The show’s tagline is “Behind every powerful woman…are more powerful women.”
Such women fought for – and won – the right to vote in America a little more than a century ago. While on the surface that seems a long time, consider that the first automobile was built over three decades earlier in 1886, and the Wright brothers flew the first airplane over a decade and a half earlier in 1903. “Suffs” is a musical that tells of the American women’s suffrage movement, focusing primarily on the historical events leading up to the ratification of the 19th Amendment in 1920 that gave women the right to vote. The show is the latest in Performing Arts Fort Worth’s Broadway at the Bass series presented by PNC Bank and runs from Aug. 4-9.
Fort Worth is the only stop on the show’s national tour. It is also the final stop for this version of the tour. “A lot of people ask what it’s like doing this show about women’s history. I tell them it’s about American history,” said Marya Grandy, who plays Carrie Chapman Catt, one of the key figures in the suffs movement. “It’s really important for people to understand how many years it took, all the blood and sweat, and how many people it took to get this amendment. It took communities of people to fight for equality.
“And we still don’t have full equality. Suffrage is still widely under-reported in history books. Signing the Declaration of Independence didn’t instantly give everyone the right to vote.”
In fact, it was almost a century and half later before that right was extended to women. Grandy said portraying Catt has been the privilege of her career, one that includes numerous Broadway productions, including “Into the Woods” and “Les Miserables,” among others. She’s also appeared in several television series, including the popular “Chicago Fire,” “Chicago PD” and the “Law & Order” series.
“I was an American history major in college, and suffrage only got a small mention,” she said. “To be able to impart what this fight meant to her (Catt) to a new generation of young people is remarkable. “That’s been the greatest gift, to see the effect suffrage has had on different states.”
Grandy said she does not expect the show to have another national tour. She noted that its creator, Shaina Taub, who played fellow legendary suff Alice Paul in the off-Broadway and Broadway versions in 2023 and 2024, wants to get the show into regional theatres as soon as possible. “It’s been a great run, and I’m so very blessed to have been a part of it,” Grandy said. “I consider acting and singing to be an act of service, and this show brings all of that together. “We have educated and entertained, and have gotten educated. It’s been an incredible experience.”
‘Suffs’ Bass Performance Hall 525 Commerce St., Fort Worth Aug. 4-9 Tickets: basshall.com
