NEW YORK — Real Women Have Curves, the new musical with music and lyrics by Joy Huerta and Benjamin Velez and a book by Lisa Loomer with Neil Benjamin, opened this past Sunday, April 27th. I was lucky enough to have a trip planned to NYC, and was invited to attend the show May 3rd. Based on the play by Josefina Lopez, that was then made into a movie with America Ferrera, I was thrilled to attend because it covered so many of the things I love. Good music, women of realistic size, and issues surrounding immigration. Looking at the world we now live in, I could not imagine a more timely production to witness.
Directed and choreographed by Sergio Trujillo, this production is oozing with representation. As the mother of a biracial daughter who is starting college in mere months, majoring in costume design, I confess that the minute I stepped into the theatre, I felt the impact of what this means for people like my daughter, who do not often see themselves on stage. Just like seeing Here Lies Love a few years ago, the impact of this story begins from the second you walk into the theatre. The vibrant colors from the merchandise to the scrim give the clue that the production is going to be full of life and exciting music. What I was not quite as prepared for was the emotional connection I would feel and the empowering mood it gave the entire theatre by the end of the show. In full disclosure, there could not be a show better designed for my demographic. My dissertation is on refugee women and job searching, and multicultural counseling has been a large part of my psychological practice. So combining my love of theatre in a show about women working in factory, struggling through the complications of immigration, while the youngest of the cast prepares for college just as I send my daughter off to college? Yes, I might be biased. The joy I felt at seeing an entire show and production team made up of under-represented communities who get a chance to tell their stories was more than I can possibly express.
Acknowledging that, the importance of this story cannot be overstated. From the opening number, “Make It Work”, it is clear that this ensemble of women, many making their Broadway debuts after decades of beautiful work in the regional circuit, feel this subject in their souls. The way the choreography by Trujillo is blended so seamlessly (pun intended) with the sewing machines and dresses endeared me quickly to the characters. This fast paced character development only deepened with each song and subsequent number. Tatiana Cordoba as Ana really sells the challenge of being the aspiring daughter of immigrants in the song “Flying Away”, and shows a great deal of growth in her character not only in the music, but in the story as she learns about the challenges of her coworkers and family in deep and meaningful ways. Her voice is golden and her personality is adorable, yet she also seems to feel every moment more and more intimately as the show progresses.
The roots of family love laced with generational trauma showed the strength of Trujillo’s direction as well as the beautiful connection between the mother, played by Justina Machado, Florencia Cuenca as older sister and factory boss Estela, and the previously mentioned Cordoba. From their humourous number “De Nada” in the beginning with Mauricio Mendoza as Raul (father) joining them, to the wrenching end of act one, “Oye Muchacha”, the emotions of love, stress, jealousy, and deep concern were in full force. Additionally, Cordoba’s concern about the immigration situation of Itzel, played by Aline Mayagoitia, drew me in completely. There is a scene where an ICE raid happens at a nearby factory, and the haunting fear and reality of that moment brings such understanding that I wish could be viewed by more people that may be struggling to find compassion for the controversial subject. 
An entire piece could be dedicated just to the costume design by Wilberth Gonzalez and Paloma Young. Because the show is set in a dress factory, the show is laced with so many visual pleasures with not only the costumes the cast are wearing, but also the prop dresses they are making. Cuenca’s Estela not only dreams of designing her own clothing while being forced to make the dresses assigned to her, she is trapped by her immigration status and other difficulties that bring humanity to the show immensely. In the number “Daydream”, the haunting realities of being trapped by work, immigration status, financial status, and family obligations become wrapped up on stage with images of travel, artistry, and dresses coming from the top of the stage. The bright colors, unabashed joy with the dresses at the very end of the show, and the moments when the clothing match the personality of the characters, I have rarely seen a show where the costuming was so in sync with the storytelling of the show.
In the second act the title number, “Real Women Have Curves”, is a real show stopper with the full cast embracing their size, shape and situation. The absolute joy in that number made me want to get up and dance with them, but I did restrain myself. I have never been considered a thin woman, and have spent too many years feeling ashamed of it. Seeing these women embrace it made me so happy and woke something up inside of me.
In New York, the award season is essential, and Real Women Have Curves has received a few nominations, but in my opinion not enough. This show hits on things relevant to today, and the fact that it is not getting as much attention as some of the other shows this year on Broadway is baffling. Stories like this are essential. I could take the time to call out each element and still not praise it enough. In a world where we are taught too often to vilify the other, taking the time to see the beauty and humanity in this story was the healing I needed. If this show closes sooner than it should, I hope it gains life as a tour, or in regional markets. Representation matters in the stories we tell on stage. As a performer, I gave up too early because performers never had my curves. I now have two biracial daughters, one who is budding actress and costume designer, another who is a talented musician. My only regret in seeing this show is that I did not have them with me. 
