If you had told me a year ago that a Broadway musical about the women’s suffrage movement would become one of my all-time favorites, I might have been skeptical. But then I saw SUFFS. And not just any performance—I had the absolute privilege of seeing it on Broadway in December 2024, with the original cast, sitting in the second row, thanks to my amazing friend Auntie Jaime. Talk about an experience of a lifetime!
From the moment the lights dimmed, I knew I was about to witness something special. I consider SUFFS a “female Hamilton.” Shaina Taub not only wrote the book, the lyrics, and the score, but also starred as Alice Paul, just as Lin-Manuel Miranda did for Hamilton. And, like Miranda, she won Tony Awards for best book and score. But SUFFS goes even further in breaking boundaries—its cast is entirely female, where females play all the roles including the roles of men.
A Performance for the History Books—Literally
To our complete surprise, the performance we attended was being recorded for PBS! We even got to meet the show’s incredible director, Leigh Silverman, who spoke to the audience before the curtain rose. She reminded us that history was being made that day, that this story would be preserved for generations to come. She encouraged us to clap loudly, to laugh at all the right places—to help bring the energy of a live audience to the recording. It was an honor to be part of something so significant. If you think all Broadway musicals are filmed, think again—most are not. The fact that SUFFS was chosen to be immortalized in this way speaks to its importance. And I’m writing this article because I want my mother to know I was here. I want my students to know I was here. I want my great-granddaughter to know I was here! (If you listen to the music from SUFFS you’ll know I’m quoting a few lyrics here)
The Story That History Books Leave Out
Despite knowing how it all ends, I have the right to vote, after alI, I had no idea just how brutal and drawn-out the fight was. SUFFS brings to life not only Alice Paul’s fierce leadership but also the internal conflicts within the movement. The old-guard National American Woman Suffrage Association, led by Carrie Chapman Catt, took a more conservative approach, while Alice Paul and the National Woman’s Party fought aggressively, staging hunger strikes and picketing the White House.
But the most eye-opening part? The struggles of African American suffragists like Ida B. Wells and Mary Church Terrell. The musical doesn’t shy away from showing how racism tainted the movement—how Black women were told to march in the back of the parade so as not to upset Southern white suffragists. And yet, they refused to be silenced. Their determination in the face of opposition from all sides makes their story even more powerful and necessary to tell.
The Music That Moves You
The score of SUFFS is nothing short of brilliant. Taub masterfully weaves in period-appropriate musical influences while crafting lyrics that cut straight to the heart. I’ve listened to the cast recording countless times since seeing the show, with the song lyrics looping in my head. These songs don’t just tell history—they ignited something in me, a call to action.
Here’s a glimpse of the powerful lyrics from The March (We Demand Equality)
“We demand to be heard.
We demand to be seen.
We demand equality and nothing in between.
We demand to be heard.
We demand to be known.
We demand a voice of our own.”
And the show’s final number, Keep Marching, left me breathless. Alice Paul never stopped fighting—not after winning the vote, not ever. The song’s message is clear:
“You’ll rarely agree with whoever’s in charge
Keep marching, keep marching
‘Cause your ancestors are all the proof you need
That progress is possible, not guaranteed
It will only be made if we keep marching, keep marching on.”
An Experience I’ll Never Forget
I walked out of the Music Box Theater feeling electrified, as if I had been handed a torch to carry forward. SUFFS didn’t just entertain me—it educated me, challenged me, and made me want to dig deeper into the stories of the women who came before me.
And that’s exactly what I did! More on that in another post.
For now, let’s celebrate Women’s History Month by remembering the women who fought, struggled, and sacrificed, to get us where we are today. And let’s take a cue from SUFFS—we must keep marching. There is still a lot of work to be done.
Epilogue
Suffs opened on Broadway on April 18, 2024, at the Music Box Theatre, where it received mostly positive reviews from critics. It was nominated for six Tony Awards, including Best Musical, winning two, for Best Music and Best Score. It closed on January 5, 2025, far too soon in my opinion! A national tour kicks off in September 2025 in Seattle, WA.
Noteworthy Mommy 