It wasn’t just a pleasure, but an honor to attend SUFFS, perhaps the most powerful civics lesson delivered on a stage. Brilliantly structured, SUFFS follows the bold women of the early 20th-century suffrage movement, beginning in 1913 and marching toward the ratification of the Nineteenth Amendment in 1920. But this isn’t just a parade of progress—it’s a nuanced look at the infighting, frustrations, and fractures that shaped the movement. The musical leans into generational, racial, and ideological divides, reminding us that history is rarely tidy and progress is never unanimous.

It’s no surprise that Shaina Taub—its creator, composer, and lyrical force won Tonys for both Best Book of a Musical and Best Original Score. Her writing is sharp, vivid, deeply human. Her lyrics cut with clarity and urgency. In “Finish the Fight,” her words land with a force that feels uncannily current: “I don’t wanna have to compromise. I don’t wanna have to beg for crumbs from a country that doesn’t care what I say.” And in the quietly soaring anthem “Keep Marching,” she threads grace through grit: “Don’t forget you’re merely one of many others. On the journey every generation makes. We did not end injustice and neither will you. Make peace with our incomplete power and use it for good.”

“A luminous homage to the women who paved the way for our rights, SUFFS is both an act of remembrance and a call to remain vigilant.”

Under Leigh Silverman’s confident direction, the production builds a world that feels both immediate and historical. The ensemble is luminous—every voice attuned, every moment lived. Marya Grandy brings steely presence to Carrie Chapman Catt. Maya Keleher is wonderfully compelling as Alice Paul. And Gwynne Wood’s Lucy Burns radiates conviction. A special mention goes to Amanda K. Lopez, who stepped in as a last-minute replacement for Inez Milholland and delivered one of the night’s most stirring turns. Her performance was radiant—her voice strong and sure, an embodiment of resilience that left the room breathless.

Though the story takes place over a century ago, it pulses with today’s debates: reproductive rights, the “Me Too” movement, voter suppression, legislative gridlock, and the human cost of political delay. It’s a reminder that history doesn’t just echo—it repeats, reshapes, and requires our attention.

When the Nineteenth Amendment finally passes, the song “I Was Here” lands like a whispered promise across time: “I want my sisters to know I was here. I want my great-granddaughter to know I was here.”

SUFFS is more than a musical. It’s a tribute, a warning, and a call to action. Show them you were here—present, paying attention, and carrying the fight forward.

–Rosane Grimberg

SUFFS runs at the Pantages Theatre through December 7, 2025. More info at https://www.broadwayinhollywood.com/