Suffs

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Suffs
SuffsBroadwayPoster.jpg
Broadway Promotional Poster
Music Shaina Taub
Lyrics Shaina Taub
Book Shaina Taub
Basis Women's suffrage in the United States
PremiereApril 6, 2022: The Public Theater
Productions2022 Off-Broadway
2024 Broadway

Suffs is a stage musical with book, music, and lyrics by Shaina Taub, based on suffragists and the American women's suffrage movement, focusing primarily on the historical events leading up to the ratification of the nineteenth amendment to the United States constitution in 1920 that gave some women, primarily white women the right to vote. [1] It premiered Off-Broadway at The Public Theater in April 2022.

Contents

The show opened on Broadway on April 18, 2024 at the Music Box Theatre. It received positive reviews from critics and 6 nominations at the 77th Tony Awards, including Best Musical. [2] [3]

Plot

Act 1

Act 2

Production history

Shaina Taub began developing the show in the early 2010s, after she read suffragist Doris Stevens' account, Jailed for Freedom. [4]

The musical, then titled Suffragist, was originally planned to premiere at the Public in fall of 2020, with a cast that would have included Stephanie Hsu and Kate Wetherhead, but this was delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Further plans were made to open it at the Delacorte Theater as part of the return of the Public's Shakespeare in the Park season in the following summer, before the decision was made to delay it into 2022. [5] [6]

Off-Broadway (2022)

The musical, now called Suffs, was initially going to open its world premiere production at The Public Theater on April 6, 2022, but the preview the night before as well as the opening night were cancelled due to a large number of positive COVID-19 cases among the cast. [7] It began previews on March 13 and was initially announced to run until April 24, but was extended three times: first to May 1, then to May 15, and finally to May 29. [8] [9] [10] [11] Directed by Leigh Silverman, this run of the musical starred Taub as Alice Paul, Jenn Colella as Carrie Catt, Nikki M. James as Ida B. Wells, Phillipa Soo as Inez Milholland, Hannah Cruz as Ruza Wenclawska, Nadia Dandashi as Doris Stevens, Ally Bonino as Lucy Burns, Grace McLean as Woodrow Wilson, Tsilala Brock as Dudley Field Malone, Jenna Bainbridge as Harry T. Burn, Aisha de Haas as Alva Belmont and Phoebe Burn, Jaygee Macapugay as Mollie Hay, Cassondra James as Mary Church Terrell, J. Riley Jr. as Phyllis Terrell, and Ada Westfall as Mrs. Herndon.

Despite selling out much of its run, reviews of the Off-Broadway production were mixed, and the numerous COVID-related cancellations affected the team's plans to make changes. Finding that the further changes needed were too much to fix over a preview period, Taub and Silverman elected to delay a potential Broadway transfer in order to rework the show. Taub cut the show's original opening number as well as numerous other songs, replacing them with book scenes, and focused on giving the supporting characters fuller arcs. Silverman hired an almost entirely new creative team to re-stage and redesign the show from the ground up. [5]

Broadway (2024)

In October 2023, it was announced that the show would transfer to Broadway in spring 2024. Among the producing team is former Secretary of State and First Lady Hillary Clinton and activist Malala Yousafzai. Silverman remained on board as director. [12] In January 2024, full casting was announced. Most of the Off-Broadway cast, including Taub, Colella, James, Dandashi, Bonino, McLean, Brock, Bainbridge, Macapugay, and Westfall, reprised their roles. Phillipa Soo's role of Inez Milholland was filled by fellow cast member Hannah Cruz, who was in turn replaced as Ruza Wenclawska by Kim Blanck—Blanck had been part of prior workshops of the show but was unable to perform in its Off-Broadway mounting due to performing in Octet . [6] Emily Skinner, Laila Erica Drew, and Anastaćia McCleskey also joined the cast, respectively replacing Aisha de Haas, Cassondra James, and J. Riley Jr. as Alva Belmont and Phoebe Burn, Mary Church Terrell, and Phyllis Terrell. [13] The production has a new creative team with choreography by Mayte Natalio, scenic design by Riccardo Hernandez, costume design by Paul Tazewell, lighting by Lap Chi Chu, sound by Jason Crystal and Sun Hee Kill, orchestrations by Michael Starobin and music supervision/music direction by Andrea Grody. [14]

The show began previews on March 26, 2024 with an official opening on April 18 at the Music Box Theatre. [15] At the time of the show's premiere, Taub became the second woman in Broadway history to "to write the book, music, lyrics, and star in her own musical". [4]

