Suffrage

Utah women of the 19th century believed in many of the same doctrines that members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints believe in today. They also believed in and practiced the doctrine of polygamy, which was accepted as not only revelation from God but also an unremarkable way of life. Many women found happiness in plural marriages, formed close relationships with their sister wives and helped each other in raising children. One woman, after being proposed to, asked that the man marry both she and her sister. Hundreds of women accepted plural marriage- “some because they believed plural marriage was a glorious doctrine, others out of a hope for future exaltation or because conforming seemed a lesser idea than abandoning their homes and faith.”*

Suffrage Playbill

The Suffrage team has been working hard to bring you a stellar audio-drama performance this week. Below, you can meet our crew! Emily Trejo, Director Emily is a Senior studying Theatre Education with minors in TESOL and Family Life. She has had the opportunity to work on a handful of shows here at BYU that has helped further her interests in Directing and Dramaturgy. Aside from a life in theatre, Emily has also founded a mariachi band, Mariachi Montes Azules, that has also experienced lots of growth in the last few months. She is grateful to her husband, Dravyn, who has helped keep her sane during the semester.Tiffany Gibbons, Sound Designer and Foley Artist Tiffany is a Senior in the Theatre Education program from Cedar Hills, UT. Passionate about music and movement, Tiffany hopes to teach in elementary schools and advocate for the use of the arts in general classrooms. This is such a beautiful and impactful show, and she is so grateful to have had the chance to help tell this story! Sending blessings to artists, teachers, storytellers, and Mothers everywhere during this trying time!Becca Christiansen, Hair and Makeup Designer Becca has always had a love for hair and makeup and has been a cosmetologist for 7 years. She graduates this semester and can't wait to be able to spend more time with her husband and baby once she does. She stays busy with taking care of her family, cutting hair, and running her own boutique. Claire Eyestone, Costume Designer and "Frances" Claire Eyestone is a senior studying theatre education and English teaching. Recent credits include Amy in Charley's Aunt at the HCTO, Adriana in Comedy of Errors, and assistant directing Little Shop of Horrors at BYU. She's loved getting to both design and act in this production.Juniper Taylor, "Ruth"Juniper Taylor is a junior in the BFA Acting program. She has played many roles from Lucifer in Dr. Faustus to Hodel in Fiddler on the Roof. She would like to thank Emily and the production team for working so hard on a story she’s grown to love. And she would like to thank Ruth for teaching her that strong, independent women can change the world. Samantha Daynes, Dramaturg Samantha is a senior from Singapore studying theatre education. She is the great-great-great granddaughter of Wilford Woodruff, and has loved the opportunity to understand more about the lives of the early Saints. Acting credits include BYU's Hamlet and Comedy of Errors, and she read stage directions for Suffrage when it premiered at BYU's Contemporary Voices Festival. She has also worked as a set and costume designer, as well as a full-time position on the run crew at Moonlight Amphitheatre in Vista, CA, and hopes to continue her education in many aspects of theatre.Lisa Eardley, Assistant Dramaturg Lisa is a Senior from Elko, NV. She will graduate this semester with her degree in Theatre Arts with an emphasis on costume design. She has been the costume designer for the Silver Stage Players and the Overland Stage Theatre Company in Elko for several productions including Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, White Christmas, and Cinderella.

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.