Suffs is a stage musical written by Shaina Taub, who handled both music and lyrics, and also wrote the book for the production.
The musical Suffs premiered off-Broadway at The Public Theater in New York City in April 2022.
Suffs made its Broadway debut at the Music Box Theatre on April 18, 2024.
The plot of Suffs centers around the historical events leading to the ratification of the nineteenth amendment in 1920, which guaranteed some women, primarily white, the right to vote in the United States.
Suffs received critical acclaim, earning 6 nominations at the 77th Tony Awards and winning 2 Awards for Best Book and Best Score.
The musical highlights the struggle for women's rights and the intersectional challenges faced by women of color during the suffrage movement.
An important scene in the musical involves a powerful confrontation between suffragist Alice Paul and African-American journalist and activist Ida B. Wells.
Suffs incorporates both historical events and fictional elements to dramatize the emotional and political conflicts among the suffragists.
Despite the inclusivity of the suffrage movement, the passage of the Nineteenth Amendment did not alleviate voting barriers for Black women, which was acknowledged by characters Ida and Mary in the story.
The musical 'Suffs' was originally planned to open in 2020 but was delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic, eventually premiering at The Public Theater in 2022.
Hillary Clinton and activist Malala Yousafzai were part of the producing team for the Broadway transfer of 'Suffs'.
Characters like Nina Otero-Warren and Edith Wilson were removed from the show after the Off-Broadway production to tighten the story and improve character development.
The plot of 'Suffs' parallels the struggles in the modern fight for the Equal Rights Amendment, highlighting continuous challenges in the fight for equal rights.
