Off-Broadway: To Let Go and Fall (Arthur 25), Stay True Theatre. Educational: Bandstand (Donny Novitski), Six Degrees of Separation (Paul), Macbeth (Duncan/
Standby for Henry
Sage
Standby for Henry
Sage
(they/them) A.R.T.: Debut. National Tour: Hairspray (Gilbert/Seaweed u/s). Regional: Chess (ensemble), Rent (Ensemble), The Color Purple (Swing), Beautiful (Swing), Camelot (Ensemble), The Muny; Spring Awakening (Moritz), Short North Stage; Little Shop of Horrors (Audrey 2), Carnegie Theatre; Pippin (Berthe/player), CCM. Education: University of Cincinnati-Conservatory of Music.
Understudies
Understudies never substitute for listed players unless a specific announcement for the appearance is made at the time of the performance.
Musicians
Additional Staff
Access Staff
A.R.T. Staff
Terrie and Bradley Bloom Artistic Director:
Diane Paulus
Executive Director:
Kelvin Dinkins, Jr.
SENIOR STAFF
Public Relations Director: Rebecca Curtiss
General Manager: Connor Davis
Managing Director: Anna Fitzloff
Director of Finance: Julia Goldmacher
Senior Theater and Facilities Manager: Tracy Keene
Producer: Mark Lunsford
Director of Production: Krystin Matsumoto
Director of Artistic Programs & Dramaturg: Ryan McKittrick
Interim Director of Development: Sarah McLellan
Associate Artistic Director: Dayron J. Miles
Director of Marketing and Communications: Jennifer Weissman
STAFF
Artistic & EngagementArtistic Coordinator & Special Assistant to the Artistic Director: Karina Cowperthwaite ProducingLine Producer: Emma Watt Marketing & CommunicationsAssociate Director, Marketing and Communications: Susanna Jackson DevelopmentAssociate Director, Advancement & Development Engagement: Michael Winn FacilitiesDirector, Capital Projects: Peter Atkinson FinanceController: Toufiq Aitelfqih Patron ServicesHead of Patron Services: Emma Putnam |
ProductionProduction Manager: Skip Curtiss ScenicInterim Technical Director: Ross Wick Stage OperationsStage Operations Manager: Kevin Belcher CostumesCostume Manager: Muriel Mangual-Bennett WardrobeWardrobe Manager: Alycia Marucci SoundSound Manager: Camilo Atehortua LightingLighting and Projections Supervisor: Matthew Adelman PropertiesProperties Manager: Erin Kehr Production OverhireScenic Overhire: Elijah Akindolie, Elijah Brown, Dean Covert, Ronald Demarco, Thomas Eckenfels, Michael Greene, Riahna Graciani, Martha Keslar, Courntey Licata, Aiden Marshall, Wesley Scanlon |
Special Thanks
Ira Pittleman Productions, Stan Ponte, Michael P. Kruke, Ramesh Narasimhan, John Gore Organization
Peggy Koenig, Peter May, The Nederlander Organization, Independent Presenters Network, The Shubert Organization, Networks Presentations, Jared King, James R. Schnepper, Jayne Barron Sherman, Michael Valdes, Currant Productions, Ronald Lieberman & Lauren Schwartz, Guimarin Family, Sam & Joan Weissman
Todd D. Dellaporta, Emma Rogers, Mireya Sanchez-Maes
Christopher Schramm, Daylee Richardson, Erin West, Dayne Sabatos, Carmen Gee, Arel Studios
Rehearsed at New 42nd Street Studios
Lighting Equipment provided by Production Resources Group; Sound Equipment provided by Meyer Sound; Additional Sound and Projections Equipment provided by Sound Associates, Inc.; Wigs provided by The Wig Associates; Chain Motor rental provided by Christie Lites; Automation equipment provided by Creative Connors, Inc.; Rehearsal Props rental provided by BB Props
The actors and stage managers employed in this production are members of Actors’ Equity Association, the union of professional actors and stage managers in the United States.
The Director and Choreographer of this production are members of the STAGE DIRECTORS AND CHOREOGRAPHERS SOCIETY, a national theatrical labor union.
United Scenic Artists represents the designers and scenic painters for the American Theatre.
The musicians employed in this production are members of the American Federation of Musicians.
Explore
Resources for Healing
Harvard-trained psychologist Dr. Charmain Jackman offers support for audiences through culturally responsive, trauma-informed lens.
Learn More
Harvard-trained psychologist Dr. Charmain Jackman offers support for audiences through culturally responsive, trauma-informed lens.
Learn More
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
Entr’acte
Done With It All
Adios Andrés
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
Glossary
The following is a list of translations of some of the Spanish words used in Real Women Have Curves.
chingona (adj., n.) – boss, freaking awesome
chisme (n.) – gossip, tidbit
fuchi (adj.) – yucky
jefa (n.) – boss (who is a woman)
mi gente (n.) – my people
la migra (n.) – used to refer to US Immigration and Customs Enforcement
mija (n.) – shortened version of mi hija, my daughter, often used as a term of endearment
mira (v.) – look
mole (n.) – a thick, rich, spicy Mexican sauce made with many ingredients
niña (n.) – girl
oye (v.) – listen
panadería (n.) – bakery
pero (prep., conj.) – but
pinche (adj.) – damn, friggin’
plancha (n.) – iron
pobrecita (n.) – poor thing
pues/pos (conj.) – well
quinceañera (n.) – the celebration of a girl’s fifteenth birthday
reina (n.) – queen
siempre (adv.) – always
sinvergüenza (adj., n.) – shameless
toma (v.) – take it
viejo/vieja (adj., n.) – old man or old woman (but endearing)