SUFFS To Play Final Broadway Performance January 5, 2025

[EDSOSLO858]

Posted: 10/11/24 at 8:15pm

National tour will launch in Seattle in September.

24 previews, 301 regular performances at the Music Box Theatre.

https://www.nytimes.com/2024/10/11/theater/suffs-broadway-closing.html#:~:text=But%20the%20show%20has%20struggled,previews%20and%20301%20regular%20performances.

Updated On: 10/11/24 at 08:15 PM

[EDSOSLO858]

Posted: 10/11/24 at 8:54pm

PS - this would free up Anastacia McCleskey (fantastic in this) for Betty Boop, but I’m not 100% sure if she’s coming over. 

And it seems like Sarah Snook will “succeed” the suffs in their house. 

 

[ACL2006]

Posted: 10/11/24 at 9:45pm

As expected.

[Bill Snibson]

Posted: 10/11/24 at 9:57pm

Am I wrorng in feeling like they tried to bury this by announcing it on a Friday evening? Not sure what that gains them but it just seems very out of the ordinary vs. a usual Tuesday at 7:30 posting. idk?

[ErmengardeStopSniveling]

Posted: 10/11/24 at 9:59pm

Heading into Broadway previews, I doubt many of us were expecting this to last 301 performances after its poor reception at the Public and issues that didn't seem fixable. Not every problem got fixed, but it's a heck of a lot better now.

This will have a great life in regional & community theatres and maybe even some progressive all-girls high schools. Or someone will do it in rep with 1776 so the boys can have a show and the girls can have a show!

Updated On: 10/11/24 at 09:59 PM

[ErmengardeStopSniveling]

Posted: 10/11/24 at 10:02pm

Bill Snibson said: "Am I wrorng in feeling like they tried to bury this by announcing it on a Friday evening? Not sure what that gains them but it just seems very out of the ordinary vs. a usual Tuesday at 7:30 posting. idk?"

The Friday of a holiday weekend, no less, is certainly a deliberate attempt to bury!

However, there's no "usual" date of the week to post closing (unless they're giving the minimum notice, which would be Tues).

[NOWaWarning]

Posted: 10/11/24 at 10:07pm

ErmengardeStopSniveling said: "Or someone will do it in rep with 1776 so the boys can have a show and the girls can have a show!"

This is such a fun idea!

[GiantsInTheSky2]

Posted: 10/12/24 at 6:49am

ErmengardeStopSniveling said: "However, there's no "usual" date of the week to post closing (unless they're giving the minimum notice, which would be Tues)."

Maybe I’m misunderstanding, but how does to relate to the minimum notice? The show is closing in about two and a half months and we’ve seen shows announce a week in advance of closing. 

[raddersons]

Posted: 10/12/24 at 7:38am

ErmengardeStopSniveling said: "Heading into Broadway previews, I doubt many of us were expecting this to last 301 performances after its poor reception at the Public and issues that didn't seem fixable. Not every problem got fixed, but it's a heck of a lot better now.

This will have a great life in regional & community theatres and maybe even some progressive all-girls high schools. Or someone will do it in rep with 1776 so the boys can have a show and the girls can have a show!"

When I saw Suff’s off-broadway I was seriously disappointed. Returning for the Broadway version, it made me cry. The music is just so great, and it really became a show about how these women pulled it off despite their many different philosophies. I wish it could last longer, because I really think it’s important and inspiring for young people to see that conflict, argument, and disagreement are healthy and can still work towards a common goal. I guess they will on the tour!

[bwayphreak234]

Posted: 10/12/24 at 8:39am

This show was one of the biggest surprises for me. I went in expecting to be bored and annoyed, but I absolutely loved it. Easily my favorite new musical from last season.

[Calvin11]

Posted: 10/12/24 at 11:24am

Dang, 301 shows! 301 performances is no joke though.

[RippedMan]

Posted: 10/12/24 at 12:18pm

Congrats to them!

