Our crew at AAPI Night at SUFFS.
On the 28th day of Asian American, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander Heritage Month, I attended the AAPI Heritage Month Night at SUFFS at the Music Box Theatre, organized by by Associate producer Miranda Gohh, my frequent collaborator, SUFFS TPOC Co-Producer Lainie Sakakura, and TPOC Co-Producer Isha Gulati.
SUFFS Co-producer Lainie Sakakura, Associate Producer Miranda Gohh and Co-producer Isha Gulati. Photo by Lia Chang
Our crew at AAPI Night at SUFFS. Photo by Lia Chang
Lainie Sakakura with Rosie’s Theater Kids – Maggie Chen, Chloe Wu, Xuanxi Wang (Hey Hey), Kaeton Huang, Janine Jimenez, EJ Jimenez, Vanessa Liang, Ryan Lo. Photo by Lia Chang
My evening began with photographing the AAPI cast and creatives of SUFFS, including Jordana Abrenica (Head Sound), Kim Blanck (Ruza Wenclawska), Nadia Dandashi (Doris Stevens), Miranda Gohh (Associate Producer), Isha Gulati (Co-Producer), Christine Heesun Hwang (Swing, u/s Inez Milholland, Ruza Wenclawska, Lucy Burns), Kathy Kim (Head of Business Affairs, 101 Productions, Ltd.), Jaygee Macapugay (Mollie Hay/Ensemble, u/s President Woodrow Wilson), Patrick B. Phillips (Score Coordinator), Lainie Sakakura (Co-Producer), Yuka Tadano (Acoustic and Electric Bass) and Suki Tsujimoto (Associate Makeup Designer).
Jaygee Macapugay, Christine Heesun Hwang, Suki Tsujimoto, Yuka Tadano, Jordana Abrenica, Isha Gulati, Miranda Gohh, Lainie Sakakura, Patrick B. Phillips, Nadia Dandashi, Kim Blanck and Kathy Kim. Photo by Lia Chang
Kim Blanck, Suki Tsujimoto, Jordana Abrenica, Jaygee Macapugay, Christine Heesun Hwang, Miranda Gohh, Nadia Dandashi, Patrick B. Phillips, Yuka Tadano, Isha Gulati, Kathy Kim and Lainie Sakakura. Photo by Lia Chang
Jaygee Macapugay, Christine Heesun Hwang, Suki Tsujimoto, Yuka Tadano, Jordana Abrenica, Isha Gulati, Miranda Gohh, Lainie Sakakura, Patrick B. Phillips, Nadia Dandashi, Kim Blanck and Kathy Kim. Photo by Lia Chang
Christine Heesun Hwang, Nadia Dandashi, Jaygee Macapugay and Kim Blanck. Photo by Lia Chang
Christine Heesun Hwang, Nadia Dandashi, Jaygee Macapugay and Kim Blanck. Photo by Lia Chang
Jaygee Macapugay, Kim Blanck, Christine Heesun Hwang and Nadia Dandashi. Photo by Lia Chang
Jaygee Macapugay (Mollie Hay/Ensemble, u/s President Woodrow Wilson). Photo by Lia Chang
Kim Blanck (Ruza Wenclawska). Photo by Lia Chang
Kim Blanck (Ruza Wenclawska). Photo by Lia Chang
Nadia Dandashi (Doris Stevens). Photo by Lia Chang
Christine Heesun Hwang (Swing, u/s Inez Milholland, Ruza Wenclawska, Lucy Burns). Photo by Lia Chang
Jordana Abrenica (Head Sound). Photo by Lia Chang
Miranda Gohh (Associate Producer). Photo by Lia Chang
Isha Gulati (Co-Producer). Photo by Lia Chang
Kathy Kim (Head of Business Affairs, 101 Productions, Ltd.) Photo by Lia Chang
Patrick B. Phillips (Score Coordinator). Photo by Lia Chang
SUFFS Co-producer Lainie Sakakura. Photo by Lia Chang
Yuka Tadano (Acoustic and Electric Bass). Photo by Lia Chang
Associate Makeup Designer Suki Tsujimoto. Photo by Lia Chang
It was an amazing night of celebration and community with many of my collaborators in the house including Tony Award winning Playwright David Henry Hwang, who moderated a talkback with four of the AAPI cast members.
