Real Women Have Curves

Set in a tiny sewing factory in East L.A., this is the outrageously funny story of five full-figured Mexican-American women who are racing to meet nearly impossible production deadlines in order to keep their tiny factory from going under. And while they work, hiding from the INS (Immigration and Naturalization Service), they talk… about their husbands and lovers, their children and their dreams for the future. The story is told from the point of view of Ana, the youngest among them. Just graduated from high school, Ana dreams of getting out of the barrio and going off to college and becoming a famous writer. Although she needs money, Ana doesn’t like working at the factory, and has little respect for the co-workers, who make fun of her ambitions and what they consider her idealistic feminist philosophies. However, Ana keeps coming to her job and chronicling here experiences in a journal. As the summer unfolds, she slowly gains an understanding and appreciation of the work and the women, eventually writing an essay that wins her a journalism fellowship which will take her to New York City. This play, a microcosm of the Latina immigrant experience, celebrates real women’s bodies, the power of women, and the incredible bond that happens when women work together.

About the playwright 

Josefina López information to come!

About the moderator

Sherronda Johnson (Stage Manager / Intimacy Choreographer / Director / Actor) is a seasoned theatre artist specializing in script analysis, character development, and theatrical insight to bring characters to life with authenticity and emotional depth. Her eye for detail and narrative structure has supported productions like Knight Songs at Blue City Cultural Center; Grease, Cinderella, Beautiful: The Carole King Musical, The Glass Menagerie, and A Raisin in the Sun at Theatre Memphis; Carmen Jones, Succession, Father Comes Home From The Wars Parts 1, 2 & 3, The Color Purple, and Porgy and Bess at Hattiloo Theatre. Passionate about collaborative communities and actor safety, Sherronda ensures every performance stays true to the script and touches the hearts of your audience.