Danyel Fulton as Ida B. Wells in “Suffs.”

Tony Award-winning ‘Suffs’ puts the suffrage movement center stage

Over a century ago, women across the country marched in the streets picketing for the right to vote in the United States. The challenging work and intense emotions of that period of political action, which feel highly relevant to our current moment, come back to life in the Tony Award-winning musical “Suffs,” heading to Boston later this month.

Created by Shaina Taub, the musical follows the unity, struggle and relentless organizing that led to women’s suffrage. Danyel Fulton plays Ida B. Wells, an investigative journalist, educator and sociologist who was a pioneering early leader of the Civil Rights Movement.

Preparing for the role required deep research on Fulton’s part. She read Wells’ autobiography and has spoken with historians and educators throughout the tour about her legacy. In Memphis and Chicago, she plans to visit sites where Wells spoke and institutions that have artifacts from her life.

The suffrage movement, though hugely important in the historical fight for women’s rights, was deeply flawed. It primarily focused on white women and ultimately it was only white women who secured the vote in 1920. That reality is reflected in the musical.

“We don’t shy away from the truth,” said Fulton. “It ends with a very, very sobering, very concise confrontation of the fact that Black women were not included in this progress. We were excluded from it very intentionally.”

The musical is energetic and exciting but at times the relevance of this history over 100 years later can feel discouraging. Fulton says it’s important to acknowledge how much work it took these women to make change. That same kind of work is still needed.

“There was not one moment in Ida’s life where she wasn’t in danger,” said Fulton. “And as Black women walking in the world, I can’t say that it’s different. …Our ancestors really, really fought for us to have the liberties that we do and one of the ways we can repay that is continuing the fight.”

“Suffs” is on stage at the Emerson Colonial Theatre March 17-29. Tickets start at $40.

The experience of living this history every night is an emotional one. Fulton recalls a particularly moving performance in Greenville, South Carolina. On stage the actors were marching in a protest for the right to vote and the audience rose and marched with them.

“We could hardly even get through it,” she said. “We were all teary eyed backstage, and that’s the exact kind of hope that we need. …I hope audiences relate to it, I hope that it encourages them to join the fight in any way they find suitable.”

ON THE WEB

Learn more at boston.broadway.com/shows/suffs