Broadway in Chicago: Suffs
Monica Tulia Ramirez (Inez Milholland) and company
Broadway in Chicago Presents SUFFS Review - A Fantastic Musical About The Women’s Suffrage Movement
TLDR: A new musical depicting the women’s suffrage movement leading to the ratification of the 19th amendment, Suffs hits the mark for being a fantastic new musical. It’s approachable as a work depicting a historical moment and all the members of the company are fiercely talented making this a must-see while it’s in town.
Marya Grandy (Carrie Chapman Catt) and company
History Told Through A Modern Lens
The curtain rises, opening to a smaller wooden stage where a group of finely dressed women stand beneath a banner, smiling placidly and holding various pinwheels. This is the 65th Annual National American Women’s Suffrage Convention where our prim ladies sing the motto of the movement, “Let Mother Vote.” Here, we’re introduced to not only the throughline of the time - conservatism will get more support for their cause - but also note the fact that this group has been advocating for over sixty years and still has not won the right to vote.
Suffs takes us through seven years of the women’s suffrage movement, from 1913 to 1920 when (spoiler alert) the 19th amendment was ratified. Shortly after their opening song, we’re introduced to what becomes the other part of the movement - the National Women’s Party. We follow the actions of these two groups through these seven years going their own separate paths and butting heads at a few turns.
The story of Suffs is crisp and clean. It’s not too prescriptive of a narrative that it feels like a history textbook and the songs keep the plot moving forward without being too simple. The script has the right amount of today’s humor so it becomes approachable to us modern folk. Everything about Suffs works to make learning about this movement in history approachable and enjoyable.
Hindsight is 20/20
Suffs writer and lyricist, Shaina Taub, also makes the themes of her work crystal clear and smartly woven throughout the show. There's always an old fogey and the young upstart. But those young upstarts as the next group to pick up the cause have the power of hindsight. The knowledge to know why their predecessors did what they did; it doesn't excuse mistakes they made, but they learn from it and do better.
Like many stories that need to be condensed to fit into a two and a half hour show, I’m sure there’s still a lot left out - storylines condensed and not able to unpack all the societal and political context of that time. But one thing that Suffs does make clear throughout its story is the fact that this achievement only benefitted white women while still standing on the shoulders of Black women without reaching back to help them up the rest of the way. The show acknowledges the lack of intersectionality with this first wave feminism and still calls for us to do better. (Though I do find it ironic that even though the musical calls this out, it still only has Ida B. Wells and Mary Church Terrell as secondary characters, but I digress.)
Above all, for those that may not have known these women’s names, you 100% will by the end of the show.
Danyel Fulton (Ida B. Wells), Trisha Jeffrey (Mary Church Terrell), and Victoria Pekel (Phyllis Terrell)
Prim and Proper vs. Scrappy and Bold
Two organizations with the same goal. One group believes slow and steady while being polite and conservative will ensure the success of the movement. The other believes in radical action and taking it all the way to the top to gain attention. But while there are these two groups with different beliefs almost opposing each other, the cast itself works together to create the dynamic show.
There is not a weak link in this powerhouse cast of women and non-binary folks. You best believe President Woodrow Wilson is played by a woman and hilariously by Jenny Ashman with political satire. Marya Grandy as Carrie Chapman Catt, the president of the NAWSA, stands tall and firm but with every song we’re blown away by the sheer power behind her vocals.
Suffs makes sure you know who was astride that white horse in the iconic photo leading the Woman’s Suffrage Procession, Inez Milholland. Played by Monica Tulia Ramirez she quickly becomes a fan favorite with her confidence and commanding presence.
Though she is told to “Wait My Turn,” Danyel Fulton as Ida B. Wells is not moving over for anybody. She is able to command attention with just her presence on stage and delivers sharply cutting speeches like Wells herself.
But by god, Maya Keleher as Alice Paul, the president of the National Women’s Party and our main character, is insanely talented. With every push for the fight, we are more and more on her side. When she faces an obstacle, we’re frustrated right alongside her when she’s seemingly dismissed. She delivers a powerhouse performance on all fronts.
