NEW: Hillary Clinton’s ‘Feminist Musical’ Fails Miserably
Hillary Clinton’s foray into Broadway has hit a sour note as her highly-touted feminist musical, Suffs, has failed miserably at the box office. The musical, which aimed to celebrate the suffragist movement, has now announced an early closure, marking it as yet another disappointment linked to the former Secretary of State.
“Suffs,” which opened with great fanfare earlier this year, failed to resonate with theatergoers. Despite its historical premise and heavy promotion, the musical’s ticket sales have been anything but stellar. Reports confirm that the show struggled to sell enough tickets to cover its costs, with dismal attendance figures driving the decision to shutter the production by January 5th, 2024, a mere six months after its official launch.
The show, produced by Hillary Clinton alongside other prominent figures, was designed to highlight the American women’s suffrage movement, focusing primarily on the fight for the ratification of the 19th Amendment. Though the topic had potential to draw in a socially conscious crowd, the execution appears to have missed the mark. The grand vision of celebrating feminist heroes and showcasing their struggles to win the right to vote for women was marred by a lack of profitability and audience engagement.
According to The New York Times, a massive $19 million was invested into the production, a gamble that didn’t pay off. Despite numerous previews and a cast that included the show’s creator Shaina Taub in the starring role as Alice Paul, Suffs could not find a foothold in the competitive Broadway scene. The numbers tell the tale. During the week that ended October 6th, the production grossed a meager $679,589 — a figure that falls far below the necessary earnings to sustain such a large-scale musical.
Many have pointed out that Suffs may have been too heavy-handed in its messaging, alienating audiences looking for entertainment rather than a lecture on feminist history. While its creators aimed to connect two generations of women in the fight for voting rights, the musical ultimately failed to connect with theatergoers. The production’s feminist slant, no doubt amplified by Clinton’s involvement, likely contributed to the cold reception from mainstream audiences who are weary of politically-charged entertainment.
Despite this box-office bomb, the producers have announced plans for a national tour, beginning in Seattle in September 2025. However, it remains to be seen whether Suffs can muster enough interest outside of New York City, where it failed to make a lasting impression.
The latest flop adds to a growing list of setbacks for Hillary Clinton, who has faced criticism on multiple fronts over the years. From failed presidential campaigns to controversies surrounding her time as Secretary of State, Clinton’s reputation as a divisive figure remains intact. Her latest venture into entertainment, intended as a celebration of feminism, seems to have ended like many of her other projects — in failure.
As Clinton’s name remains attached to another misstep, it’s becoming increasingly clear that her influence, whether in politics or the arts, isn’t as powerful as it once was.