Cast and characters

CharacterOff-Broadway [16] [17] Broadway [18]
20222024
Alice Paul Shaina Taub
Carrie Catt Jenn Colella
Ida B. Wells Nikki M. James
Harry T. Burn Jenna Bainbridge
Lucy Burns Ally Bonino
Dudley Field Malone Tsilala Brock
Inez Milholland Phillipa Soo Hannah Cruz
Ruza Wenclawska Hannah CruzKim Blanck
Doris Stevens Nadia Dandashi
Alva Belmont / Phoebe BurnAisha de Haas Emily Skinner
Mary Church Terrell Cassondra JamesAnastaćia McCleskey
Mollie Hay Jaygee Macapugay
Woodrow Wilson Grace McLean
Phyllis Terrell J. Riley Jr.Laila Erica Drew
RobinAmina FayeLaila Erica Drew
Mrs. HerndonAda Westfall—
Nina Otero-Warren Susan Oliveras—
Mrs. WuMia Pak—
Warden WhittakerLiz Pearce—

Songs

Off-Broadway (2022)

Act I

  • "Watch Out for the Suffragette!"
  • "Suffrage School"
  • "Alice & Carrie"
  • "Finish the Fight"
  • "Find A Way"
  • "Wait My Turn"
  • "Find A Way Coda"
  • "An Interview with Mary Church Terrell"
  • "The March"
  • "After the March"
  • "Ladies"
  • "The Inez I Know #1"
  • "The Bar at the New Ebbitt House"
  • "If We Were Married"
  • "Unfurling the Banner"
  • "This Girl"
  • "The Convention"
  • "Alva Belmont"
  • "The Inez I Know #2"
  • "On the Trail"
  • "How Long?"
  • "The Young Are At The Gates"

Act II

  • "America When Feminized"
  • "Belly of the Beast"
  • "Mister President, Something Terrible Has Happened"
  • "Respectfully Yours, Dudley Malone"
  • "Hold It Together"
  • "Wait My Turn (reprise)"
  • "The Report"
  • "Comrade, You're Right Where I Left You"
  • "The Strong One"
  • "Relentless"
  • "Fire & Tea"
  • "Ladies (reprise)"
  • "She and I"
  • "Anti-Suffrage Rose"
  • "A Letter From Harry's Mother"
  • "A Telephone Call from Mary Church Terrell"
  • "I Wasn't There"
  • "If We Were Married (Reprise)"
  • "August 26th"
  • "Lucy's Song"
  • "Me, the Old Fogey"
  • "Never Over"

Broadway (2024)

Act I

  • "Let Mother Vote"
  • "Finish the Fight"
  • "Find A Way"
  • "Wait My Turn"
  • "Terrell's Theme"
  • "The March (We Demand Equality)"
  • "Great American Bitch"
  • "Ladies"
  • "Worth It"
  • "If We Were Married"
  • "The Convention Part 1"
  • "This Girl"
  • "The Convention Part 2"
  • "Alva Belmont"
  • "Show Them Who You Are"
  • "The Campaign"
  • "How Long?"

Act II

  • "The Young Are At The Gates"
  • "Respectfully Yours, Dudley Malone"
  • "Hold It Together"
  • "Wait My Turn (reprise)"
  • "The Report"
  • "Show Them Who You Are (reprise)"
  • "Insane"
  • "Fire & Tea"
  • "Let Mother Vote (reprise)"
  • "She and I"
  • "A Letter From Harry's Mother"
  • "I Was Here"
  • "If We Were Married (reprise)"
  • "Lucy's Song"
  • "Finish the Fight (reprise)"
  • "Keep Marching"

Awards and nominations

2022 Off-Broadway Production

YearAwardCategoryNomineeResult
2022 Lucille Lortel Awards Outstanding MusicalNominated
Outstanding Featured Performer in a Musical Nikki M. James Nominated
Drama League Awards Outstanding Production of a MusicalNominated
Outstanding Direction of a Musical Leigh Silverman Nominated
Distinguished Performance Nikki M. James Nominated
Outer Critics Circle Awards Outstanding Actress in a Musical Jenn Colella Nominated
Drama Desk Awards Outstanding Lyrics Shaina Taub Nominated

