Real Women Have Curves: The Musical will play its final Broadway performance on June 29 following 31 previews and 73 regular performances.
The musical opened April 27 at The James Earl Jones Theatre to mostly favorable reviews, but never really caught on at the box office during a spring that saw huge receipts for star-driven productions. For the week ending June 15, Real Women Have Curves filled only 63% of available receipts, grossing just $365,252 with an average ticket price of $68.63.
Based on the play by Josefina López and the 2002 film adaptation starring America Ferrera, Real Women Have Curves focuses on a group of immigrants working at a small dress-making shop in East L.A. The musical mixes family drama and self-acceptance with larger social themes about immigration, with the threat of deportation ever present.
“We have been working on developing this show for the last five years and could have never predicted that when it made its way to Broadway it would be timelier than ever,” said producers Barry Weissler and Jack Noseworthy in a statement. “Bringing this joyful immigrant story that explores the American Dream to the stage has been an honor and a responsibility that we don’t take lightly, especially in today’s political climate.
“We are grateful,” they continued, “to our company and audiences who made it all possible, and especially applaud our cast’s courage, vulnerability, and authenticity in telling this story each night. Though our run on Broadway is coming to an end, we are very much looking forward to the future life of Real Women Have Curves and continuing to bring this important story to new audiences.”
The musical received two Tony Award nominations – Best Original Score and, for Justina Machado, Best Featured Actress in a Musical – but went home empty-handed earlier this month.
The musical stars Broadway newcomer Tatianna Córdoba, Florencia Cuenca, Shelby Acosta, Carla Jimenez, Aline Mayagoitia, Mauricio Mendoza, Mason Reeves, Jennifer Sánchez and Sandra Valls.
The musical was directed and choreographed by Sergio Trujillo, with music and lyrics by Joy Huerta and Benjamin Velez, and book by Lisa Loomer with Nell Benjamin.
American Repertory Theater (A.R.T) at Harvard University produced the musical’s world premiere in 2023.
