Six The Musical

Divorced, Beheaded, Died; Divorced, Beheaded, Survived. 

In 1970, the BBC televised a series of six plays about the six wives of Henry VIII. It came across the pond to the US in 1971 and is famously known as part of the PBS Masterpiece Theatre series. This musical, which Cambridge University students first presented at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe in 2017, is now at Broadway of Chicago's CIBC Theatre. It's got more energy than the energizing bunny and is 80 minutes of pure euphoria. 

 We meet six women who describe their life, love, and lack of longevity being married to King Henry VIII. 

Catherine of Aragon married Arthur, Prince of Wales, ending with his early death. Catherine made arrangements for her to marry Prince Henry, but when Henry VII died, Henry VIII chose Catherine as his wife. Her son died, and her second pregnancy was stillbirth Henry wanting a male heir, begins a relationship with Anne Boleyn. Catherine is heartbroken when Henry tells her he wants a divorce. She moves into Wolsey's house until she dies.

Anne Boleyn married Henry VIII and was filled with issues of miscarriages and infidelities, which she criticized the King publicly. Finally, after failing to provide the King with a son, she was executed and beheaded.  

Jane Seymour, who died at childbirth, provided the King with a son (Prince Edward). Seymour loved the King, and he loved her; however, she was troubled by the death of Anne Boleyn. Many believed it caused her to become ill during her pregnancy. Jane dies, and Henry weeps by Jane's funeral bier.

When Jane dies, the counselors urge the King to marry again, but they want a collaboration with Protestant Cleves (Germany). Henry VIII requested artist Hans Holbein to render a painting, and from it, he chose Anne of Cleves. However, the King is upset when he sees her in disguise, and she is aghast to learn that the masked and lewd man is the King. He deeds her ugly and tries to void the marriage. The two never lived as a married couple, and Henry's infatuation with his young niece, Catherine Howard, begins. Jane Seymour dies, and Henry VIII prepares himself for wife number five.     

Catherine Howard, a fetching young teenager, who has lived a life of an experienced active woman, is taken to the King, and he takes her as his wife. But when rumors about an affair and Catherine's past improprieties raise, she is executed and beheaded.  

As the King ages, he seeks out a mature woman and comes across a twice-widowed woman named Catherine Parr. She rejects his request for marriage but begrudgingly agrees to marry the King with a bit of persuading. She becomes Queen of England, but her liberal opinions; anger Henry, and she is arrested for her religious views. In time the King forgives her. Henry VIII died with his wealth declining, and Catherine Parr was the only one of the six women to marry the King and survive.

This was the fate of the six wives of Henry VIII as they reclaimed their identities that started well over five hundred years ago with a history of heartbreaks. Finally, the 'Tudor Queens' are here to set the record straight! The energetic celebration of twenty-first-century female empowerment, shining the spotlight on the queens of the night, Aragon, Boleyn, Seymour, Cleves, Howard, and Parr, is a blast from the past you don't want to miss.  Who would have ever thought that the history of someone's demise could be so much fun and entertaining to watch? So when the "Tudor Queens" turned pop princesses take the stage for an electrifying pop concert, you better believe the night will be spectacular! 

North American Tour, "Six," is a powerhouse sensation in Brexit-land, with a smashing score by the creator's Toby Marlow and Lucy Moss. Under the creative direction of Moss and Jamie Armitage and the brilliant music directed by Roberta Duchak, "Six" features the North American cast of six raising from the dead superstars. Khaila Anye Wilcoxon(Catherine of Aragon), Storm Lever (Anna Boleyn), Jasmine Forsberg (Jane Seymour), Olivia Donalson (Anna of Cleves), Didi Romero (Katherine Howard), and Gabriela Carrillo (Catherine Parr) are all amazing in their performance. I have to mention that Gabriela Carrillo's voice, which sounded like you were listening to a professional recording, is flawless.  These queens on stage were inspired by Beyonce, Shakira, Lily Allen, Avril Lavigne, Adele, Sia, Nicki Minaj, Rihanna, Ariana Grande, Britney Spears, Alicia Keys, and Emeli Sande.

These 'Sixteenth Century Queen Divas' brought their 'A-game to this musical. Reclaiming their identities from the shadow of their infamous spouse with an all-female band called 'Lady In Waiting.' The all-women ensemble modern-day soundtrack with nine electrifying songs makes this a musical concert; we guarantee to be one wild night you wouldn't forget. The wives of Henry VIII are tired of everyone arguing about the most important wife, so a friendly competition is unleashed between them to determine who had the worst life with the King, with the winner crowned as the leading lady in the group. 

Let the competition begin, starting with the wife of 24 years who refused to be replaced, Catherine of Aragon. She spent seven years in prison before becoming Henry's first wife. She was married the longest; however, her marriage was annulled. Next up to the mic is Anne Boleyn, the petite firecracker who was the temptress. She played the same game as Henry, but in the end, she lost, and her penalty was death. Anne is considered the most famous of the wives due to her beheading. 

Then there's Jane Seymour, the Queen that suffered silently. King Henry VIII was her true love; she died in childbirth and left the King a male heir. Abby beautifully sings the agonizing ballad "Heart of Stone" with so much passion for her love for the King. 

Henry VIII had a portrait commissioned by the masterful artist Hans Holbein of Anna Cleaves, the feisty, spirited Queen. However, the painting left the King thinking she was not pretty enough to marry. But he married her anyway, and she was "lucky" enough to get an annulment and survive. 

Katherine Howard, who always looked for love in the wrong places, told her story of abuse by numerous men whose lust she mistook for love. This 'Queen Diva' was beheaded and was executed on Tower Green, London.  Lastly, Catherine Parr never had a chance to write her story until now. When the King summons you to marry him, what can a girl do, even if she is engaged to be married to someone else? Anna sings the audacious song "I Don't Need Your Love" and becomes Henry's widow. She is a survivor who understands the collective power of "the six." 

Costume designer Gabriella Slade gave us a lot of glitz and glamour with a mix of 16th century sultry sexiness, complemented by Tim Deiling's creative lighting adding just the right touch of rock and roll for a concert in The Yard.  And let's not forget the soon-to-be-legendary all-girl band that rocked it out; The Ladies in Waiting, featuring Jo Ann Daugherty, Janetta Goines, Rose Laguana, and Paige Durr. 

Henry VIII, the King with the six wives, the man who declared the doctrine of "the divine right of kings." The man whose absolute authority he claimed came from God rather than his subjects could never have imagined his wives' incarnation uniting together after five hundred years to set the record straight in a musical called "SIX!" 

Let's Play 'Highly Recommend' "SIX The Musical at Broadway In Chicago's CIBC Theatre." 

CIBC Theatre  

SIX 

By Toby Marlow and Lucy Moss 

Directed by Lucy Moss and Jamie Armitage 

Now playing until July 3rd, 2022