The Details
Venue: The Phantom Projects Theatre at La Habra Depot
311 South Euclid Street, La Habra, CA 90631
Length: Approx 1 hour and 45 mins (plus a 15 minute intermission)
Genre: Drama/Comedy
Age Recommendation: 16 and up. Children under 10 will not be admitted to the theatre. All patrons must have a ticket. This production contains mature themes and language.
Full Policies: Click here for our full theatre/venue policies that apply to all of our performances.
October 4-13, 2024
311 South Euclid Street, La Habra, CA 90631
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All tickets are subject to an online service fee. All prices are subject to change.
ADA Seating: Row A Seats 2 and 4 (front row, right side of theatre) are colored dark blue on the theatre map. A2 has no seat and is intended for wheelchair use, and A4 is a companion seat. Please call or email the box office if you have any questions.
Directed by Guadalupe N Garcia
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.
The story, told from the point of view of Ana, the youngest among them, just graduated from high school and dreams of getting out of the barrio, going off to college and becoming a famous writer. Although she needs the money, Ana doesn’t like working at the factory and has little respect for the coworkers, who make fun of her ambitions and what they consider her idealistic feminist philosophies.
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.
Meet the Cast
Maria De La Ghetto (Estela) is a native Angeleno who has had a passion for the arts since childhood. She performed in school and neighborhood plays, which lead to her pursuit of acting as an adult. She recently had a supporting role as “Leonor” in the fourth season of the online series Undocumented Tales, written and directed by Armando Ibañez. She is also a working comedian in the Southern California area including Los Angeles, Orange County, and San Diego.
Gabriela Machuca (Ana) is a first-generation Chicana multimedia artist from dinky Redlands that accidentally fell into acting – and couldn’t be happier! Some of her favorite recent roles include Julia in I Am Not Your Perfect Mexican Daughter (Greenway Court Theatre), Marbella in La Otra Mujer (short film), and originating Gracia in Brown Face (winning a “Special Achievement in Individual Performance” award and ranking as a semi-finalist for the Irene Ryan on behalf of the Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival). Gaby has her bachelor’s degree in sociology with a minor in media and cultural studies from the University of California, Riverside; she is currently juggling her Master’s program at Cal State Fullerton with acting.
Liza A. Rios (Carmen) is muy contenta to be performing in her first production with Phantom Projects. Some of Liza’s memorable performance credits include Adelaide – Guys & Dolls, Tzietel & Golde -Fiddler On The Roof, Sister Robert Anne & Reverend Mother-Nunsense, Magenta-The Rocky Horror Show, Fraulein Schneider – Cabaret, Bubu Padoop – Dracula The Musical?!, Germaine-Picasso at The Lapin Agile, Susy-Wait Until Dark, Edna – Prisoner of 2nd Avenue produced here at The La Habra Depot Theatre. Liza can also be found performing in the classroom in her favorite role of Professor of Communication Studies. Sincere amor & thanks to her #1 fan & husband Tom (143). Much gratitude to our fabulosa directora Guadalupe N. Garcia – muchisimas gracias for leading & inspiring while creating a safe creative space to share our real women Latina stories and blend them with these beautiful characters. To the 4 newly found hijas familia who Liza gets the privilege of sharing this stage with – your immense talent, passion, vulnerability & commitment to this story is: PALABRA!
Miranda Romero (Pancha) is a dynamic talent in both theater and film, known for her love of storytelling and entertainment. Her passion for production is driven by a desire to explore and share meaningful stories that reflect real-life issues, giving purpose to her craft. Miranda’s work is rooted in a commitment to creating art that inspires conversation and brings depth to the human experience, making her a unique voice in the industry.
Elizabeth Salazar (Rosali) is a Mexican American actress who was born and raised in Texas; and is one hundred percent bilingual. She is a second generation immigrant who lived in Mexico until the age of 8. Elizabeth was extremely lucky to find her passion for acting and fall in love with the craft at a very young age. She moved to Los Angeles to pursue her childhood dream and was admitted to the Stella Adler Academy of Acting Conservatory in Los Angeles, California. Elizabeth is a passionate lover of Mexican food and is always excited to try new dishes, as long as they’re spicy! Who enjoys getting lost in books and expressing her creativity through poetry. She finds peace and inspiration at the beach, and her heart belongs to her beloved fur baby, Snow, who brings endless joy and love into her life. She recently finished working on a short film called “Last Story” written & directed by Erick Solis. Elizabeth has been part of several plays & short films. She is a hardworking, dedicated actor who is not afraid to take on challenges and has consistently demonstrated exceptional talent and skills. Elizabeth is constantly working as a producer, casting director, and assistant director; showcasing her versatility and extensive skill set in the entertainment industry. This combination of responsibilities makes her an invaluable asset to any production team.
