After years of singing along to the cast recording and watching bootlegs on TikTok, I finally got to see “SIX” live — and just in time for Women’s History Month.
As the curtain rose above the stage for the sold-out opening night March 4 at Clowes Memorial Hall, audience members went crazy for the iconic Tudor queens-turned-pop stars in this upbeat, funny and evocative retelling of King Henry VIII’s six wives.
The Tony Award-winning music comedy was created by Lucy Moss and Toby Marlow and premiered at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe in 2017 before eventually debuting on Broadway in 2020. Since then, the show has garnered a cult following for the intricate costumes, catchy pop songs and shedding light on the six queens often forgotten to history.
Most people only remember Catherine of Aragon, Anne Boleyn, Jane Seymour, Anna of Cleves, Katherine Howard and Catherine Parr because of the rhyme we’re taught in history class: “divorced, beheaded, died, divorced, beheaded, died.” However, “SIX” showcases the queens in a moment of female empowerment — allowing these women to back their names and their stories in a flourish of flashy dance numbers, vibrant costumes and killer vocals.
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Backed by their all-female band, the “Ladies in Waiting,” the ex-wives stage a singing competition for the audience to decide which among them was dealt the worst hand in their marriages to Henry Tudor.
The current touring production of “SIX” (and the cast I got to see) features Chani Maisonet as Catherine of Aragon, Gaby Albo as Anne Boleyn, Kelley Denice Taylor as Jane Seymour, Danielle Mendoza as Anna of Cleves, Alize Cruz as Katherine Howard and Taisia Jungbauer as Catherine Parr.
“SIX” is known for its rotating cast of diverse powerhouse leading ladies and their equally powerhouse swings and alternates — actors who can go on for one or more of the queens at (literally) a minute’s notice.
Taylor Sage Evans, Hailey Lewis, Carlina Parker, Caroline Siegrist and Amaya White round out the touring cast as alternates.
Each queen is outfitted in bold colors, sequins and rhinestones — some with vinyl skirts and mesh tops complete with fishnet tights and glittery boots to give them a dramatic Tudor-inspired, rockstar diva look.
Each queen’s look also follows a certain color palette, inspired by modern-day pop princesses and singers like Ariana Grande, Beyonce, Rihanna and Alicia Keys and curated with vibrant makeup, spikey jewelry and elaborate hairstyles to match.
The staging gives the show more of a concert feel than a musical, as each of the queens engages directly with the audience as well as their band right on stage. It’s meant to be fun, lighthearted and easy to enjoy. However, “SIX” is also educational and doesn’t shy away from the pain, trauma and abuse these women suffered at the hands of Henry Tudor.
After the opening number, the show dives into the solos with Catherine of Aragon singing “No Way,” which details her struggle as Henry Tudor’s first wife after she’s informed of the annulment of their marriage. After Anne Boleyn’s tragic beheading story in “Don’t Lose Your Head” and Jane Seymour’s lament in “Heart of Stone,” the show changes gears to a campy, glow-in-the-dark, EDM ensemble dance number, “Haus of Holbein”
Every number is better than the last and brings such a different energy to the stage. As the audience get deeper into the show and know these characters better, the competition seems less important than simply remembering them as women who had dreams, hobbies and lives outside of their shared husband.
Though not entirely historically accurate, the ending is hopeful, inspiring women to take charge and champion their own stories.
“SIX” was worth the wait and definitely lives up to the hype. The friend I brought with me knew nothing about it and is still raving about how amazing it was. “SIX” might have just become my No. 1.
The Tudor queens are rewriting history onstage at Clowes Memorial Hall now through March 9. Tickets are extremely limited, but if there are any left, they can be found at BroadwayInIndianapolis.com and ticketmaster.com, by calling 1-800-982-2787 or by visiting the Clowes Memorial Hall box office.
For more information about the show or to view a performance schedule, visit SixonBroadway.com.
Contact Arts & Culture Reporter Chloe McGowan at 317-762-7848. Follow her on X @chloe_mcgowanxx.
Chloe McGowan is the Arts & Culture Reporter for the Indianapolis Recorder Newspaper. Originally from Columbus, OH, Chloe graduated with a degree in journalism from The Ohio State University. She is a former IndyStar Pulliam Fellow, and her previous work includes freelancing for Indy Maven, Assistant Arts & Life Editor for The Lantern, and editorial assistant at CityScene Media Group. Chloe enjoys covering all things arts and culture — from local music, visual art, dance, theater and film, as well as minority-owned businesses. In her free time, Chloe enjoys reading, cooking and keeping her plants alive.
