TAKE A BOW
Now that you've seen the show, let's unpack.
Evaluating works of art can be challenging. Let's walk through some guided questions and activities to round out your experience.
1. ON THE BUS
Here are some questions that you can use to guide conversation on the way back to school:
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What resonated with you? (What does it mean to resonate?)
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What's one thing you'll remember about this experience a year from now?
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If you could work on any part of the production, what would you do?
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What do you "wonder?" Meaning - what would you like to learn more about?
2. CLASSROOM ACTIVITY
EXPLORING THEMES
Body Image & Self-Acceptance
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The title itself challenges societal beauty standards.
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Ana, the protagonist, learns to embrace her body and reject the pressure to conform to unrealistic ideals.
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The play celebrates the idea that beauty comes in all shapes and sizes.
Female Empowerment & Solidarity
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Set in a garment factory, the story highlights the strength and resilience of working-class women.
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The women support each other through personal and professional struggles.
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Ana’s journey is one of finding her voice and asserting her independence.
Family Expectations vs. Personal Dreams
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Ana faces tension between her Mexican-American family’s traditional values and her own aspirations.
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Her mother wants her to stay home and help the family, while Ana dreams of going to college.
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This theme reflects the generational and cultural conflicts many first-generation children experience.
Class & Labor
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The setting in a sweatshop underscores issues of economic inequality, immigrant labor, and workers’ rights.
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The women’s labor is undervalued, yet they take pride in their work and support each other.
Guide a classroom discussion on the themes of Real Woman Have Curves, some of which are listed below. Then, use the attached lesson plan to explore these themes in more depth.
A DEEPER LOOK
Behind the scenes: Visit the show page on our website for more.
Discover videos, photos, and press coverage about the show, as well as more information about the creative team (playwright, director, and designers), and behind the scenes photos and stories at the bottom of the page!
Visit the Real Women Have Curves show page for more about the show.
Follow us on Instagram @alleytheatre for updates and behind the scenes about each upcoming production.
THANK YOU!
"HOUSTON, THIS IS YOUR THEATRE!"
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