The Production Team
Josefina López, Playwright: Although Real Women Have Curves is López’ most recognized work, it is only one of many literary and artistic works she has created since her artistic career began at 17 years old. Born in San Luis Potosí, Mexico, in 1969, López was 5 years old when she and her family immigrated to the United States and settled in the East Los Angeles neighborhood of Boyle Heights. She was undocumented for 13 years before receiving amnesty in 1987, and she eventually became a U.S. citizen in 1995. López has been an activist and has been doing public speaking for more than 20 years and has lectured on various topics including Chicano theatre, women’s history issues and minority representation in cinema at more than 200 universities including Yale, Dartmouth and USC. She has been the subject of countless TV and radio interviews in which she has passionately discussed immigration issues and other controversial subjects concerning women and minorities. López is the recipient of a number of other awards and accolades, including a formal recognition from U.S. Senator Barbara Boxer’s 7th Annual “Women Making History” banquet in 1998; and a screenwriting fellowship from the California Arts Council in 2001. She and Real Women Have Curves co-author George LaVoo won the Humanitas Prize for screenwriting in 2002, the Gabriel Garcia Marquez Award from the L.A. Mayor in 2003, and an artist-in-residency grant from the NEA/TCG for 2007. López has had more than 80 productions of her plays throughout the United States. In addition to playwriting, she also paints, writes poetry, performs, designs and is a mother of two boys and resides in L.A. She is the founding artistic director of CASA 0101 in Boyle Heights. At CASA 0101, her commitment is to teach screenwriting and playwriting and nurture a new generation of women and Latino artists. López is currently developing a musical version of Real Women Have Curves for Broadway. Her first novel, Hungry Woman in Paris, is available on Amazon as well as her two play anthologies. She wrote a play to protest SB1070 titled Detained in the Desert, which she turned into a feature film and many awards. She is working on numerous plays, screenplays and TV projects.
Guadalupe N Garcia, Director: Guadalupe N Garcia (Director) is a graduate from Cal State Fullerton, majoring in Theatre with an emphasis in directing and Ethnic Studies (Chicana/o). Her artistic mission is to blend both studies in her work. Some of her credits include assistant stage manager for Dog Man the Musical, Los Angeles leg of tour, production assistant for Fetch Clay Make Man, assistant director for Weirdo, or (Make Nice), assistant director for Delusion: Valley of Hollows and artistic consultant for Brackish. A daughter of immigrants from Mexico who worked in the garment industry, she is proud to bring to life the story of these five Latinas.
Kristin Serena, Production Stage Manager: Kristin Serena is thrilled to be onboard with another adventure with Phantom Projects. She received her BS in Theatre Arts and Psychology from Bradley University, where she learned there’s no place she’d rather be than in a theatre with a headset. When she’s not stage managing with Phantom, she can be found backstage with the fantastic MikkoMia team assisting and coordinating on concerts for names like Danny Elfman and Seth MacFarlane, or building theatrical sets at AMDA. As of late, her stage management work includes Phantom Projects’ very own Matilda Jr., Sweeney Todd, Charlotte’s Web, Mariachi Girl, The Giver (2024), and Number the Stars (2023). She would like to thank her Phantom Phamily for yet another amazing experience, and Matthew for being her rock (and keeping her sane). I could not do any of this without you, thank you for your unwavering love and support on this adventure of life.
Julianna Rossi, Assistant Stage Manager: Julianna Rossi (Assistant Stage Manager) is excited to work on Real Women Have Curves as the production ASM! Julianna starred in Phantom Projects’ #TheSocialMediaPlay (2023/2024) as Kris/Vanessa. Most of the time Julianna works as ASM with Phantom and has worked on the recent season of shows including Number the Stars (2023), The Giver (2024), Mariachi Girl (2024), Sweeney Todd (2024), and Matilda (2024). Julianna looks to pursue a career in theatre and thanks her grandfather and family for the inspiration to do so! Julianna hopes to continue working with the amazing Phantom Projects team!
Scenic Designer: Jon Gaw
Costume Designer: Zoe Wilber