2024 Broadway Production

YearAwardCategoryNomineeResult
2024 Tony Awards [19] Best Musical Pending
Best Book of a Musical Shaina Taub Pending
Best Original Score Pending
Best Featured Actress in a Musical Nikki M. James Pending
Best Direction of a Musical Leigh Silverman Pending
Best Costume Design of a Musical Paul Tazewell Pending
Drama League Awards [20] Outstanding Production of a MusicalPending
Outstanding Direction of a Musical Leigh Silverman Pending
Distinguished Performance Nikki M. James Pending
Jenn Colella Pending
Outer Critics Circle Awards [21] Outstanding New Broadway MusicalWon
Outstanding Book of a Musical Shaina Taub Won
Outstanding ScoreWon
Outstanding Orchestrations Michael Starobin Nominated
Outstanding Direction of a Musical Leigh Silverman Nominated
Drama Desk Awards [22] Outstanding Featured Performance in a Musical Emily Skinner Pending
Outstanding Music Shaina Taub Pending
Outstanding Orchestrations Michael Starobin, Shaina Taub, and Andrea GrodyPending
Outstanding Scenic Design of a MusicalRiccardo HernándezPending
Outstanding Costume Design of a Musical Paul Tazewell Pending
Outstanding Lighting Design of a Musical Lap Chi Chu Pending
Outstanding Sound Design of a MusicalJason CrystalPending
Outstanding Wig and HairCharles G. LaPointPending

Reception

Off-Broadway

The Off-Broadway production of Suffs received mixed to positive reviews. [23] The production's cast, score, and direction received praise, but criticism was leveled at the musical's book, runtime, and overall structure. Juan A. Ramirez of Theatrely believed the musical's first act was too focused on narration and historical information, finding the second act vastly superior due to depicting vivid onstage conflict. He also felt the musical's criticism of the suffragists for excluding black women rang hollow due to it having no overall effect on the actual narrative. [24] Raven Snook of Time Out gave the musical four stars out of five but opined that, despite efforts by the production to highlight Ida B. Wells and Mary Church Terrell, their story still felt sidelined by the overall narrative. [25] In an overall positive review for Variety, Marilyn Stasio also found the second act superior but rushed, feeling the already nearly three-hour show could be longer to accommodate it. [26]

Suffs was compared prior to opening night and in multiple reviews with Hamilton , which like Suffs is a historical musical that debuted in the Newman Theater at the Public, featuring Phillipa Soo in a starring role, and attracted similarly sold-out audiences. [27] Maya Phillips, writing for The New York Times, noted that Suffs seemed to be trying to avoid potential criticisms similar to ones that had been leveled at Hamilton for its politics around women and slavery. Phillips opined this fear of leaving out information actually worked to the detriment of the story, voicing that the show felt "bloated with information". [28] Helen Shaw of Vulture also found the Hamilton comparison "unavoidable". Shaw praised the musical's portrayal of divisions within the suffragists movement, but she felt that Taub's music and Silverman's staging lacked the variation needed to carry the story. Nevertheless, Shaw saw potential in the musical's future development: "Just a few amendments to go, and, like a certain Constitution I could mention — it might be truly great." [29]

Broadway

The Broadway production of Suffs saw mostly positive reviews. [30] [31] [32] [33] Frank Rizzo, writing for Variety , called the production "smart, inspiring and thoroughly entertaining," noting that the show covered seven years of events "efficiently and effectively with artful modulations of intensity, humor, sadness, spunk and joy". He also praised Taub's "rich musical palette" and the choice to focus on internal division's within the women's suffrage movement rather than male pushback to the movement. [34] Elisabeth Vincentelli of The Washington Post wrote that "while it did not magically morph into a great show, Version 2.0 is tighter, more confident, often rousing and downright entertaining." She praised the revisions which placed more focus on the ensemble and which better acknowledged the shortfalls of the white suffragists to include their Black counterparts, but felt that the book did not explore each character enough. [35]

