A musical event one hundred years in the making, SUFFS brings to life a complicated chapter in the ongoing battle for the right to vote: the American women's suffrage movement. Written by and featuring one of the most exciting new voices in theater, Shaina Taub, this epic new musical takes an unflinching look at these unsung trailblazers. In the seven years leading up to the passage of the Nineteenth Amendment in 1920, an impassioned group of suffragists-"Suffs" as they called themselves-took to the streets, pioneering protest tactics that transformed the country. They risked their lives as they clashed with the president, the public, and each other. A thrilling story of brilliant, flawed women working against and across generational, racial, and class divides, SUFFS boldly explores the victories and failures of a fight for equality that is still far from over.
History and progress rarely follow a straight line. “How long must women wait for liberty” is one of the many questions the musical asks. The show is dedicated to the sacrifices made by the suffragettes — hunger strikes, blood on the brow, bodies collapsing from exhaustion — but what’s not to be forgotten is that mothers, daughters and sisters were there for legacy. When all was said and done, the 19th amendment was there. But unless the fight continues, those inalienable rights may just disappear.
Tour scenic design, by Christine Peters, was functional and moved the story forward. Lighting, by Lap Chi Chu, was innovative, and simulated flash photography from the back of the auditorium, drawing the audience into the story. Costumes, by Paul Tazewell, defined the characters by age, class and beliefs.
| 2022 | Off-Broadway |
Public Theater World Premiere Off-Broadway Production Off-Broadway |
| 2024 | Broadway |
Original Broadway Production Broadway |
| 2025 | US Tour |
US Tour |
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