Crown Pleaser
Heads will roll when SIX singing queens tell their story on stage in San Antonio
Tickets to the hit Broadway musical are on sale now.
The incentives to learn about a historical topic are lacking in flair, to say the least. But Six, a hit musical about the wives (guess how many) of Henry VIII, cracked the code. And public ticket sales are opening soon to see it happen live in San Antonio from October 10-22.
Much like the buzzy Barbie movie, this story spurred feelings of women's empowerment by referring to the pop music idols of Millennials' childhood and Gen X's youth. Each wife of Henry VIII presents her song as certain pop stars of the aughts would — not a one-to-one match, but definitely borrowing recognizable elements.
Catherine of Aragon reminds many viewers of Beyoncé, with punchy, drum line-like arrangements and a deep voice. (Also, the yellow dress...come on.) Anne Boleyn — "Remembered for…Headlessness," the website quips — takes shape more as Avril Lavigne, with instigating lyrics and chanted call-and-responses. Meanwhile the sexy (or is it sexualized?) Katherine Howard can't be mistaken for anyone other than Britney Spears.
After its Cambridge University beginnings, this history lesson wrapped in a pop concert crossed the pond and took Broadway by storm, winning 23 awards including the 2022 Tony Award for Best Original Score (Music and Lyrics). The gals popped up on NPR's Tiny Desk, and the fandom propagated into contemporary pop circles, even where girls don't really think about musicals.
The touring cast may not be the, uh, historically accurate Broadway originals, but as in all other touring Broadway acts, these ladies all represent the same caliber of performance. When Hairspray went on tour earlier this year, the widely loved RuPaul's Drag Race alum Nina West stole the show and brought tears to audiences' eyes as an irreproachable Edna Turnblad.
Six will play in 16 showings at The Majestic Theatre from October 10-22. Tickets (starting at $40) will be available on August 4 at 10 am via santonio.broadway.com or majesticempire.com.