Jaygee Macapugay usually plays Mollie Hay, but we got to cheer her on as President Woodrow Wilson.
Jaygee Macapugay takes her bow after playing President Woodrow Wilson in SUFFS. Photo by Lia Chang
Kim Blanck plays Ruza Wenclawska, Nadia Dandashi plays Doris Stevens and Christine Heesun Hwang is a swing and understudies Inez Milholland, Ruza Wenclawska, and Lucy Burns.
Playwright David Henry Hwang moderates a talkback with SUFFS cast members Kim Blanck, Jaygee Macapugay, Nadia Dandashi, Christine Heesun Hwang. Photo by Lia Chang
Playwright David Henry Hwang moderates a talkback with SUFFS cast members Kim Blanck, Jaygee Macapugay, Nadia Dandashi, Christine Heesun Hwang. Photo by Lia Chang
Playwright David Henry Hwang moderates a talkback with SUFFS cast members Kim Blanck, Jaygee Macapugay, Nadia Dandashi. Photo by Lia Chang
Playwright David Henry Hwang moderates a talkback with SUFFS cast members Kim Blanck, Jaygee Macapugay, Nadia Dandashi, Christine Heesun Hwang. Photo by Lia Chang
Playwright David Henry Hwang, Kim Blanck, Jaygee Macapugay, Nadia Dandashi, Christine Heesun Hwang. Photo by Lia Chang
Playwright David Henry Hwang, Kim Blanck, Jaygee Macapugay, Nadia Dandashi, Christine Heesun Hwang. Photo by Lia Chang
Playwright David Henry Hwang, Kim Blanck, Jaygee Macapugay, Nadia Dandashi, Christine Heesun Hwang. Photo by Lia Chang
Playwright David Henry Hwang, Kim Blanck, Jaygee Macapugay, Director Leigh Silverman, Nadia Dandashi, Christine Heesun Hwang. Photo by Lia Chang
Broadway Barkada members and many of Jaygee’s cast mates from Here Lies Love were in the house.
1st row: Howard Ho, Zachary Siegel, Brian Jose, Miranda Gohh and Jully Lee. 2nd Row: Liz Casasola, Jaygee Macapugay, Melody Butiu, Ali Ewoldt, Mat Hostetler, Hazel Anne Raymundo. 3rd Row: Billy Bustamante, Emily Borromeo, Arielle Jacobs. Photo by Lia Chang
1st row: Howard,Ho, Zachary Siegel, Brian Jose, Lia Chang, Miranda Gohh, Isha Gulati and Jully Lee. 2nd Row: Liz Casasola, Jaygee Macapugay, Melody Butiu, Ali Ewoldt, Mat Hostetler, Hazel Anne Raymundo. 3rd Row: Billy Bustamante, Emily Borromeo, Arielle Jacobs.
Jully Lee, Howard Ho, Melody Butiu and Miranda Gohh. Photo by Lia Chang
Ali Ewoldt, Melody Butiu, Jonny Lee Jr., Mat Hostetler. Photo by Lia Chang
Ali Ewoldt, Melody Butiu and Jonny Lee Jr. Photo by Lia Chang
Nadia Dandashi and Ali Ewoldt. Photo by Lia Chang
Nadia Dandashi, a guest, Jaygee Macapugay, Melody Butiu and Ali Ewoldt. Photo by Lia Chang
Jaygee Macapugay with SUFFS audience members. Photo by Lia Chang
After the talkback, we headed to Hurley’s where cast members from other Broadway shows came out including Raymond J. Lee from The Heart of Rock and Roll; Isa Briones and Grace Yoo from Hadestown; Kristen Faith Oei and Red Concepción from Chicago; and Daryl Tofa from The Outsiders.
