Bass Hall welcomes the Tony Award-winning musical SUFFS August 4–9, marking the final stop on its first National tour. The show chronicles the relentless American women’s suffrage movement that led to the ratification of the 19th Amendment.
We had the opportunity to interview Monica Tulia Ramirez, who plays Inez Milholland — a brilliant speaker, pacifist, and passionate advocate for women’s rights. Born in Brooklyn and raised between New York City and London, Milholland became a pivotal figure in the journey to the 19th Amendment.
360West: You play the venerable Inez Milholland in SUFFS. What did your research and character development process look like?
Monica Tulia Ramirez: I’ve been spoiled from the start. My journey with the show began in 2021. Before the Off-Broadway run, we did a small workshop where I saw firsthand how much research and care went into every aspect of the show, including Inez’s character. Once I started covering the role on Broadway, I dug into her life, work, and iconography. What helped me most in creating my version of Inez was recognizing her ability to speak to people’s hearts and call them into action. She was aware of the attention she naturally attracted and intentionally used it to direct people’s focus toward the suffrage movement. She claimed space, galvanized crowds, and praised all those devoted to equality. She was, and always will be, a beacon of light.
360West: Did it feel special to have an all-female and non-binary presenting cast?
MTR: One of the things I love most about this company and crew is the constant sense of collaboration and support we’ve had since day one. It’s rare to be in rooms like this, and it’s special how everyone shows up for each other. Representation matters deeply, but the best part about SUFFS is that this story isn’t limited to one group of people. Over the years, speaking with audiences at the stage door and at talkbacks has shown me that people from all walks of life find something in this show that speaks to them personally, regardless of their background. That includes not just our audience members, but everyone who has created, built, and carried this show forward — which is incredibly special.
360West: Black suffragists Ida B. Wells and Mary Church Terrell are included as important characters — a rarity in sharing the perspectives of people of color regarding feminist issues. Do you hope shows like SUFFS will help push that narrative further?
MTR: Absolutely! The stories of these women were never taught to me in school, but their work was so impactful. They did so much with the time they had, and it inspires me to be a more active, educated, and informed citizen. I like to tell young people who see the show that it’s a touchstone into the world of suffrage history — a chance to bring these names back to huge crowds of people again. I hope gesturing toward the history of Ida B. Wells and Mary Church Terrell in this production will highlight that these women were not adjacent to the movement — they were central strategists, organizers, and thinkers within it. Including them opens up a broader conversation about how the fight for equality has never been a unified experience, and it invites us to look more closely at what and who is remembered, and why.
360West: Texas was one of the first Southern states to ratify the 19th Amendment (1919). Did that history factor into Fort Worth being the final stop on the first national tour, and the only stop in Texas? Do you have any personal ties to Fort Worth or Texas?
MTR: It’s amazing to be able to perform in Fort Worth and continue to fuel the trailblazing spirit of Texans. That’s so special! I know Inez came through Texas on her big campaign tour in 1916. My only personal tie to Fort Worth is that I have family moving here the very week SUFFS is in town — they’ll arrive with just enough time to catch the last show!
360West: What do you hope this show will communicate to, or inspire in, the patrons of Bass Hall?
MTR: Agency. Urgency. Civic participation. Women’s rights are not footnotes to history — they are ongoing, fragile, and worth standing up for. I hope audiences are moved by what these women endured and feel a renewed sense of responsibility toward the democracy we’re still building together.
For tickets and more information on SUFFS, visit basshall.com.