@showsiveseen Shaina Taub’s #Suffs #musical kicked off its national tour at @The 5th Avenue Theatre. Starring @Maya Keleher. Jason Crystal's impeccable "crystal" clear sound design highlighted the cast’s solid, polished voices. Ideal musical for Seattle’s #activist spirit. Closes 9/27/25! Review: showsiveseen.com/13701 Photos: Joan Marcus Director: Leigh Silverman Music Director: Dani Lee Hutch Choreo: Mayte Natalio Music Supervision: Andrea Grody #suffrage #suffragette @Suffs The Musical ♬ The March (We Demand Equality) – Hannah Cruz & Nikki M. James & Original Broadway Cast of Suffs
Elevator Thoughts (aka Tweet): Shaina Taub’s Suffs musical kicked off its national tour at The 5th Avenue Theatre. Starring Maya Keleher. Jason Crystal’s impeccable “crystal” clear sound design highlighted the cast’s solid, polished voices. Ideal musical for Seattle’s activist spirit.
See it, especially if you enjoyed 1776 or if you’re into activism.
Was This the First Time I Attended a Production of this Show? Yes
Would I See It Again 3 Years from Now? Maybe
Mainstream Appeal: Medium
If A Random Stranger Asked What Show They Should See This Weekend, Would I Mention This Production? Yes
My Synopsis (No Spoilers): Follow the courageous struggle of women fighting for the right to vote in the 1900s.
Synopsis from the Licensor or Theatre Company: Direct from Broadway, comes the acclaimed Tony Award®-winning musical SUFFS about the brilliant, passionate, and funny American women who fought tirelessly for the right to vote. Created by Shaina Taub, the first woman to ever independently win Tony Awards® for Best Book and Best Score in the same season, this “thrilling, inspiring and dazzlingly entertaining” (Variety) new musical boldly explores the triumphs and failures of a struggle for equality that’s far from over. Winner of the Outer Critics’ Circle Award for Best New Musical.
Type: Musical
World Premiere: No
Several or Few Scenes: Several
Several or Few Settings/Locations: Several
Static (Stationary) or Dynamic Set: Dynamic
Prior Exposure/Knowledge Required: No, but you’d probably appreciate this show more if you’re familiar with US history.
Defined Plot/Storyline: Yes
Live Band/Orchestra: Yes
Union Actors: All
Total Actors: Too many to count
Perceived Pace of the Show: Medium speed
Was there an intermission? Yes
Length (Including Any Intermission): 2.5 hours
Other Rave(s)
- Voices and Sound Design: The exceptional sound design by Jason Crystal allowed both the voices and the band to shine in perfect harmony. It was a crisp refreshing contrast to the muddled sound balance I experienced last week at the Paramount Theatre’s Some Like It Hot. It wasn’t just my impression since I ran into a fellow patron in the elevator who enthusiastically praised the precision of the sound and the clarity of the enunciation before I even mentioned it. Fresh from its Broadway run, the cast’s voices were crystal clear, confident, and sure. Every performer brought such strength and control that it was nearly impossible to single out high performers since the ensemble’s vocal talent was uniformly remarkable.
- Song Highlights: Standout moments included Marya Grandy’s powerful rendition of “This Girl,” Jenny Ashman’s spirited performance in “Ladies,” and Laura Stracko’s commanding take on “Alva Belmont.” At times, the driving rhythms and historical subject matter of numbers like “The March (We Demand Equality)” evoked the same energy of Hamilton. But at other times, the homogenous all-female chorus was reminiscent of 1990s-2000s adult contemporary music (like from the Christian contemporary group Point of Grace).
Rant(s)
- Otherness: The script frequently leaned on the antiquated tired “quirky foreigner” trope (Polish character Ruza Wenclawska) to elicit cheap laughs from the audience. Surely theatre has moved beyond this by now!
Other Musing(s) and Observation(s)
- Vibe: As can be expected from any show about activism, the script carried a decidedly preachy tone. Additionally, inherently dry historical subject matter runs a higher risk of a tepid script that prioritizes spewing facts (albeit facts about important events) over performing entertainment. The production reminded me of a Seattle Women’s Chorus concert – purposeful, no-nonsense, and brimming with female empowerment. It was the theatrical equivalent of a smart Lane Bryant pantsuit. I was missing flashy tap dance numbers, but I admit that there’s a time and place for everything. Despite all that, the show resonates perfectly with Pacific Northwest ideals, and the enthusiastic response from the crowd made that clear.
Theatre Company: National Tour Courtesy of The 5th Avenue Theatre
Venue: The 5th Avenue Theatre
Venue Physical Address: 1308 5th Ave, Seattle, WA 98101
Price Range: $50 to $155
Ticket Affordability Options: The 5th Avenue Theatre often partners with organizations you’re affiliated with for discount tickets. For example, they sometimes offer a discount for my employer affiliation and my apartment complex. Rush tickets are typically also available the day of the performance at the box office.
Dates: September 13 to 27, 2025
Seating: Assigned Seating
Parking: When I don’t walk to the theatre or park on the street, I park in the paid garage at the Motif Hotel northwest of the theatre. The entrance is on 5th Ave. Do NOT park in the APA Coast Seattle Downtown Hotel garage (entrance on 6th Ave). That’s where most of the audience (and I think the subscribers) parks, so it’s a nightmare to leave. However, the APA Coast Seattle Downtown Hotel garage is the closest garage to the theatre and you can access the theatre through a tunnel if you want to avoid the elements. But, in my opinion, this benefit is not worth the time wasted leaving the garage.
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Pictures: See production pictures below by Joan Marcus.
Cast and Production Team: See after pictures below.