Zachary Siegel, Hazel Anne Raymundo, Raymond J. Lee, Erin Quill and Jaygee Macapugay. Photo by Lia Chang
Isa Briones, Jaygee Macapugay, Grace Yoo, Jonny Lee Jr., Manna Nichols-Wong. Photo by Lia Chang
Grace Yoo, Kristen Faith Oei, Isa Briones and Red Concepción. Photo by Lia Chang
Melody Butiu, Liz Casasola, Erin Quill, Jaygee Macapugay, Daryl Tofa, Michael Thanh Trần, Esme Ng and Suki Tsujimoto. Photo by Lia Chang
Melody Butiu, Kristina Doucette, Jaygee Macapugay, Liz Casasola. Photo by Lia Chang
Lainie Sakakura and Daryl Tofa. Photo by Lia Chang
1st row: Red Concepción, Kristen Faith Oei, Brian Jose, Lia Chang, Miranda Gohh, Kristina Doucette. 2nd row: Michael Thanh Trần, Bùi Ngọc Hiếu, Howard Ho, Lainie Sakakura, Erin Quill, Jully Lee and Nathan Angelo. Photo by Daryl Tofa
1st row: Red Concepción, Kristen Faith Oei, Brian Jose, Daryl Tofa, Miranda Gohh, Kristina Doucette. 2nd row: Michael Thanh Trần, Bùi Ngọc Hiếu, Howard Ho, Lainie Sakakura, Erin Quill, Jully Lee and Nathan Angelo. Photo by Lia Chang
Below are my recent interviews with Jaygee Macapugay; The Heart of Rock and Roll‘s Raymond J. Lee, Orville Mendoza, Zoe Jensen, and Robert Pendilla; The King and I’s Darren Lee; “Sesame Street” and Aladdin‘s Alan Muraoka; Outer Critics Circle Award Winner and Dead Outlaw star Thom Sesma; Be More Chill‘s Jason Tam; Sunset Boulevard‘s Pearl Sun and my coverage of Chicago‘s Kristen Faith Oei on the night she made history as the first Asian American Velma Kelly.
ABOUT Suffs
It’s 1913 and the women’s movement is heating up in America, anchored by the suffragists — “Suffs,” as they call themselves — and their relentless pursuit of the right to vote. Reaching across and against generational, racial, and class divides, these brilliant, flawed women entertain and inspire us with the story of their hard-won victory in an ongoing fight. So much has changed since the passing of the Nineteenth Amendment over a century ago, and yet we’re reminded sometimes we need to look back, in order to march fearlessly into the future.
Suffs stars book writer, composer, and lyricist Shaina Taub in the role of Alice Paul, making her only the second woman in history to write the book, music, lyrics and star in her own Broadway musical. Suffs also stars Tony Award-winner Nikki M. James (The Book of Mormon) as Ida B. Wells, Tony Award-nominee Jenn Colella (Come From Away) as Carrie Chapman Catt, Grace McLean (Natasha, Pierre and The Great Comet of 1812) as President Woodrow Wilson, Hannah Cruz (MCC’s The Connector) as Inez Milholland, Kim Blanck (Signature Theatre’s Octet) as Ruza Wenclawska, Anastacia McCleskey (Waitress) as Mary Church Terrell, Ally Bonino (Broadway debut) as Lucy Burns, Tsilala Brock (The Book of Mormon National Tour) as Dudley Malone, Nadia Dandashi (Broadway debut) as Doris Stevens, and Tony Award-nominee Emily Skinner (Side Show) as Alva Belmont/Phoebe Burn.
Rounding out the company are Hawley Gould (Lincoln Center Theater’s Camelot) as the Alternate for Alice Paul, Jaygee Macapugay (Here Lies Love) as Mollie Hay, and Laila Drew (Broadway debut) as Phyllis Terrell/Robin. The ensemble features Dana Costello (Pretty Woman) as well as Jenna Bainbridge, Monica Tulia Ramirez, and Ada Westfall making their Broadway debuts. The cast also includes Christine Heesun Hwang (Les Misérables National Tour), Chessa Metz (Broadway debut), Kirsten Scott (Jersey Boys), Housso Semon (Girl From The North Country), and D’Kaylah Unique Whitley (Dear Evan Hansen).
