Original Broadway Cast, 2025 (Ghostlight) (4 / 5) “Refreshing” is an apt choice of word to describe this album. The snappy opening number, “Make It Work,” draws listeners in, and the score has several colorful orchestral surprises that set it apart from other contemporary musicals. Co-written by Grammy-winning Mexican pop artist Joy Huerta and Benjamin Velez, the songs combine Latin and pop elements to reflect the bicultural experience of the characters, incorporating both English and Spanish lyrics. The story’s central focus is Ana García, an ambitious young woman torn between pursuing her writing career and helping her family with the garment factory they own in Los Angeles; this role is filled with charm by Tatianna Córdoba, who shoulders a heavy load in her Broadway debut. Most of the tension of the plot results from Ana grappling with the expectations and views of her mother, played by Justina Machado, a seasoned performer who brings a powerful emotional weight to her role, particularly in songs that carry the gravitas of a mother’s love and sacrifice. The interplay between these two, vocally and dramatically, is a highlight of the recording, while the ensemble numbers are vibrant and dynamic, showcasing the camaraderie and quick wit of the women who work in the factory; songs such as “Jugglin'” and the title number perfectly capture the bustling energy of the factory floor. Beyond the family dynamics, Real Women Have Curves gives us a charming romance between Ana and Henry, played winningly by Mason Reeves. Their two duets, “Doin’ It Anyway” and “Already Know You,” are standouts, both tracks boasting an infectious beat and a genuine chemistry that defies the potential for cliché and makes their relationship a delightful aspect of Ana’s journey. The show’s book, written by Lisa Loomer with Nell Benjamin, follows the play and the 2002 movie of the same title in taking on subjects including immigration, body positivity, and overbearing mothers. If the story occasionally slips into the conventional, the sheer vibrancy of the score and the authenticity of the performances elevate the artistic value of the whole, resulting in a cast album that’s a compelling listen. — Forrest Hutchinson
Original Broadway Cast, 2025 (Ghostlight) 
(4 / 5) “Refreshing” is an apt choice of word to describe this album. The snappy opening number, “Make It Work,” draws listeners in, and the score has several colorful orchestral surprises that set it apart from other contemporary musicals. Co-written by Grammy-winning Mexican pop artist Joy Huerta and Benjamin Velez, the songs combine Latin and pop elements to reflect the bicultural experience of the characters, incorporating both English and Spanish lyrics. The story’s central focus is Ana García, an ambitious young woman torn between pursuing her writing career and helping her family with the garment factory they own in Los Angeles; this role is filled with charm by Tatianna Córdoba, who shoulders a heavy load in her Broadway debut. Most of the tension of the plot results from Ana grappling with the expectations and views of her mother, played by Justina Machado, a seasoned performer who brings a powerful emotional weight to her role, particularly in songs that carry the gravitas of a mother’s love and sacrifice. The interplay between these two, vocally and dramatically, is a highlight of the recording, while the ensemble numbers are vibrant and dynamic, showcasing the camaraderie and quick wit of the women who work in the factory; songs such as “Jugglin'” and the title number perfectly capture the bustling energy of the factory floor. Beyond the family dynamics, Real Women Have Curves gives us a charming romance between Ana and Henry, played winningly by Mason Reeves. Their two duets, “Doin’ It Anyway” and “Already Know You,” are standouts, both tracks boasting an infectious beat and a genuine chemistry that defies the potential for cliché and makes their relationship a delightful aspect of Ana’s journey. The show’s book, written by Lisa Loomer with Nell Benjamin, follows the play and the 2002 movie of the same title in taking on subjects including immigration, body positivity, and overbearing mothers. If the story occasionally slips into the conventional, the sheer vibrancy of the score and the authenticity of the performances elevate the artistic value of the whole, resulting in a cast album that’s a compelling listen. — Forrest Hutchinson