You won’t want to miss this. As if transforming suffrage history into 2 hours of compelling, inspiring, thought-provoking and creative musical theater isn’t enough, Suffs captures the courage and vision for social change, while recognizing struggles with racism, sexism, classism, generational tension, geopolitics, and sexual identity in order to create a new political landscape for women. You need only to listen to the lyrics of Suffs to recognize it.

For 7 years, Gender on the Ballot (GOTB) has provided nonpartisan space for women working to “Find a Way”* to close the gender gap in politics. Many of the issues in GOTB blogs are reflected in Suffs, including such things as motherhood, work, civil rights and legal status. Suffs illustrates many of the tactics and strategies we still use today for justice and representation. A few examples:

Women in Leadership: “Terrell’s Theme”* and “Alva Belmont”* are just two examples describing the very different ways that tens of thousands of women contributed to the cause.

Valuing Motherhood: Listen to the way “Let Mother Vote”* and “A Letter From Harry’s Mother”* use the responsibilities and contributions of motherhood to justify suffrage.

Traditional Roles for Women: Cheer while “G.A.B”* celebrates demolishing strict gender roles.

Racial Justice: “Wait My Turn”* calls out racism embedded in the movement.

Marriage & Sexual Identity: “If We Were Married”* illustrates the ways that women were subordinated legally and could be denied relationship status altogether.

Generational Change: “The Young are at the Gates”* and “The Convention, Part 1,”* capture the complexity of intergenerational movements for change.

Finally, “Keep on Marching”* passes the baton to all of us to “Finish the Fight.”*

So keep on marching – and reading Gender on the Ballot. It’s “Worth It.”*

*Song title from Suffs

BEHIND EVERY POWERFUL WOMAN… ARE MORE POWERFUL WOMEN. Don’t miss the DC. premiere of the the acclaimed Tony Award® winning musical SUFFS, about the brilliant, passionate, and funny American women who fought tirelessly for the right to vote, at the National Theatre, running June 16 – June 28. Created by Shaina Taub, the first woman to ever independently win Tony Awards for Best Book and Best Score in the same season, this “thrilling, inspiring and dazzlingly entertaining” (Variety) new musical boldly explores the triumphs and failures of a struggle for equality that’s far from over. Winner of the Outer Critics’ Circle Award for Best New Musical.This powerful new musical celebrates the women who changed history. Purchase tickets here.