[VintageSnarker]

Posted: 10/12/24 at 2:42pm

Honestly, knowing this announcement was coming (from looking at the grosses) without some kind of miracle boosting ticket sales, I'm just happy they're continuing to say open until January. I wonder if winning Best Musical would have helped.

This was a very special show for me and just on the basics of musical theater composition, far ahead of many other shows that have opened in recent seasons.

[merle57]

Posted: 10/12/24 at 5:37pm

301 performances -- about the same length of run as She Loves Me back in 1963. 

[BETTY22]

Posted: 10/12/24 at 5:59pm

Did the show pay any of the $19 million back - or is a total loss?

 

 

[CoffeeBreak]

Posted: 10/13/24 at 11:34pm

Total loss.  A tour could happen but will continue to break their bank.

[jkcohen626]

Posted: 10/14/24 at 12:43am

ErmengardeStopSniveling said: "Heading into Broadway previews, I doubt many of us were expecting this to last 301 performances after its poor reception at the Public and issues that didn't seem fixable. Not every problem got fixed, but it's a heck of a lot better now.

This will have a great life in regional & community theatres and maybe even some progressive all-girls high schools. Or someone will do it in rep with 1776 so the boys can have a show and the girls can have a show!"

Absolutely agree with your first statement. To your second point, Shaina Taub has said that the cast featuring no men is actually a directorial choice and not something that will be expected for future productions. IDK if that'll actually come to fruition. 

[CoffeeBreak]

Posted: 10/14/24 at 1:03am

If true, she stuck with a  choice that will make her money rather than support a female-forward narrative invented by the director.  A reason Silverman remained with the production after the Public but requiring design changes.

Updated On: 10/14/24 at 01:03 AM

[inception]

Posted: 10/14/24 at 5:45am

Friday they added A LOT of dates to Audience Rewards - right through X-mas. 500 points & $72 or 6500 points for Orchestra Seats. 

[ErmengardeStopSniveling]

Posted: 10/14/24 at 12:02pm

I saw someone on social saying that maybe this show's full potential will be realized in a revival that's not directed by Leigh Silverman. I think that could be true.

I know Jesse Green also posed this, but I do wonder how it would play with men playing the male characters. Does that give it more of a threat and make those parts seem less cartoonish? I don't know.

[CoffeeBreak]

Posted: 10/14/24 at 3:55pm

Silverman was key to making the show work.  She fixed Taub's book over many years (and should be credited as co-writer), characters etc.   She made the choice to cast all women.  Keeping that directorial idea for Broadway or losing Silverman and director concept. 

[willep]

Posted: 10/14/24 at 7:59pm

ErmengardeStopSniveling said: "I saw someone on social saying that maybe this show's full potential will be realized in a revival that'snotdirected by Leigh Silverman. I think that could be true."

This. I really think the show is better than the production on this one.

[jkcohen626]

Posted: 10/15/24 at 1:45am

ErmengardeStopSniveling said: "I saw someone on social saying that maybe this show's full potential will be realized in a revival that'snotdirected by Leigh Silverman. I think that could be true."

That might've been me. I made a tweet to that effect that's gained some traction (although I doubt I'm the only person who feels that way).

I absolutley don't want to discount Silverman's role in shaping the book. I do think this script had very few requirements for or dependency on the physical production and that led to Silverman not knowing what to do with it and giving us a very boring production. There's nothing in this physical production that would feel out of place in a regional theatre producing this without enhancement. It's not much beyond a High School production. I just expect something more interesting to experience for Broadway. There are many other directors who have a much more distinct sense of style who could do a lot more with the show. Maybe someone like Marianne Elliott. I'd be curious to see what Jessica Stone could do with it. I think she did some interesting and under discussed things with Kimberly Akimbo and the integration of the circus performers and animals in Water for Elephants was brilliant. If we're talking Broadway revival, we might be talking about someone who's an actual child right now or maybe not even born though, lol!

[inception]

Posted: 10/15/24 at 9:44am

This is the only advice they needed if they had wanted to succeed: