Ahead of the show's opening night in just two weeks, creator Shaina Taub and the company of Suffs on Broadway—as well as producers Hillary Clinton and Malala Yousafzai—appeared on CBS Sunday Morning March 31 to discuss the work, centering on the Women's Suffrage movement's victories and failures.

Taub admits that, due to the overall lack of focus, awareness, and education on women's history, her knowledge of the Suffrage moment was limited for a long time. But learning more about it is exactly what compelled her to create a musical highlighting it. "I knew hardly anything about the suffragists...I knew basic information about Susan B. Anthony, I had heard the name Elizabeth Cady Stanton, and vaguely knew there was a women's rights convention in the 19th Century," said Taub. With the musical, Taub has taken all that she's learned and set it to song, hoping to introduce audiences to the important history that is so often overlooked.

Clinton discussed how she initially signed onto the project after receiving a letter from Taub asking her to consider producing. "I'd never done anything like that before...but I said, sure, I'll try if I can be helpful. We're in the middle of an election year, and I think any conversation about getting people to vote, or how it took so long for women to get the right to vote, how you should not throw away the power of your vote...this is so meaningful," she said.

"This is not ancient history—we can reach back and touch the Suffs. Alice Paul lived until 1977," said Taub.

The morning television segment also includes interviews with stars Jenn Colella, Nikki M. James, and more, as well as footage from Clinton and Yousafzai's first time meeting the company. See the full video above.

Suffs, the new musical following the suffragists and forgotten women who fought for the right to vote, began previews at the Music Box Theatre March 26 ahead of an April 18 Broadway opening night.

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 are producing the Broadway premiere, with Hillary Clinton and Malala Yousafzai as co-producers.

Taub stars 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 cast also includes Hawley Gould (Camelot) as the alternate for Alice Paul, Jaygee Macapugay (Here Lies Love) as Mollie Hay, and Laila Drew as Phyllis Terrell/Robin. The ensemble includes Dana Costello, Jenna Bainbridge, Monica Tulia Ramirez, Ada Westfall, Christine Heesun Hwang, Kirsten Scott, Housso Sémon, and D'Kaylah Unique Whitley. Chessa Metz serves as understudy.

close gallery

0 of

Photos: Suffs Sneak Peek

Next Slide  

You may also like

• 
  Photos: A Wonderful World Opening Night on Broadway
• 
  Photos: Beetlejuice National Tour
• 
  Photos: Maybe Happy Ending Opening Night

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.

Visit SuffsMusical.com.