‘SUFFS’ Sparks the Suffrage Story at the National Theatre
The women of SUFFS don’t just tell history, they charge through it.
Now playing at the National Theatre as part of Broadway at the National, this energetic and emotionally engaging musical transforms the fight for women’s suffrage into a thrilling evening of theatre. Chronicling the decades-long campaign that culminated in the ratification of the 19th Amendment, SUFFS introduces audiences to the activists, agitators, and architects of a movement that changed America.
What makes the show so compelling is its refusal to present these women as untouchable historical icons. Instead, figures like Alice Paul (Maya Keleher), Carrie Chapman Catt (Marya Grandy), and Ida B. Wells (Danyel Fulton) emerge as passionate, ambitious, imperfect people navigating political rivalries, strategic disagreements, and the immense personal sacrifices required to push progress forward.
The cast brings remarkable vitality to those stories. The performances pulse with purpose, whether in fiery debates, jubilant celebrations, or moments of heartbreaking setback. The ensemble moves seamlessly between scenes, creating a sense of momentum that mirrors the relentless march toward voting rights. Even audiences familiar with the outcome may find themselves swept up in the suspense of the struggle.
At the center is Alice Paul, portrayed with fierce determination and unshakable conviction. Yet some of the production’s most powerful moments come from the women around her. The tensions between competing approaches to activism give the show both dramatic depth and contemporary relevance, while Ida B. Wells’ story serves as a particularly poignant reminder that the fight for equality has never been one-size-fits-all.
Several of the musical numbers land with particular force, drawing spontaneous applause and underscoring how many of the questions these women confronted remain part of today’s national conversation.
Like the suffragists themselves, SUFFS is determined, dynamic, and difficult to ignore. It’s a musical about politics, but it never feels like a civics lesson. Instead, it feels like a rallying cry; one filled with humor, heart, and hard-earned hope.
More than 100 years after the 19th Amendment gave women the constitutional right to vote, SUFFS reminds audiences that history is not simply something we study. It’s something people fight for. And at the National Theatre, that fight arrives with plenty of passion, powerful performances, and a pulse that carries from the first vote-seeking speech to the final curtain call.
SUFFS plays through June 28th. The perfomrance is recommended for ages 10 and up. Runtime is two hours and 30 minutes, including intermission.