Even though this performance will be an audio drama, it was originally conceived as a live, in-person production, including costume design by Claire Eyestone. We hope you enjoy these pictures of Eyestone’s original costume designs, and that they give you perspective as you listen to this performance of Suffrage.
Frances (left) played by Claire Eyestone, and Ruth (right) played by Juniper Taylor, share a husband, a family, and a sisterly bond.Frances’ beliefs that a woman’s first duty is to her home sometimes conflict with Ruth’s determination to win the vote.
Ruth can’t understand how Frances can be so passive in the fight for women’s suffrage.Despite their differences in opinion, the two friends find a moment to laugh.Claire Eyestone (Frances) wears the traditional dress of the 19th Century, while Juniper Taylor (Ruth) wears the outfit of a modern woman. Two groups of women, united in purpose throughout the decades.Frances and Ruth rely on each other and look to the future with hope.
Ever since the beginning of the rehearsal process, director Kris Peterson really wanted the cast to get their hands in the dirt. Like the events of the musical, the earth has a power to connect us to each other, and she recognized that. One way that Charlotte and I thought to do this was to provide a small number of seeds to each cast member and invite them to grow their own plants over the summer. This was also a way to encourage the cast members to stay mentally connected to the show even when they were physically distant from the rehearsal space.
The power of healing and growth is a topic not unknown to students at BYU. Educators and learners alike were asked to stretch their capacity to hold both powers in one hand as they were transplanted from their on-campus home in the Harris Fine Arts Center, to the new West Campus building, formerly known as the old Provo High School. The college of fine arts and communication, which includes Theatre, Media, film, Art, and Design departments, had to establish new communities, while major construction projects prevented them from being as close to the rest of campus as they might like to be.
