Josefina Lopez chatted about her new play “Real Women Have Curves” on Broadway.
Background on Josefina Lopez
Josefina Lopez is a celebrated Mexican-American award-winning playwright and screenwriter.
She is best known for creating and authoring the play and co-authoring the film Real Women Have Curves, who was an undocumented five-year-old immigrant when she migrated with her family from San Luis Potosi, Mexico, to the United States in 1974 to settle in Boyle Heights, Los Angeles.
Lopez will be making her Broadway debut on Sunday, April 27, 2025.
She was undocumented for 13 years before she received Amnesty in 1987, eventually becoming a U.S. Citizen in 1995.
It was 37-years ago in March of 1988, at the age of 18, when Lopez presented some scenes from her play in progress, Real Women Have Curves, at the INTAR (International Arts Relations) Hispanic Playwrights in Residence Laboratory led by playwright María Irene Fornés in New York City.
By June of 1988, Lopez presented her first full draft of the play at INTAR.
Like the leading protagonist Ana García in her play and film who wins a journalism fellowship which takes her to New York City, now, 37-years later after she created the play, Josefina Lopez, who is the model for the character of Ana García, will return to New York City, where, at the age of 18, she dreamed that one day her play would become a Broadway musical.
Josefina Lopez’s original play and her 2002 Sundance Film Festival Audience and Jury Award-winning film of the same name, written with George LaVoo, are the source materials for the new Broadway show, Real Women Have Curves: The Musical, with Opening Night set for Sunday, April 27, 2025 at the James Earl Jones Theatre in New York City.
How does it feel to be making your Broadway debut (37 years later)?
It makes me realize that anything is possible and that dreams really do come true. I feel like I’m the embodiment of the “American Dream” and that’s why I’ve fought so hard for representation and opportunities for Latinos, women and immigrants.
What did “Real Women Have Curves” teach you about yourself?
That women are powerful and that women have value beyond our looks because women are part of nature and just like nature we have four seasons.
Although society mostly values the youth and beauty of women – her spring.
As a woman we must value that we have more seasons than that, including a stage where we get to honor our wisdom and become wise women – our winter.
My story has taught me to value every stage and season of my life and especially becoming a wise woman.
What was it like working with the cast and creative team?
It’s been so wonderful seeing all these amazingly talented people give it their 100% so that we could make it to Broadway and share with the world this amazing story that needs to be heard and understood right now.
What has been your favorite part of the theatrical experience?
Watching an audience gasp, laugh, cry, cheer and give us standing ovations. This show is a roller coaster ride of emotions and audiences have been loving it so far.
Were there any moments in your career that have helped define you?
Yes, when I was 18 my parents and my whole family saw my play and I was so moved by their response to it. It felt good knowing that they saw my talent and believed in me.
Also, when my film premiered at Sundance and it got a 10-minute standing ovation – I felt so happy for fighting for this movie to get made.
It put me on the map and it gave me a platform to teach others in my community how to tell their stories and allowed me to start my theater.
What is your advice for young and aspiring creatives that wish to go into the entertainment industry?
Tell the truth. Be outspoken. Write about your life without shame, and if you can, make it funny. You’re more likely to get your message across if it’s hilarious.
What does the word success mean to you? (My favorite question)
Success means that I’ve lived an authentic life doing what I love and being a source of inspiration for others to aspire to succeed in making their dreams come true.
What would you like to say to your readers about “Real Women Have Curves”? (What’s the one thing you want them to get out of it)
That we are all here to create, elevate and celebrate. No matter how life is going, we have the power to create the life we want by rewriting our story and not living someone else’s life.
We can elevate ourselves by being grateful for everything we have. In gratitude we no longer resist, and then we can reframe and transform our situation by turning it into a challenge, rather than a problem.
We are here to celebrate and be in joy. My story is an example of how despite something being hard work, we can still choose to be in joy, and have a sense of humor about it.
To learn more about Josefina Lopez, follow her on Instagram.
For more information on “Real Women Have Curves” on Broadway, visit its official homepage.
