The feminist Broadway musical “Suffs” has officially been declared a box-office disaster, with the show announcing a closing date after reportedly failing to turn a profit following nearly six months of production. The $19 million musical, which was produced by Hillary Clinton and Meena Harris, niece of Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris, is a three-hour celebration of the suffragette movement featuring an entirely female and non-binary cast.
Despite its high-profile producers, favorable media coverage, and Clinton’s aggressive promotion efforts, “Suffs” has struggled to gain traction with audiences, failing to recoup the initial $19 million investment from ticket sales alone. This is a significant disappointment for a show that was anticipated to do well during its opening in April 2024, especially given its prime Broadway season placement.
Early indications of struggle appeared in May when attendance dipped as low as 78 percent, despite an initially promising response from the public. While numbers improved slightly during the summer months, attendance figures have begun to decline again with the end of the tourist season. For the most recent week ending October 6, “Suffs” played at just under 78 percent capacity, grossing $679,589.
The challenges facing new Broadway productions are particularly stark for those that lack a celebrity cast or Disney backing. The majority of Broadway ticket buyers are tourists who predominantly seek out crowd-pleasing family fare. Furthermore, rising production costs due to inflation under the Kamala Harris and Joe Biden administration have made it increasingly difficult for shows to maintain their financial viability. This is exemplified by the closure last year of “The Phantom of the Opera,” which had been a staple on Broadway for over three decades.
In light of its poor performance, “Suffs” will close its doors on January 5, after having run for only eight full months since its April opening. Despite this setback, producers have announced plans to launch a national tour for the show in Seattle later next year.