Suffragist

By Shaina Taub
Originally Produced at The Public Theater, New York, NY

The show tells the true story of the growing rivalry between the seasoned organizer Carrie Chapman Catt and the young radical Alice Paul, along with many other suffragists.

Artistic Statement: SUFFRAGIST is an extraordinary musical about an extraordinary moment in our history: the passage of the amendment to the US Constitution granting women the right to vote.

The political struggle that led to that expansion of enfranchisement was difficult, dramatic, painful and inspiring; it is also full of lessons for our own time. It is a story that has never been told in popular dramatic form, and to encounter it in this musical is breathtaking. Breathtaking because of the bold, brave, brilliant women who made this history, and breathtaking because of the brilliance of its author. Shaina Taub has written book, lyrics and melodies for SUFFRAGIST; because she also plays the central character, Alice Paul, comparisons to Lin-Manuel Miranda and HAMILTON are inevitable. And in such a comparison, Shaina more than holds her own. She has released several albums and composed two brilliant Shakespearean musical pageants for our Public Works program (12TH NIGHT and AS YOU LIKE IT), but this is her first original musical. It is one of the most powerful and impressive debuts I have ever seen from a young artist. Shaina is brilliant, heartfelt, passionate, and as inspiring as the woman she writes about. SUFFRAGIST is not only a wonderful and important musical; it marks the coming-out of a magnificent theatrical talent. - Oskar Eustis, Artistic Director


Grant Statement: The Edgerton Foundation’s generous support will enable The Public to augment the SUFFRAGIST rehearsal schedule, allowing the cast to have more time with the full creative team before the production begins performances. For a complexly structured new musical with a large and dynamic cast, this extra rehearsal time will be particularly crucial in helping to foster a constructive, unrushed developmental process. - Oskar Eustis, Artistic Director


Director: Leigh Silverman
Scenic Designer: Mimi Lien
Music Director: Andrea Grody
Costume Design: Toni-Leslie James
Co-Sound Design: Palmer Hefferan