“Real Women Have Curves” is headed to Broadway. The new musical, which played a world premiere engagement in 2023 at American Repertory Theater (A.R.T.) in Cambridge, Massachusetts, is aiming to open on Broadway in 2025. Tony Award winner Sergio Trujillo will reprise his double-duty as director and choreographer for the Broadway mounting. The production will be produced by Barry Weissler, Fran Weissler and Jack Noseworthy.
Featuring a score by Grammy Award winner Joy Huerta and Benjamin Velez, the 1980s-set “Real Women Have Curves” chronicles Ana, whose ambition to leave the Los Angeles of her youth behind and move to New York City is at odds with the expectations mapped out by her immigrant parents — namely, to work at a garment factory alongside her mother to help support their family. Lisa Loomer’s book for “Real Women Have Curves,” which features additional material by Tony nominee Nell Benjamin, is based on a play by Josefina López and the HBO movie of the same name, penned by López and George LaVoo. Nadia DiGiallonardo will serve as music supervisor.
“I am thrilled to be a part of bringing ‘Real Women Have Curves’ to Broadway,” said Huerta in a statement. “Songwriting for theater is a new undertaking for me, and it’s been a thrill to collaborate with Sergio, Benjamin, Lisa, Nell and the rest of this extremely talented team. Ana’s story is such a powerful and universal one that already holds so much cultural relevance, and we look forward to bringing it to new audiences in this musical format.”
Huerta is half of the Mexican pop duo Jesse & Joy, a collaboration with her sibling Jesse Huerta. The pair earned a Best Latin Pop Album Grammy Award for their 2015 release “One More Kiss.” A winner of six Latin Grammy Awards, Huerta has also released several solo albums.
Velez composed the music and co-wrote the lyrics for the musical “Kiss My Aztec,” which features a book by John Leguizamo and has played at La Jolla Playhouse, Berkeley Repertory Theater, and Hartford Stage. Velez wrote the music and lyrics for the Public Theater’s 2023 Public Works adaptation of Shakespeare’s “The Tempest.”
Loomer’s plays include “The Waiting Room” and “Roe.” She co-wrote the screenplay for the 1999 drama “Girl, Interrupted.”
Benjamin is a two-time Best Original Score Tony nominee for “Mean Girls” and “Legally Blonde.”
Trujillo won the 2019 Best Choreography Tony Award for “Ain’t Too Proud.” He was previously nominated in 2016 for “On Your Feet!” His main stem choreographer credits include “Jersey Boys,” Memphis” and “Summer.”
The production’s timeline, venue, casting and additional creative team members will be announced.
“Real Women Have Curves” is being produced in association with Peggy Koenig, Stan Ponte, the John Gore Organization (the parent company of Broadway News), Ira Pittelman, Michael Valdes, Michael P. Kruke, the Nederlander Organization, Ramesh Narasimhan, Emerald Drive, HGH Productions, Jared King, Peter May, James R. Schnepper and Jayne Baron Sherman.
