Today for Halloween I decided to dress as a character I've seen on stage about a dozen times this year alone: Inez Milholland, a dynamic leader whose charisma motivated thousands to march in the nation's capital in the name of women's suffrage movement. Niche? Maybe. But not as much as you may think.
You see, this year, my husband made his debut as a lead Broadway Sound Designer on the musical, Suffs. This true story of how women earned the right to vote in the United States follows the journeys of key figures from the suffrage movement, including Alice Paul, Lucy Burns, Carrie Chapman Cat, Ida B. Wells, and Mary Church Terrell, among others.
I’m no stranger to historical musicals—my husband has spent the past decade as the associate sound designer for Hamilton. I’ve seen that show over 20 times, in more than 10 cities around the world. While Hamilton is a cultural phenomenon, after those first few viewings, I found myself wishing we could have heard more from the women in the story, with deeper layers to their characters. By contrast, Suffs intentionally amplifies the female perspective, giving it the spotlight it deserves.
I'm clearly biased. But I’ve seen Suffs about a dozen times now, often with friends, colleagues, or industry peers, and each viewing leaves me inspired. The show powerfully captures the often-overlooked, behind-the-scenes realities of women in leadership. Shaina Taub’s lyrics bring to life the subtle, nuanced exchanges that happen within groups led by women, and she even gives voice to that persistent "inner critic"—a presence so many of my friends and I know well in our own careers. It’s as though Suffs verbalizes the unspoken, turning familiar struggles into something empowering and shared.
In case you haven't seen the show yet (or even if you have), here are nine of my favorite lyrics that I think best capture the experience of female leadership.
1. "Don't you know that no one likes a girl who's too intense?"
In the show’s classic “I want” song, Finish the Fight, lead character Alice Paul recounts feedback she's often received from men—a line that made me laugh out loud because I’ve heard nearly the same thing in performance reviews at work. It’s a line that feels all too familiar to so many women, capturing the double standard that female leaders frequently navigate.
From the Song: Finish the Fight
2. "How will we do it when it's never been done? How will we find a way, where there isn't one?"
This is the mantra of the Suffrage March Planning Committee. What I like about is how it embodies the collective nature of the question, the "we" vs. "I" mentality of leadership. It speaks to the inventive resourcefulness required to push boundaries. It’s an invitation to collaborate rather than a top-down directive, making space for shared problem-solving and innovation.
From the Song: Find a Way
3. "I'd rather be right than rich. 'Cause I'm a great American bitch."
There's a crowd-pleasing song in Act I called "Great American Bitch" that sets out to reclaim a word that is often used to diminish women. This line is a reminder not to shy away from criticism, but to lean into it and own it unapologetically. It’s a bold anthem of resilience and conviction, celebrating the strength that comes from standing firm in one’s values.
From the Song: Great American Bitch
4. "Why are you fighting me? I am not the enemy!"
One of the recurring sources of tension in the history of women's suffrage was the so-called "infighting" between factions of the movement. These conflicts boil over in issues like the role of Black women in the movement and the contrasting approaches between older and newer generations of activists. This lyric highlights a truth many leaders face–that navigating interpersonal dynamics can be even tougher than the work itself.
From the Song: The Convention, Part 1
5. "It isn't wise to weigh down women with the worries of the day. A female wants to focus on her family anyway."
One of my favorite characters in the show is Grace McClean's portrayal of President Wilson, who essentially serves as the suffrage movement’s foil, repeatedly delaying support for the amendment. This lyric from his satirical song Ladies is a sharp reminder of the entrenched biases women face within traditional power structures.
From the Song: Ladies
6. "Part of me thinks I don't deserve a family until my work gets done. Can you really lead a revolution and still be home in time to put your baby to bed?"
There's a song in show called Worth It where the protagonist, Alice Paul, weighs the decision of whether to focus more on the cause and the movement vs. pursuing a family life. This "can you really have it all" callback really strikes a chord about the sacrifices often asked of women in leadership. (I even saw this firsthand when someone requested it at karaoke last week!)
From the Song: Worth It
7. "They think our nerve is about to give out, but instead of backing out, we raise the bar."
The show, Suffs, opens with a poignant reminder that women have been peacefully protesting for their right to earn the right to vote for over 60 years. This "grind it out" mentality is an underlying theme of the entire show (and the entire movement). That it took so long, and so much consistent effort, is a reminder of how progress takes way longer than you expect, and this line really exemplifies that for me.
From the Song: Show Them Who You Are
8. "All I've ever wanted is to change things for the better. For my mother, for my friends, for every loud little girl like me."
In one of her lowest moments, Alice Paul reflects on her simple yet profound motivation: staying true to herself and the mission. This line comes when she’s close to losing hope, making it one of the most powerful, inwardly driven moments in the show—a reminder for any leader questioning just how far they can keep pushing.
From the Song: Insane
9. "Now is the next time!"
There’s a reason this line is printed on the backs of hoodies in the gift shop—it’s a powerful call to action. It resonates with me because, in my own professional experience, I’ve often noticed that women tend to hold themselves back or wait to test the waters before diving into a big idea, while their male counterparts are more likely to jump in headfirst. This reminder is an important push not to wait any longer than necessary.
From the Song: Fire and Tea
Women in leadership don’t often get the chance to see ourselves on stage like this.
Which is why I encourage anyone who feels compelled to take action to attend a performance on Broadway before the show shuts its doors on January 5.
And if you feel compelled to hold your breath with me and a group of friends, peers, and neighbors on Election Night next Tuesday, November 5, you'll find me in the audience, with fingers crossed that progress is possible, not guaranteed...
