The moment Broadway director and choreographer Sergio Trujillo first encountered Real Women Have Curves, he initially dismissed it. His husband, Jack Noseworthy, a producer who co-runs Truworthy Productions, dedicated to showcasing Latino stories that uplift the community through the magic of musical theater, had watched the iconic 2002 film starring America Ferrera. He encouraged Trujillo to explore the narrative, believing it held the potential to evolve into “a truly captivating musical.”
“Given his deep connection with my family — my mother, my sisters, and all the strong women in my life — he sensed a unique opportunity within it,” Trujillo, originally from Colombia, shares with Billboard Español. “I was so engrossed in various other projects at the time that I glanced at it but didn’t truly engage.”
One evening, he decided to revisit the concept, discovering that it began as a play by Josefina López, a fact he quickly researched. “Upon my first read, I thought, ‘Oh my God, this is a musical! The characters leap off the page; they are larger than life. The dialogue flows like music, it’s so rhythmic and vibrant. The narrative is profoundly beautiful,” he joyfully reminisces. “A particular line spoken by Ana — ‘Women are most powerful when they work together’ — resonated with me on a personal level more than anything else.”
Taking place in the Boyle Heights neighborhood of Los Angeles in 1987, Real Women Have Curves narrates the story of Ana García, an endearing, intelligent young woman of immigrant parents grappling with her aspirations to attend college against her mother’s traditional desires for her to marry, bear children, and manage the struggling family-owned textile factory. The production tackles critical themes such as gender politics and the immigrant experience, showcasing challenges like immigration enforcement affecting families, societal judgment, and the seemingly unattainable dreams faced by many undocumented individuals.
Trujillo, who identifies as an immigrant and is one of the few men in his family, felt a profound sense of connection to the narrative. “It struck me as a fantastic opportunity to not only uplift our community but also celebrate the stories of my mother, sisters, and aunts — all the resilient women who have sacrificed so much to pave the way for my success,” he reflects. And with this vision, he embarked on his creative journey.
After its official opening on April 27 at the James Earl Jones Theatre, Real Women Have Curves: The Musical garnered nominations for two prestigious Tony Awards at the upcoming ceremony: one for best original score, crafted by Latin music sensation Joy Huerta (half of the acclaimed Mexican pop duo Jesse & Joy) and Benjamin Velez, and the other for best performance by an actress in a featured role, awarded to Justina Machado, who has come full circle by portraying Carmen García, Ana’s mother, more than three decades after she originally played Ana at the Victory Gardens Theater in Chicago.
The nominations received by both Huerta and Machado are particularly noteworthy. Huerta, a Grammy-winning artist, was new to the theater scene, while Machado — whom Trujillo had collaborated with over two decades ago and had always envisioned as his Carmen — initially hesitated to embrace the role due to her doubts about fitting into it.
“When I performed in the play at the age of 20, it represented a different type of character. Watching the film, featuring the legendary Lupe Ontiveros, I simply couldn’t imagine myself stepping into that role,” Machado expresses to Billboard. “I needed some persuasion to participate in a 29-hour reading, which is one of the initial steps in developing a new musical or play.”
Despite her limited experience, having appeared in TV hits like Six Feet Under and One Day at a Time, and only a brief stint as a replacement for In The Heights’s Daniela in 2009, the actress made the journey from Los Angeles to New York for the reading.
Upon arrival, she discovered a lighter, more encouraging interpretation of Carmen, along with an array of inspiring songs — from the uplifting anthem “Flying Away” to the comedic “Adiós Andes,” an entertaining tribute to menopause that she delivers with flair during the performance. (Listeners can enjoy the complete album of Real Women Have Curves: The Musical online.)
“Ultimately, it was the music that drew me in,” Machado confesses. “I was completely enamored with the melodies. However, I initially needed convincing that I was the right person to embody this character.”
As much as Machado cherished the music, the creators felt equally inspired by her. Huerta, who joined the project early as a songwriter and attended that first reading, reminisces about the impact Machado had on her. “Justina was the first person who proclaimed, ‘This is a non-negotiable for me,’” she reveals to Billboard. “I had never experienced – well, I had felt it with music, but witnessing someone perform so passionately made me forget the world around me. I thought, ‘We absolutely need to secure her. … What can we do to make this happen?’”
“Sergio truly played a crucial role in persuading me,” Machado acknowledges, reflecting on the perseverance of the team. “They were incredibly persistent, and I’m grateful they were. … I never imagined I’d be revisiting this play in such a transformed format, and it genuinely functions as a musical. It feels like it was always meant to be a musical. The beauty of it is undeniable.”
Even though it did not secure a Tony nomination for best musical or best actress, despite receiving widespread acclaim for the production and for Tatianna Córdoba, who makes her Broadway debut as Ana, the talented cast of Real Women Have Curves will showcase their talent at the awards ceremony on Sunday evening.
Trujillo aspires for his endeavors to amplify the representation of Latinos on Broadway to resonate with his intended audience. “I am committed to empowering our community by creating narratives where they can truly see themselves,” he shares. “However, it’s crucial for them to attend the theater and show their support. I need the Latino community to step up and participate.”
