Real Women Have Curves: The Musical  | 

Born in Mexico City to a Mexican father and an American mother, composer/lyricist Joy Huerta was surrounded by music. She was always aware of the privileges and responsibilities growing up in a bilingual and bicultural household afforded her. Joy and her brother, Jesse, began to compose songs at a very young age and in 2005, at the ages of 19 and 21, they released their first single, “Espacio Sideral.” Since then they have become an award-winning band. In 2007, Jesse & Joy were awarded the Latin Grammy Award for Best New Artist. In 2012, they won Record of the Year and Song of the Year at the Latin Grammy Awards for “¡Corre!” The same year they won the Latin Grammy Award for Best Short Form Music Video for “Me Voy” and Best Contemporary Pop Album for ¿Con Quién se Queda el Perro?. In 2016, their fourth studio album, Un Besito Más, won them their sixth Latin Grammy Award and a Grammy Award for Best Latin Pop Album. In 2018 they traveled to Washington, DC to be recognized by the Hispanic Heritage Foundation, which awarded them the Vision Award for their social and humanitarian efforts. In 2021 they received the GLAAD Media Award for Special Recognition (Spanish Language) for their video “Love (Es Nuestro Idioma),” which spoke out against violence towards the LGBTQI+ community. Joy has been recognized by the Latin Recording Academy as a Leading Lady of Entertainment. She also continuously works with organizations including the Red Cross, PETA, Animal Heroes, Rock the Vote, Voto Latino, Grammys on the Hill, and Unidos US. Most recently, Jesse & Joy were awarded best pop duo/group at the 2023 Latin American Music Awards.

Regional: Borderline, 2019 O’Neill Conference; Kiss My Aztec, Berkeley Rep, La Jolla Playhouse, Hartford Stage; The Tempest, Public Works at the Delacorte Theater. Awards: 2018-2019 Dramatist Guild Foundation Fellow, the 2019 Fred Ebb Award Winner, a 2020 Jonathan Larson Grant recipient, and winner of the 2023 Stephen Schwartz Award. Training: Member of the Advanced BMI Workshop (Harrington Award).

Off-Broadway: The Waiting Room, Vineyard Theatre; Living Out, Second Stage; Distracted, Roundabout. Regional: Roe, Homefree, Expecting Isabel, ¡Bocón!, Café Vida, Two Things You Don’t Talk About; Arena Stage, Goodman Theater, Mark Taper Forum, Seattle Rep, Denver Center, Berkeley Rep, Williamstown, Kennedy Center, Oregon Shakespeare Festival, LATC, and in Mexico and Europe. Film credits include Girl, Interrupted. Awards include the American Theatre Critics Award twice, Pen Award, Jane Chambers Award twice, Imagen Award, Kennedy Center Fund for New American Plays Award, Lurie Award, Ovation Award, and Susan Smith Blackburn Prize.

Broadway: Mean Girls: The Musical (Lyrics, Tony nomination), Legally Blonde: The Musical (Co-writer, Olivier Award, Tony nomination). Off-Broadway: The Explorers Club (Outer Critics Circle Award for Best Play, Drama Desk nomination, Edgerton Foundation New American Plays Award, Alfred P. Sloan Foundation grant). Book/Lyrics: Come Fall in Love: The DDLJ Musical; Dave; Because of Winn Dixie; Cam Jansen (Drama Desk nomination); Half Time; Pirates! (or, Gilbert & Sullivan Plunder’d); Sarah, Plain and Tall; The Mice (from 3hree); I Want My Hat Back; How I Became a Pirate; The New York Philharmonic New Year’s Eve Celebration and Young People’s concerts. Film/TV: The Sea Beast (Co-writer, Best Animated Feature Oscar nomination, Annie Award nomination), “Unhappily Ever After,” “Whoa! Sunday with Mo Rocca,” “The Electric Company,” “Best Time Ever with Neil Patrick Harris,” “Ant & Dec’s Saturday Night Takeaway,” “Julie’s Greenroom.” Currently: Nancy Drew: The Musical, Huzzah!, and Fado. Awards: Jonathan Larson award, Kleban Foundation grant. Member of ASCAP and The Dramatists Guild.

Josefina López is the creator of the autobiographical award-winning play and 2002 Sundance Film Festival Audience and Jury Award-winning film Real Women Have Curves, written with George LaVoo. Born in Mexico, López was undocumented for 13 years. She is the founding artistic director of CASA 0101 Theater. Josefinalopez.biz, CASA0101.org @JosefinaL.opezRWHC @thejosefinalopez @20PoundstoHappiness