Stage, TV Vets to Star in Josefina Lopez's REAL WOMEN HAVE CURVES at The Pasadena Playhouse

The cast has been announced for The Pasadena Playhouse production of REAL WOMEN HAVE CURVES by Josefina López and directed by Seema Sueko. The cast will feature Blanca Araceli (FX's The Bridge), Santana Dempsey (HBO's The Newsroom), Diana DeLaCruz (ABC Family's Chasing Life), Cristina Frias (The Motherf*cker with the Hat at South Coast Repertory), and Ingrid Oliu (HBO's Real Women Have Curves, Stand and Deliver). REAL WOMEN HAVE CURVES plays September 8 through October 4 (press opening on Sunday, September 13).

Set in a tiny sewing factory in East L.A., this award-winning comedy from acclaimed playwright Josefina López tells the story of five full-figured women racing to meet an impossible deadline to keep their sewing factory from going under. The basis for the award-winning film of the same name starring America Ferrera, REAL WOMEN HAVE CURVES celebrates real bodies, life in southern California, and the incredible bond when women work together.

The creative team for REAL WOMEN HAVE CURVES includes David F. Weiner (Scenic Designer), Abel Alvarado (Costume Designer), Josh Epstein (Lighting Designer), Cricket S. Myers (Sound Designer), Hethyr "Red" Verhoef (Production Stage Manager) and Marissa Bergman (Props Master).

Artistic Director, Sheldon Epps, says "I am thrilled that we will open our exciting 15-16 Season with Real Women Have Curves. Josefina's wonderful play is funny, sexy, moving, charming and still both timely and relevant. This is an ideal choice for Seema's second directing assignment for our main stage. I am so confident that her collaboration with Josefina and their gifted cast will launch the season splendidly. I look forward to the delightful artistry that all of these Real Women will bring to The Playhouse."

Director and Associate Artistic Director, Seema Sueko adds, "When Christina, Santana, Blanca, Ingrid and Diana walked into the audition room and read one of the scenes together, it just popped. It was electric. They were able to create a bond in the few minutes that is vital to the success of this ensemble play. The character, Ana, says it in her final monologue of the play 'Women are powerful, especially when working together,' and these five women captured that. I am so honored to work with them."

Blanca Araceli (Carmen) recently appeared as Sofia in FX's The Bridge. Her other television credits include Southland and Reality Show. She's appeared in such films as Feeding Mr. Baldwin, Road to Juarez and East Side Story. Her theatre credits include Mama Rodriguez in A Cat Name Mercy at Casa 0101 and Bernarda in The House of Bernarda Alba at the Bilingual Foundation for the arts.

Santana Dempsey (Ana) has appeared in such series as HBO's The Newsroom, FX's It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia and DirecTV's Kingdom. Her film credits include Harlow Gillman in Lifetime's Megachurch Murder and Crave: The Fast Life directed by Joaquin F. Palma.

Diana DeLaCruz (Rosali) has appeared, on television, in ABC Family's Chasing Life, The Bold & the Beautiful, and Law and Order. Her film credits include A New York Story, Operation Marriage, and The Absolution of Victor Franco. Recent theater credits include The Motherf*cker with the Hat at Artist Rep Theatre and Blue at Company of Angels, Los Angeles

Cristina Frias' (Estela) recent theater credits include Pericles at Independent Shakespeare Company, The Motherf*cker with the Hat at South Coast Repertory, Romeo and Juliet at Shakespeare Center LA and Hamlet with LA Women's Shakespeare Company.

Ingrid Oliu (Pancha) played the role of "Estela" in HBO Film's Real Women Have Curves. She has also appeared in such television series Fixing Paco, Weeds, ER and voiced the role of Officer Rene Montoya in Batman: The Animated Series. She played the role of Lupe La Gordita in the Academy Award nominated film, Stand and Deliver.

The Pasadena Playhouse is located at 39 South El Molino Avenue, Pasadena, CA 91101. The performance schedule is Tuesday through Friday at 8:00 p.m.; Saturday at 4:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m.; and Sunday at 2:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m. Tickets, priced from $37.00 to $77.00 plus premium seating at $125.00, are available online at PasadenaPlayhouse.org; by calling The Pasadena Playhouse at 626-356-7529; or visiting The Pasadena Playhouse Box Office. On non-Performance dates the Box Office is open Monday - Friday 12:00pm - 6:00pm, and Saturday - Sunday 1:00pm - 6:00pm. On Performance dates the Box Office is open Monday - Friday 12:00pm - 8:00pm, and Saturday - Sunday 1:00pm - 8:00pm. For more information, visit PasadenaPlayhouse.org.

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