Despite being backed by high-profile producers like Hillary Clinton and telling an important story about the women’s suffrage movement, the Broadway play “Suffs” is struggling to fill seats. Data from the Broadway League shows that the play only reached 81% capacity across eight performances, placing it in the bottom rung of shows in terms of filling capacity for the week of May 5. This is particularly concerning as the play is relatively new and is running during Broadway’s peak season, just before the Tony Awards. The play first opened on Broadway last month after an Off-Broadway run in 2022 at The Public theater in New York City. It was created by singer-songwriter Shaina Taub, directed by Leigh Silverman, and produced by lead producers Jill Furman and Rachel Sussman, along with co-producers Hillary Clinton and Malala Yousafzai, with Vice President Harris’s niece, Meena Harris, also serving as a producer.
The three-hour play brings the women’s suffrage movement of the early 1900s to the stage, claiming to explore the victories and failures of a struggle for equality that is still ongoing. With an entirely female and non-binary cast that includes Tony winner Nikki M. James, Jenn Colella, Emily Skinner, and Grace McLean as President Woodrow Wilson, “Suffs” has received critical acclaim for its diverse and talented ensemble. Clinton herself has expressed her personal connection to the characters and the story, stating that she understands the challenges of making change and the importance of building relationships with those you are working for. She sees the play as not only historically relevant but also as addressing contemporary challenges in the United States.
Despite its important subject matter and talented cast, “Suffs” continues to struggle at the box office. Breitbart News reported that the play’s numbers were even lower the previous week, with only 78% of its total seats filled across performances. This has raised concerns about the production’s ability to attract audiences, especially during a time when Broadway is typically bustling with theatergoers. The play’s lackluster performance in terms of ticket sales stands in stark contrast to the high expectations that were set by its high-profile producers, and it remains to be seen whether “Suffs” will be able to turn things around and draw bigger crowds in the weeks ahead.
The disappointing box office numbers for “Suffs” present a challenge for the play as it seeks to portray an important and timely story about gender equality and the fight for women’s rights. Given the involvement of well-known figures like Hillary Clinton and Meena Harris as producers, there was initially hope that the play would draw significant attention and audiences on Broadway. However, the reality of the box office figures indicates that there may be other factors at play that are preventing the play from reaching its full potential in terms of ticket sales and audience turnout. It remains to be seen whether the production will be able to address these challenges and attract more theatergoers in order to continue sharing its message about the ongoing struggle for equality.
