REAL WOMEN HAVE CURVES Will Come to Bristol Riverside Theatre

Bristol Riverside Theatre will present Real Women Have Curves by Josefina López next month. Performances will run May 26 through June 14, 2026.

"Real Women Have Curves is a celebration of voice, identity, and community," said Co-Producing Director Ken Kaissar. "It's funny, honest, and deeply human, and it reminds us of the power of storytelling to reflect who we are and who we hope to be, especially as it shines a light on the lived realities of immigration and identity."

Real Women Have Curves stitches together the lives of five curvy Latina seamstresses striving to make ends meet while fighting for their future. With a deadline looming to finish 200 dresses in just three weeks, tensions rise, laughter flows, and sewing machines hum (and occasionally break down). Through gossip, grit, and determination, these women navigate family expectations, identity, and self-worth, while confronting the realities of immigration and the uncertainty it brings, in a story that celebrates self-love and breaking free from society's tight seams, one stitch at a time.

This production is guided by the visionary leadership of director Leyma López, a Cuban American theater artist based in New York City known for her bold, visually striking work that bridges classical texts with contemporary sensibilities. Her direction brings together a dynamic ensemble of performers with rich and varied backgrounds.

Regina Carregha (Estela) is an award-winning bilingual actress from Cancún, Mexico. Her recent work includes Espejos: Clean at Milwaukee Rep, which earned her a BroadwayWorld Award nomination, and How to Melt ICE, for which she received the LATA Award for Best Actress. She has also toured nationally with Sugar Skull and El Otro Oz, and continues to expand her artistic reach as both a performer and director.

Mexican actress and singer Paulina De La Parra (Rosali) comes to the BRT stage with credits spanning both Mexico and the United States. She has performed in productions such as Legally Blonde at Teatro Metropólitan and King Lear with Island Shakespeare Festival, in addition to appearances at Repertorio Español and Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park. A graduate of the Stella Adler Studio of Acting, she continues to champion Latino stories and representation in the arts.

Ava Sofia Mattox (Pancha) returns to the stage with this production after building a diverse career across theater and screen. She starred as 3 in the premiere of absurdist play, I Have This Many*** by Mariana Catalina at the 2017 Philadelphia Fringe Festival and was an original cast member in the premiere of Quicksand at Everyday Inferno Theater Company. Her television credits include Helpsters! and The Other Two, showcasing her versatility across genres.

Luana Psaros (Ana), a Brazilian-California native and graduate of NYU Tisch's New Studio on Broadway. Her credits include Canta Una Nueva Canción at Teatro Latea and Becoming Nancy at the Alliance Theatre, along with performances at prestigious venues such as Carnegie Hall, 54 Below, and The Green Room 42. As the daughter of immigrants, she brings a deeply personal connection to this story and its themes.

Rounding out the cast is Adela Romero (Carmen), a Venezuelan art and theater specialist, is a multifaceted artist whose career spans acting, directing, choreography, and visual art. She began as a dancer with Danzas Venezuela in 1978 before transitioning into theater and television in 1983, all while nurturing a lifelong passion for teaching. After relocating to Miami in 2005, she has directed more than 20 productions, including Tartuffe and Othello, and most recently appeared in In the Heights and the national tour of On Your Feet!.