And one striking moment brings it all together. As Keleher stands center stage, the rest of the company forms a line behind her. Backlit, all we see are the silhouettes of these women standing behind her. It’s a powerful image reminding us that it cannot be done alone.
Maya Keleher (Alice Paul) and company
The After Party Thoughts
Waiting in line to use the restroom, a fellow audience member quipped, “I've never seen so many women in the theatre.” That was closely followed by someone else laughing and saying, “Right? The men don't want to see this.”
And I couldn't help but feel the irony. If you ask why we need this musical, it’s that right there folks. Women and stories about women, especially women of color, trans women, and others in marginalized groups, will always be diminished and often forgotten or overlooked. So if you were one of those people who saw an ad for Suffs and said, eh that show’s not for me, I ask you to take a moment and consider why you think that.
Suffs is a fantastic new musical that has a well thought out and engaging story. If you’re in the mood for a new musical that is gripping from beginning to end, Suffs would be a good fit for you.
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED
Monica Tulia Ramirez (Inez Milholland)
When
Now through July 19, 2026
Where
CIBC Theatre
18 W. Monroe St.
Chicago, IL 60603
Runtime: 2hrs 30min, including intermission
Tickets
$35+
Tickets can be purchased by calling the box office at (312) 977-1700 or through the Broadway in Chicago website
Photos
Joan Marcus
Find Allie and The After Party featured on Theatre in Chicago
First National Touring Company of SUFFS
CAST
Jenny Ashman (President Woodrow Wilson)
Abigail Aziz (Offstage Principal Cover / Understudy Ida B. Wells / Dudley Malone / Mary Church Terrell / Phyllis Terrell / Robin)
Anna Bakun (Ensemble / Understudy Mollie Hay / Ruza Wenclawska)
Ariana Burks (Offstage Principal Cover / Understudy Ida B. Wells / Dudley Malone / Mary Church Terrell / Phyllis Terrell / Robin)
Tami Dahbura (Mollie Hay / Understudy Alva Belmont / Phoebe Burn)
Danyel Fulton (Ida B. Wells)
Annalese Fusaro (Swing / Understudy Inez Milholland / Lucy Burns)
Marya Grandy (Carrie Chapman Catt)
Marissa Hecker (Ensemble / Understudy President Woodrow Wilson / Ruza Wenclawska / Mollie Hay)
Trisha Jeffrey (Mary Church Terrell)
Maya Keleher (Alice Paul)
Amanda Lopez (Swing, u/s Inez Milholland, u/s Doris Stevens, u/s Dudley Malone, Dance Captain)
Livvy Marcus (Doris Stevens)
Merrill Peiffer (Swing / Understudy Carrie Chapman Catt / President Woodrow Wilson / Alva Belmont / Phoebe Burn)
Victoria Pekel (Phyllis Terrell / Robin)
Brandi Porter (Dudley Malone)
Monica Tulia Ramirez (Inez Milholland)
Jenna Lea Rosen (Ensemble / Understudy Alice Paul / Doris Stevens)
Gretchen Shope (Ensemble / Understudy Alice Paul / Lucy Burns)
Laura Stracko (Alva Belmont / Phoebe Burn / Understudy Carrie Chapman Catt)
Gwynne Wood (Lucy Burns)
Joyce Meimei Zheng (Ruza Wenclawska)
CREATIVE
Shaina Taub (Book / Music / Lyrics)
Leigh Silverman (Director)
Mayte Natalio (Choreographer)
Andrea Grody (Music Supervisor / Music Director / Vocal Arrangements / Incidental Music Arrangements)
Michael Starobin (Orchestrations / Incidental Music Arrangements)
Shaina Taub (Vocal Arrangements / Incidental Music Arrangements)
Riccardo Hernández (Scenic Designer)
Paul Tazewell (Costume Designer)
Lap Chi Chu (Lighting Designer)
Jason Crystal (Sound Designer)
Ruey Horng Sun (Projection Designer)
Skylar Fox (Illusions Consultant)
Telsey Office (Casting)
Lori Elizabeth Parquet (Associate Director)
Stacy N. Taylor (Production Stage Manager)
Maya Bhatnagar (Stage Manager)
Megan Ciszek (Assistant Stage Manager)