Broadway's Suffs, centering on the Suffragist movement that won women the right to vote, [spoiler alert] ends looking ahead to the next major campaign of activist Alice Paul, the Equal Rights Amendment. Despite coming close to joining the U.S. Constitution in the '80s—the proposed amendment is the only one to pass both houses of Congress and see ratification from three quarters of U.S. states without becoming part of the constitution—the measure remains an unfulfilled dream and future goal to this day. The measure will be on the ballot for ratification in New York State in November.
To keep the story going beyond curtain call, Suffs hosted a special onstage discussion on the measure April 25 at the Music Box Theatre. On hand to discuss were author and Clinton staffer Huma Abedin, What the Constitution Means to Me playwright Heidi Schreck, and feminist icon Gloria Steinem, with journalist Carol Jenkins moderating. Former Congresswoman Carolyn Maloney introduced the talk.
Gathered in the audience were groups from The ERA Coalition, The League of Women Voters, the Columbia Law ERA Project, The Alice Paul Institute, and the Young Feminists Party.
See photos (by Heather Gershonowitz) from the event below.
Carolyn Maloney, Huma Abedin, Heidi Schreck, Carol Jenkins, and Gloria Steinem
Huma Abedin, Heidi Schreck, Carol Jenkins, and Gloria Steinem
Huma Abedin, Heidi Schreck, Carol Jenkins, and Gloria Steinem
Gloria Steinem, Carol Jenkins, Heidi Schreck, and Huma Abedin
Huma Abedin, Heidi Schreck, Gloria Steinem, Carol Jenkins, and company of Suffs
Rachel Sussman, Jill Furman, Gloria Steinem, and Shaina Taub
Suffs officially opened April 18 at the Music Box Theatre—read the reviews here.
Click here to purchase the opening night Playbill for Suffs
Set in the years leading up to the 19th amendment, Suffs explores the Women's Suffrage movement's victories and failures with a book, music, and lyrics by Shaina Taub. The musical previously had a sold-out run at the Public Theater in 2022. Jill Furman and Rachel Sussman produce the Broadway premiere, with Hillary Clinton and Malala Yousafzai as co-producers.
Taub is starring in her own musical, reprising her Off-Broadway performance as Alice Paul, alongside Tony winner Nikki M. James (The Book of Mormon) as Ida B. Wells, Tony nominee Jenn Colella (Come From Away) as Carrie Chapman Catt, Grace McLean (Natasha, Pierre and The Great Comet of 1812) as President Woodrow Wilson, Hannah Cruz as Inez Milholland, Kim Blanck as Ruza Wenclawska, Anastacia McCleskey (Waitress) as Mary Church Terrell, Ally Bonino as Lucy Burns, Tsilala Brock as Dudley Malone, Nadia Dandashi as Doris Stevens, and Tony nominee Emily Skinner (Side Show) as Alva Belmont/Phoebe Burn. All cast members—save for Skinner, McCleskey, and Blanck—were also part of the Off-Broadway production. Bonino and Dandashi make their Broadway debuts in the show.
The ensemble includes Laila Erica Drew as Phyllis Terrell/Robin and Jaygee Macapugay (Here Lies Love) as Mollie Hay, along with Jenna Bainbridge, Dana Costello, Monica Tulia Ramirez, and Ada Westfall. Hawley Gould is the alternate for Alice Paul, with the company rounded out by swings Christine Heesun Hwang, Chessa Metz, Kirsten Scott, Housson Semon, and D'Kaylah Unique Whitley.
Director Leigh Silverman again directs the Broadway production, which features a largely new creative team. Aside from returning music supervisor and music director Andrea Grody, the Broadway creative team includes Suffs newcomers choreographer Mayte Natalio, scenic designer Riccardo Hernández, costume designer Paul Tazewell, lighting designer Lap Chi Chu, sound designer Jason Crystal, and orchestrator Michael Starobin. 101 Productions is the general manager.
Jenn Colella and company of Suffs
Jenn Colella in Suffs
Nikki M. James in Suffs
Grace McLean in Suffs
Hannah Cruz in Suffs
Emily Skinner in Suffs
Jenn Colella and Shaina Taub in Suffs
Company of Suffs
Tsilala Brock and Grace McLean in Suffs
Kim Blanck and company of Suffs
Hannah Cruz and company of Suffs
Anastacia McCleskey, Laila Erica Drew, and Nikki M.James in Suffs
Nikki M. James and company of Suffs
Shaina Taub in Suffs
