Just For Laughs Joins the Producing Team of the
Broadway Musical Real Women Have Curves
Montreal, January 28th, 2025 - Just For Laughs has signed on as co-producer of the Broadway musical Real Women Have Curves, set to begin previews at Broadway’s James Earl Jones Theatre on April 1, 2025. Sylvain Parent-Bédard, new owner of Just For Laughs and CEO of Just For Entertainment Group – who produce the Montreal Just For Laughs Comedy Festival, the world's largest comedy festival – and Jérôme Tremblay, producer for the group, are joining the producing team.
This collaboration with National Artists Management Company (NAMCO) and TruWorthy Productions marks a significant milestone for the Quebec-based company in the field of theatrical and musical productions. In addition to the amazing comedy festivals that Just For Laughs has been producing around the world, the company has also created French-language adaptations of beloved musicals such as Mary Poppins, Annie, Waitress, Chicago, and many more. It was after collaborating with Barry and Fran Weissler, along with NAMCO’s executive producer Alecia Parker, on the French adaptations of Waitress and Chicago in Montreal, that the company was approached for the co-production of Real Women Have Curves on Broadway.
"Collaborating once again with our Quebec partners at Just For Laughs, this time in New York, is truly exciting. We have built a wonderful relationship and it’s a pleasure to have them as co-producers on Real Women Have Curves. They are incredible and valuable partners." says Barry Weissler, producer of Real Women Have Curves and founder of NAMCO, the New York-based company with an impressive track record of nearly 50 years of experience in producing world-class productions. Whether on Broadway, the West End, or with international tours, NAMCO’s productions have earned 93 Tony Award nominations and 8 Laurence Olivier Award nominations, winning 24 Tony Awards and 2 Olivier Awards.
"This new and exciting adventure confirms the position of Just For Entertainment as a leader in musical theater production in Quebec and marks a significant expansion for its Just For Laughs division, opening the door to new opportunities in New York, the United States, London, and internationally." said Sylvain Parent-Bédard, president and new owner of Just For Laughs, a division of the Just For Entertainment Group. "Although comedy has always been our focus, we are convinced that theater—whether musical, comedic, or dramatic— can be an equally powerful unifying force. We are excited about expanding the Just For Laughs brand with musical productions on Broadway, and it is an honor to begin this new chapter for the company with trusted partners like Barry and Alecia."
"Our involvement as co-producer of Real Women Have Curves is a natural extension of our successful collaboration with NAMCO for the world premiere of Waitress in French last year and now for the production of Chicago. I must also say that we were immediately captivated by this original musical. The songs by Joy Huerta and Benjamin Velez are absolutely beautiful, and the show powerfully demonstrates that a heartfelt story about the real challenges faced by immigrants can also be a funny, inspiring, and uplifting celebration of family, community, and resilience. It’s truly a show that brings people together!" concludes Jérôme Tremblay, producer at Just For Entertainment.
Based on Josefina López's acclaimed play that inspired the iconic HBO hit film by Josefina López and George LaVoo, Real Women Have Curves is a captivating new show that explores life's unexpected turns with strength and emotion. This adaptation marks a historic first on Broadway: a musical where the entire creative team (book, music, choreography, and direction) is made up of Latin artists, including music and lyrics by Grammy Award-winning artist Joy Huerta and composter/lyricist Benjamin Velez, book by Lisa Loomer with Nell Benjamin, and direction and choreography by Tony and Olivier Award winner Sergio Trujillo. Music Supervision is by Nadia DiGiallonardo. The show will star Tatianna Córdoba in her Broadway debut, alongside Screen Actors Guild Award-winner Justina Machado, and has been cast by X Casting/Victor Vazquez, CSA and ARC/Duncan Stewart, CSA.
ABOUT JUST FOR ENTERTAINMENT
Since it was founded in 1997, Just For Entertainment/Juste pour divertir (formerly ComediHa!) has firmly established itself as an international entertainment leader in the world of live shows television, film and festivals. In 2024, the acquisition of the Just For Laughs Group added to ComediHa’s strengths and values. We solidified our position as the benchmark in the comedy industry for “Making people laugh around the world”. Established in 1983, Just For Laughs is internationally renowned for organizing the world’s largest comedy festival, attracting millions of visitors to Montreal and Quebec City. It’s also celebrated for its role in promoting comedy worldwide and for catapulting the careers of countless comedy stars. Today, Just For Entertainment goes far beyond comedy to deliver a diverse range of content, including music, drama and much more. Our talented team is made up of nearly 200 permanent employees and 6,000+ temporary employees and collaborators, who always bring their shared passion and creativity to the table. Our mission is clear: Bring together talent to create a world of entertainment through inspiring brands and content. Our brands and products now captivate hundreds of millions of viewers around the world via our broadcast partners, festivals, social media, and digital platforms, which are followed by over 70 million engaged fans and have accumulated over 100 billion views so far.
ABOUT JUST FOR LAUGHS
Established in 1983, Just For Laughs stands as a global beacon of comedy, orchestrating the world's grandest Comedy festival in Montreal. It has fostered the ascent of esteemed comedians and entertains millions of viewers annually through its festivals and content broadcast in over 150 countries. Just For Laughs also produces shows and musical comedies and organizes the "ComedyPRO" conference.
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