Josefina LópezSpeaker and Booking Agent Information

Josefina López is a celebrated Chicana playwright, screenwriter, producer, and activist. She immigrated to the U.S. at age five with her family, settling in Boyle Heights, East Los Angeles. Undocumented for 13 years, she received amnesty in 1987 and became a U.S. citizen in 1995. She is best known for her breakthrough play “Real Women Have Curves”, a coming-of-age story about Latina garment workers that has seen over 130 productions worldwide. She co-wrote the acclaimed 2002 film adaptation, which launched America Ferrera. A musical version opened on Broadway in April 2025. López founded and serves as Artistic Director of Casa 0101 Theater in Boyle Heights, producing over 200 plays focused on Latino, immigrant, and BIPOC stories. A UCLA MFA graduate and a Hollywood screenwriter for decades, she continues writing plays and advocating for representation, women’s rights, and immigrant voices.