SALT LAKE CITY, Utah, Nov. 13, 2025 (Gephardt Daily) — It’s rare to see an audience so invested as the one at the opening night of “Suffs: The Musical,” the Broadway touring production playing through Sunday at the Eccles Theater.
With passionate protests over political decisions in recent years, the Eccles audience seemed primed to understand that civic involvement is vital in giving the public a voice.
The audience was cheering and applauding powerful songs and even some especially articulate and compelling lines about equal voting rights and elected leaders needing to address the needs of those they represent.
A few in the audience dabbed at their eyes at one heartbreaking loss.
The musical, which opened off Broadway in 2022, and on Broadway in 2024, is based on American suffragists, and the events that led up to the ratification of the 19th Amendment, passed in 1920, which gave some women the right to vote.
Danyel Fulton as Ida B. Wells.”Suffs” tour photo: Joan Marcus
Black women and men would not get the right until 1965, with the passage of the federal Voting Rights Act.
“Suffs,” with music, lyrics and book by Shaina Taub, celebrates the passion and sacrifices of the suffrage movement while glazing over some of the fact. Broadway musicals are not documentaries, of course, and hit musical “Hamilton” also took a few liberties with history.
Monica Tula Ramirez (center) as Inez Milholland. “Suffs” tour photo: Joan Marcus
What “Suffs” does capture is a broad sense of the real women who sacrificed for the cause, and some of the infighting and disagreements between factions about how best to reach the goals.
The young, White women, upstarts intent on gaining attention with dramatic protests and acts, are the main focus of the script. The older suffragists believe the requests to the sitting president for voting rights should be polite and respectful.
Black suffragists were also seeking legal equality between the races, which is a lower priority to the young White women, who believe the Blacks should be patient and walk at the back of protest parades, to avoid distracting controversy, if asked. That inspires the heartbreaking, show-stopping song, “Wait My Turn.”
The song “Find A Way” suggests the group has no experience with fighting for suffrage, when in real life, Alice Paul, at the center of the ensemble piece, had studied with and fought with suffragists in England, and brought that wealth of experience to the American effort.
Paul and others in the movement endured ridicule, beatings by crowds as police stood by, and multiple imprisonments, as they tried to gain public support and the ear of President Woodrow Wilson.
Brandi Porter as Dudley Malone Jenny Ashman as Woodrow Wilson. “Suffs” tour photo: Joan Marcus
“Suffs” won Best Book and Best Score Tonys, and a Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Musical.
The production is amazing, with strong vocals and acting by all involved. The singing, in particular, seemed to come straight from characters’ souls.
On opening night, the role of President Woodrow Wilson was played by Marissa Hecker, and Carrie Chapman Catt was played by Merrill Peiffer, who were swing performers with the talent level of stars.
Danyel Fulton as Ida B Wells Trisha Jeffrey as Mary Church Terrell Victoria Pekel as Phyllis Terrell. “Suffs” tour photo: Joan Marcus
Leigh Silverman deftly directed the touring production, but also the Broadway run.
Tour scenic design, by Christine Peters, was functional and moved the story forward. Lighting, by Lap Chi Chu, was innovative, and simulated flash photography from the back of the auditorium, drawing the audience into the story. Costumes, by Paul Tazewell, defined the characters by age, class and beliefs.
The live musicians add depth and emotion to the production.
And the show is sprinkled with truths that add fun to the show. Late in the game, there’s a story about a turning point achieved only because a mother wrote a letter to her son. It happened. His name was Harry Thomas Burn. The letter came from his mom, Febb Burn. Read about them here.
And be aware of a song that may offend some, “A Great American Bitch.” The lyrics seemed initially to shock a few, but soon had most audience members laughing so hard they were crying.
At least one woman sitting near me said she was going to choose the song as her personal empowerment anthem.
Play the link below if you want a preview, to see if you can handle it.
“Suffs” plays through Sunday. Shows are at 7:30 p.m. Friday, 1 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. Saturday, and 1 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. Sunday. For more information, click here.
“Suffs” tour photo: Joan Marcus
