A feminist musical with high-profile producers is set to end its Broadway run prematurely due to financial challenges.
According to Fox News, "Suffs," a production backed by former First Lady and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, will close in January 2025 after an eight-month stint on Broadway.
The show's producers announced the decision on Friday night, citing financial difficulties as the primary reason for the early closure.
The New York Times reported that Securities and Exchange Commission filings revealed "Suffs" was capitalized at $19 million, a sum it has struggled to recoup since its April debut.
Recent box office figures painted a concerning picture of the musical. For the week ending October 6, "Suffs" only managed to generate $679,589 in revenue, a figure typically insufficient to sustain a large-cast Broadway production.
The musical's troubles began shortly after its official opening. Just two weeks into its run, "Suffs" was already struggling to fill seats. Data from early May showed the production reaching only 81% capacity across eight performances in a single week.
In a competitive Broadway landscape, "Suffs" found itself lagging behind popular shows like "Romeo & Juliet," "Sweeney Todd," and "Moulin Rouge! The Musical." It ranked in the bottom 23% of all 35 Broadway shows for ticket sales during the week of May 5.
Despite its financial woes, "Suffs" garnered critical acclaim. The production received positive reviews from critics and won Tony Awards for Best Book and Best Score in June 2024.
Hillary Clinton, who served as one of the musical's producers alongside activist Malala Yousafzai, referenced her own political history while introducing a performance of "Suffs" at the Tony Awards. She stated:
Now, I have stood on a lot of stages, but this is very special. And I know a little bit about how hard it is to make change. It's almost impossible to think about what a challenge [women's suffrage] was, but now it's an election year, and we need to be reminded about how important it is to vote.
While the musical's Broadway run is coming to an end, plans are already in motion for its future. "Suffs" is scheduled to embark on a nationwide tour, starting in Seattle in September 2025.
The musical's run was not without controversy. In July, a group of protesters interrupted a performance, accusing the show of promoting "white feminism" and failing to represent diverse feminist perspectives. The protesters' website declared:
We REJECT this rehashed white feminism. This action is brought to you by an autonomous group of radical, anti-racist, queer feminists.
Despite these challenges, "Suffs" will have completed 24 previews and 301 performances by the time it closes on January 5, 2025. While this falls slightly short of the average Broadway musical run, the production's impact and critical success suggest its legacy may extend beyond its time on the Great White Way.
In conclusion, "Suffs," the Hillary Clinton-produced feminist musical, is ending its Broadway run due to financial difficulties. The show, which struggled with ticket sales despite critical acclaim, will close in January after an eight-month run. Plans for a national tour beginning in 2025 indicate that the musical's journey may continue beyond Broadway.
