Broadway in Chicago presents the Tony Award-winning musical, SUFFS.
USA is celebrating 250 years of democracy. For women, it’s more like 105 years and for black women, it’s 60 years. Women were denied the right to vote until 1920. Decades later, The Voting Act of 1965 enforced it for all. The change didn’t just happen. It took women like Alice Paul, Carrie Chapman Catt, and Ida B. Wells to make it happen. Paul embraced the fight. Catt encouraged cordial conversation. Wells refused to placate racial prejudice. They had different approaches yet the same goal. They wanted a voice in how their country was legislated. They wanted a say in the laws that governed their lives.
Shaina Taub masterfully tells the herstory of the 19th Amendment. The witty tutorial is a musical tribute to the resilience of suffragists.Taub wrote the words and composed the music. She even originated the role of Alice Paul on Broadway. Taub is the first woman to ever independently win Tony Awards for Best Book and Best Score in the same season. Her dialogue and lyrics chronicle the time period with humor and personality. “Let Mother Vote” is a polite request from the conservatives led by a commanding Marya Grandy (Catt). It contrasts brilliantly and hilariously with the revolution anthem “G.A.B.” for the Great American Bitches led by a fierce Maya Keleher (Paul).
Director Leigh Silverman paces this to perfection with a stellar ensemble. Suffragists take to the protest to the White House, the streets, and the states in seamless scene transitions. Facts are delivered with poignancy and comedy. An unapologetic Danyel Fulton (Wells) infuses passion and purpose in an unforgettable “Wait My Turn.” Later, the G.A.B.s repeatedly line up to see a daft President Wilson (played with gusto by Understudy Merrill Peiffer). Their failed attempts to get the President to listen leads to the delightful tune “If We Were Married.” As Brandi Porter (Dudley) sings about the joys of getting hitched a plucky Livvy Marcus (Doris) contradicts with the biting reality of being a wife.
Taub continually tells the truth of the struggle while entertaining with clever dialogue and sparkling lyrics. Although the ladies are conflicted with the country and each other, their singing is beautifully harmonious. The powerhouse “How Long?” is a tear-inducing ballad ending Act 1. The bitter reality leads to the disquieting strength of “The Young Are at the Gates” rally to open Act 2. Nod out to the charismatic Monica Tullia Ramirez (Inez) for her fervor in “Campaigns.”
So much to love about SUFFS! The writing, the score, the ensemble are united in delivering a riveting stroll through the past. And SUFFS is still so relevant! When I first saw it on Broadway in August 2024, there was spontaneous cheering for Presidential Candidate Kamala Harris at the curtain call. Two years later, “How Long?” … indeed! Suffragists started the movement. We must continue it! There has never been a more critical time to exercise your right to vote. In the finale, SUFFS sends us back out into 2026 with the battle cry “Keep Marching.”
Running Time: 2 hours and 45 minutes includes an intermission
At CIBC Theatre, 18 W. Monroe
Created by Shaina Taub
Book, Lyrics and Music by Shaina Taub
Directed by Leigh Silverman
Choreography by Mayte Natalio
Music Supervision by Andrea Grody
Tuesday, July 7 – 7:00 p.m.
Wednesday, July 8 – 7:00 p.m.
Thursday, July 9 – 7:00 p.m.
Friday, July 10 – 7:00 p.m.
Saturday, July 11 – 2:00 p.m. & 7:30 p.m.
Sunday, July 12 – 1:00 p.m. & 6:30 p.m.
Tuesday, July 14 – 7:00 p.m.
Wednesday, July 15 – 1:00 p.m. & 7:00 p.m.
Thursday, July 16 – 7:00 p.m.
Friday, July 17 – 7:00 p.m.
Saturday, July 18 – 2:00 p.m. & 7:30 p.m.
Sunday, July 19 – 1:00 p.m.
Thru July 19
For more information or tickets
Production photos by Joan Marcus
For more Chicago theatre information and reviews, please visit Theatre in Chicago
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