The feminist Broadway production "Suffs," backed by Hillary Clinton, has unfortunately met its demise.
Despite a bold effort spanning close to half a year, the show has made the tough decision to end its run due to financial struggles.
"Suffs" tells the story of women from different generations striving to secure their voting rights yet disagreeing on the approach to achieve it.
Shaina Taub, a musician and performer, not only penned the script and music but also took on the role of Alice Paul, a prominent figure in the suffragist movement. Leigh Silverman directed the production.
A recent report by the New York Times revealed that the play, which also features a cast of women and gender "non-binary" performers, required a $19 million investment. Unfortunately, the production has yet to break even, as ticket sales have fallen short of covering the ongoing operational expenses.
During the week ending on October 6, the musical generated a modest $679,589 in revenue. This amount falls short of what is usually required to support a Broadway production with an extensive cast.
Despite its April premiere, the show faced challenges in attracting a total audience just a fortnight after its debut.
During the week of May 5, statistics indicate that the play achieved a capacity rate of 81% throughout eight showings.
As the production wraps up its time on Broadway, it will have completed 24 previews and 301 performances, falling slightly below the typical show counts for a Broadway musical.
"Suffs," which will conclude its run on January 5, garnered acclaim from critics and secured Tony Awards for Best Book and Best Score in June.
Clinton nodded to her 2016 loss during the awards ceremony as she introduced a performance.
"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," referencing Trump's presidential win.
"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."
"Suffs" ending its run makes it the sixth production to announce closing dates in the past few months, including "Lempicka," "The Heart of Rock and Roll," "The Who's Tommy," "The Notebook" and "Water for Elephants."