Suffs features book, music and lyrics by Kleban Prize, Fred Ebb Award, and Jonathan Larson Grant recipient Shaina Taub, direction by Tony Award-nominee Leigh Silverman (Violet), choreography by Mayte Natalio (How to Dance in Ohio), scenic design by Tony Award-nominee Riccardo Hernández (Jagged Little Pill), costume design by Tony Award-winner Paul Tazewell (Hamilton), lighting design by Tony Award-nominee Lap Chi Chu (Camelot), sound design by Jason Crystal (Sweeney Todd) with associate Sun Hee Kil (Choir Boy), orchestrations by Tony Award-winner Michael Starobin (Next to Normal), music supervision and music direction by Andrea Grody (The Band’s Visit), and casting by Heidi Griffiths and Kate Murray (Soft Power). 101 Productions, Ltd. serves as General Manager.
The current awards and nomination tally for the Broadway production of Suffs includes six Tony nominations – Best Musical, Best Book of a Musical and Best Original Score for Shaina Taub, Best Featured Actress in a Musical for Nikki M. James, Best Direction of a Musical for Leigh Silverman, Best Costume Design of a Musical for Paul Tazewell. The production won in three of the five Outer Critics Circle Awards categories include Outstanding New Broadway Musical, Outstanding Book of a Musical and Outstanding Score for Shaina Taub. Drama League nominations include Outstanding Production of a Musical, Outstanding Direction for Leigh Silverman and Distinguished Performance nominations for Nikki M. James and Jenn Colella. The show received eight Drama Desk Awards nominations – Outstanding Featured Performance in a Musical for Emily Skinner, Outstanding Music for Shaina Taub, Outstanding Orchestrations for Michael Starobin, Shaina Taub, and Andrea Grody, Outstanding Scenic Design of a Musical for Riccardo Hernández, Outstanding Costume Design of a Musical for Paul Tazewell, Outstanding Lighting Design of a Musical for Lap Chi Chu, Outstanding Sound Design of a Musical for Jason Crystal, and Outstanding Wig and Hair for Charles G. LaPoint.
Jill Furman and Rachel Sussman serve as lead producers of Suffs, with Hillary Rodham Clinton and Malala Yousafzai serving as two of the musical’s producers.
Suffs was originally developed and produced at The Public Theater in 2022 (Artistic Director, Oskar Eustis; Executive Director, Patrick Willingham).
Theatre Producers of Color (TPOC) is a multifaceted collective of theatremakers joined together in support of the next generation of BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, people of color) producers by providing access to education, training, and mentorship. TPOC was born out of the necessity to diversify the pool of commercial producers on and off Broadway. TPOC strives to break down barriers and make producing more accessible for a variety of voices.
Lia Chang, Kristen Faith Oei and Lainie Sakakura.
Christine Heesun Hwang, Nadia Dandashi, Lia Chang, Jaygee Macapugay and Kim Blanck. Photo by Lainie Sakakura
Lia Chang. Photo by Kalin Ivanov
Lia Chang is an actor, a multi-media content producer, activist, documentarian and an Award winning filmmaker and co-founder of Bev’s Girl Films making films that foster inclusion and diversity on both sides of the camera. Lia is also the host and Executive Producer of BACKSTAGE PASS WITH LIA CHANG, an Arts and Entertainment and Lifestyle program that airs on Sundays at 6:30pm on FIOS 34, RCN 83, Spectrum 56/1996 and streams on MNN2. Lia was recently profiled on Asian American Life. BGF collaborates with and produces multi-media content for artists, actors, designers, theatrical productions, composers, musicians and corporations. www.liachang.com www.liachangphotography.com
Lia Chang Photography 