‘Real Women Have Curves,’ the play, opening in La Habra

The Phantom Projects Theatre at La Habra Depot presents a production of Josefina López’s “Real Women Have Curves” with an all-Latina cast. This play is Guadalupe N. Garcia’s directorial debut. 

Many are familiar with this story because of the 2002 dramatic movie starring America Ferrera, but the play is more of a comedy and centers around the oldest sister named Estela, played by comedian Maria De La Ghetto. 

This is De La Ghetto’s first role as an adult in a play and she couldn’t be more excited. She feels connected to Estela’s character in a way that makes her relatable. 

“Everything about her, physically, how she feels, all the internalized stuff that she's got going on, to what she's doing in life… it's just so relatable. I am very blessed that I could have this character that I find so much in common,” De La Ghetto said. 

She started her journey as a comedian at the age of 16. Her acting education specializes in the Meisner technique, which she learned at the Playhouse West in North Hollywood. 

Getting the role to star in “Real Women Have Curves” this year came full circle for De La Ghetto when she met López during the 2023 Latina Writer’s Conference where she performed a stand-up set. 

Instead of the play set in the late 1980s, the director is taking this story into a contemporary view with Gen Z, millennial, and Gen X characters, a perspective that younger audiences can relate to.. 

“In the movie, it's more about a coming-of-age story with Anna. In the play, there is self-discovery, but it talks a lot about immigration issues, menopause, being a woman owning her own business… wanting to feel seen,” De La Ghetto said.

“The movie cut out a lot of really important issues that should be touched on. But, you know, it was 2002, they weren't ready,” she said with a chuckle. 

Another take that differs from the film is that the story doesn’t end with the character Ana not getting a hug from her mother when she goes off to college. 

“I think oftentimes we don't get those positive reflections of how things could work out, how things can benefit you in the long run. I think that that's more my vision. It's very bright and very modern,” director Garcia said. 

One of Garcia’s inspirations for giving this play a modern setting was her students at the Title 1 school she is substitute teacher at. Garcia knows that kids need a reflection of a young, Chicana woman such as Ana being successful, that is going places and that they’re not alone, as a way to  help  them understand that they can accomplish their goals and dreams. 

Garcia graduated from California State University, Fullerton, where she majored in theater with an emphasis in directing and ethnic studies (Chicana/o). It’s her artistic mission to bring her studies together in her work.

First-generation Chicana Gabriela Machuca plays Ana's role. She didn’t want to be an actor growing up, but because of encouragement from friends from high school, she gave it a shot and has been performing since. 

She’s pursuing her master’s degree at CSUF and dreams of becoming a fully working actor.  

Representation matters to Machuca. She knows the importance for someone like herself to be starring in roles that are not commonly found in the industry.

“We don't have enough of each other and I think we need more. We have so much variety in terms of what it means to be Latinx and all of them deserve to be told, not just ones that are focused on crime or tragedy,” Machuca said. 

“We need to have our comedies. We need to have our pride. For me, it's really all about humanizing our community and being able to share the joy that we have that, unfortunately, people don't realize, or don't want to see,” she said.

Machuca performed the role of Julia in “I Am Not Your Perfect Mexican Daughter,” directed by Sara Guerrero, earlier this year. The play was adapted from the book by Erika Sánchez and is getting a film adaptation with Ferrera directing. 

“I don't know what I would do without that cast and with Gabby as Julia, it was incredible. I'm really proud of her. I was excited. I feel so blessed to have had her in the cast,” Guerrero said. 

Liza A. Rios plays the role of Carmen, the mother of Ana and Estela. She is a professor of communications studies at Compton Community College. 

She sees that the younger generation is struggling with anxiety and believes that everyone should have access to mental health resources. 

According to data from the Centers for Disease Control published in 2023, suicide rates among people ages 10 through 24 increased 62% between 2007 and 2021. 

“COVID-19 really kind of put a spotlight on that. Because of technology and social media, we have higher rates of depression, suicide anxiety, social anxiety, all of that in the younger generation,” Rios said.

Rios is a mother herself and feels lucky to portray Carmen in a comedic way instead of the bitter character in the film. Even though Carmen uses cuchillos(knives) with her criticisms of her daughters, there is more humor in the play and it’s more enjoyable. 

In the play, a 32-year-old character named Pancha is trying to find the light at the end of the tunnel. She’s in an abusive relationship and longs to be a mother. The character is portrayed by Miranda Romero, who has her own production company J Rollers Productions.

“Pancha is a very sensitive woman and she doesn't show that right off the bat. And I think that a lot of Hispanic women maybe don't feel safe to show those emotions right off the bat because of trauma, whatever it may be, and so we kind of mask those emotions,” Romero said. 

This all-Latina cast play also includes a character named Rosali played by Elizabeth Salazar, an actor who recently finished working on a short film called “Last Story.” She has performed in different plays and short films. She also works as a producer, casting director and assistant director. 

It was important for the cast to create a safe space during rehearsal because it allowed them to trust each other during their creative process. 

“When you are creating art, you're not flying solo. You have to trust the other people that you're collaborating with, your fellow actors, your director and everybody who contributes. If you don't have that trust, you're going to be stunted. I have to say, Guadalupe, our director, has done such a beautiful job of taking these literal strangers who never knew each other, and the way that she has navigated us makes us feel safe,” Rios said. 

“Real Women Have Curves” runs from October 4 through October 13. For tickets, visit The Phantom Projects Theatre website.