‘Six’ play dates, times and cast
Play: Six the Musical
Book & Music: Toby Marlow & Lucy Moss
Genre: Historical, Biographical, Comedy
Synopsis: “Divorced. Beheaded. Died. Divorced. Beheaded. Survived.” Six is a modern retelling of the lives of Henry VIII’s six wives: Catherine of Aragon, Anne Boleyn, Jane Seymour, Anna of Cleves, Katherine Howard, and Catherine Parr. They have come together as a band to stage a pop concert and invite the audience to hear their stories. They cannot decide who should be the lead singer, so they initiate a competition, or singing battle, to see who suffered the most as Queen. Each wife believes they had it toughest and they belittle each other’s attempts to prove their hardship. However, they become frustrated that their place in history is defined by one man. Together, they decide to pick up the pen and the microphone to re-write their own stories. They are more than a rhyme, more than a wife, and much more than one King could handle.
Origins: In 2017, Cambridge University Musical Theatre Society chose Toby Marlow to create and write a new musical. At the time, Marlow was in his final year at Cambridge. He partnered in the project with fellow student, Lucy Moss. Their musical premiered that same year at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival.
Production History: Six premiered in the West End at the Arts Theatre in January of 2019, and has since embarked on a UK tour. It premiered in North America in May of 2019 and on Broadway in February 2020. Following a hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic, it officially opened at the Brooks Atkinson Theatre on October 3, 2021 and has since launched additional touring companies.
Awards: Toby Marlow and Lucy Moss won the 2022 Tony for Best Original Score and Drama Desk Awards for Outstanding Music and for Outstanding Lyrics, as well as Outer Critics Circle Awards for Outstanding New Broadway Musical, Outstanding Score and Outstanding Costume Design.
Songs:
- “Ex-Wives” – Company
- “Ex-Wives (Reprise)” – Company
- “No Way” – Catherine of Aragon and Company
- “Don’t Lose Ur Head” – Anne Boleyn and Company
- “Heart of Stone” – Jane Seymour and Company
- “Haus of Holbein” – Company
- “Get Down” – Anna of Cleves and Company
- “All You Wanna Do” – Katherine Howard and Company
- “I Don’t Need Your Love” – Catherine Parr
- “I Don’t Need Your Love (Remix)” – Catherine Parr and Company
- “Six” – Company
- “The Megasix (Encore)” – Company
Fun Fact: The music of several real-life pop stars inspired the characters and songs Marlow and Moss created for the musical, vis:
- Catherine of Aragon is modelled on Beyoncé and Jennifer Hudson;
- Anne Boleyn is modelled on Avril Lavigne and Lily Allen;
- Jane Seymour is modelled after Adele, Sia and Celine Dion;
- Anna of Cleves is modelled on Nicki Minaj and Rihanna;
- Katherine Howard is modelled on Britney Spears and Ariana Grande; and
- Catherine Parr is modelled on Alicia Keys and Emeli Sandé.
Director: Janelle Laux
Musical Direction: Dominic Pilozo & Mia Durse
Choreographer: Amy Valerius
Dance Captain: Ava Stoeberl
Stage Manager: Landon McCarthy
Cast:
- Catherine of Aragon: Jay Encalada
- Annie Boleyn: Rilyn Dick
- Jane Seymour: Emma Bambrey
- Anna of Cleves: Grace Duncan
- Katherine Howard: Mia Zottolo
- Catherine Parr: Ava Stoeberl
- Swings: Kaylin Norwood (Catherine of Aragon/Anne Boleyn), Anamarie Rivadeneira (Jane Seymour/Katherine Howard), Jeoni Shepard (Anna of Cleves) and Christina McKeaver (Catherine Parr).
Dates: October 25 & 26 at 7:00 p.m. and October 27 at 2:00 p.m.
Location: North Fort Myers High School
October 20, 2024.