See also

Notes

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    References

    1. ↑ "American Experience: Not All Women Gained the Vote in 1920". PBS. July 6, 2020. Retrieved April 27, 2024.
    2. ↑ Broski, Jennifer (March 14, 2024). "Up on the Marquee: SUFFS". BroadwayWorld.com. Retrieved March 20, 2024.
    3. ↑ https://deadline.com/2024/04/2024-tonys-nominations-list-1235899070/
    4. 1 2 Culgan, Rossilynne Skena (February 28, 2024). "A first look at Broadway's new rendition of 'Suffs,' the beloved musical about women's suffrage". Time Out New York. Retrieved March 20, 2024.
    5. 1 2 Gordon, David. "Interview: How Shaina Taub and Leigh Silverman Built and Rebuilt Their Musical Suffs for Broadway". TheaterMania. Retrieved May 7, 2024.
    6. 1 2 ""How Long" from SUFFRAGIST by Shaina Taub". The Public Theater. Retrieved May 7, 2024.
    7. ↑ Rabinowitz, Chloe (April 6, 2022). "SUFFS Opening Night Performance Canceled Due to Covid-19; Performances Expected to Resume Next Week". BroadwayWorld. Retrieved April 7, 2022.
    8. ↑ Zamansky, Natan (March 25, 2022). "Schedule of Upcoming Off-Broadway Shows". Playbill. Retrieved March 25, 2022.
    9. ↑ "Suffs: Public Theater". New York Theatre Guide. 2022. Retrieved March 25, 2022.
    10. ↑ Putnam, Leah (March 25, 2022). "Shaina Taub's Suffs Sets 2nd Off-Broadway Extension at The Public". Playbill. Retrieved April 4, 2022.
    11. ↑ Putnam, Leah (April 8, 2022). "Suffs to Play at The Public Through May in 3rd Extension". Playbill. Retrieved April 10, 2022.
    12. ↑ "Shaina Taub's Suffs to Get Broadway Run This Spring, With Hillary Clinton Among Producers - TheaterMania.com". October 18, 2023. Retrieved October 18, 2023.
    13. ↑ Evans, Greg (January 17, 2024). "Shaina Taub To Lead Cast Of Her Musical 'Suffs' In A Rare Broadway Feat". Deadline. Retrieved January 17, 2024.
    14. ↑ Gordon, David. "Jenn Colella, Nikki M. James, Emily Skinner, and More to Star in Suffs on Broadway". Theatermania. Retrieved January 29, 2024.
    15. ↑ "Suffs - NYC | Broadway.org". www.broadway.org. Retrieved December 12, 2023.
    16. ↑ Russo, Gillian (November 16, 2021). "'Suffs' announces Off-Broadway cast including Jenn Colella, Phillipa Soo, Nikki M. James". New York Theatre Guide. Retrieved March 17, 2022.
    17. ↑ "Suffs". The Public Theater. Retrieved March 27, 2024.
    18. ↑ "Cast & Creative". SUFFS The Musical. Retrieved March 26, 2024.
    19. ↑ Sherman, Rachel (April 30, 2024). "Tony Awards Nominations 2024: The Complete List". The New York Times. ISSN   0362-4331 . Retrieved April 30, 2024.
    20. ↑ Rosky, Nicole. "MERRILY WE ROLL ALONG, CABARET & More Lead in Nominations for 2024 Drama League Awards". BroadwayWorld.com. Retrieved April 22, 2024.
    21. ↑ Russo, Gillian (April 23, 2024). "2024 Outer Critics Circle nominations announced". New York Theatre Guide. Retrieved April 24, 2024.
    22. ↑ Rosky, Nicole. "2024 Drama Desk Awards Nominations- The Full List!". BroadwayWorld.com. Retrieved April 29, 2024.
    23. ↑ "Suffs - Did They Like It?". Did They Like It. Retrieved April 8, 2022.
    24. ↑ Ramirez, Juan A. (April 6, 2022). "SUFFS Suffers From Stasis — Review". Theatrely.
    25. ↑ Snook, Raven (April 6, 2022). "Shaina Taub's epic new musical brings feminist history to inspirational life". Time Out. Retrieved April 8, 2022.
    26. ↑ Stasio, Marilyn (April 6, 2022). "'Suffs' Review: Epic New Musical Portrays the Blood, Sweat and Tears Behind the Fight for Women's Suffrage". Variety.
    27. ↑ Tan, Gillian (April 4, 2022). "With 'Suffs,' Public Theater Is Back in 'Hamilton'-Style Ticket Frenzy". Bloomberg. Retrieved April 8, 2022.
    28. ↑ Phillips, Maya (April 6, 2022). "'Suffs' Review: Young, Scrappy and Hungry for the Right to Vote". The New York Times. Retrieved April 8, 2022.
    29. ↑ Shaw, Helen (April 6, 2022). "Suffs Casts a Complicated Vote for a Complicated History". Vulture. Retrieved April 9, 2022.
    30. ↑ Green, Jesse (April 19, 2024). "Review: In 'Suffs,' the Thrill of the Vote and How She Got It". The New York Times. ISSN   0362-4331 . Retrieved April 22, 2024.
    31. ↑ Holdren, Sara (April 19, 2024). "Living Is Harder: Suffs and Grenfell". Vulture. Retrieved April 22, 2024.
    32. ↑ Torre, Roma (April 19, 2024). "Suffs: The Brilliant New Musical That Demands to be Heard". New York Stage Review. Retrieved April 22, 2024.
    33. ↑ Robbins, Regina (April 18, 2024). "Review: The feminist musical Suffs (★★★★) marches on Broadway". Time Out New York. Retrieved April 22, 2024.
    34. ↑ Rizzo, Frank (April 19, 2024). "'Suffs' Review: Broadway Musical About Women's Fight for the Vote Gets Thrilling and Entertaining Musicalization". Variety. Retrieved April 22, 2024.
    35. ↑ Vincentelli, Elisabeth (April 18, 2024). "A spirited musical about suffragists is not a triumph, but much improved". The Washington Post. Retrieved April 22, 2024.


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