From Boston to Broadway and beyond, these fabulous queens are coming your way.
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HOW I HAPPENED UPON THE QUEENS: This spring, I was in my typical wonky awards season mode, going down the rabbit hole checking out the Olivier Award nominees (London’s equivalent of the Tonys). As I worked my way through the list, I noticed this show that kept popping up in a bunch of categories—five times proper, including Best New Musical—that looked unique and cool, kind of edgy and maybe even a little bit kitschy. This being my favorite combination in all things, I was intrigued. But when I saw the tag line—Divorced. Beheaded. Live in Concert!—I needed to know everything.
SIX IN SIX LINES: Here we go: SIX, by Toby Marlow and Lucy Moss, brings together the six wives of Henry VIII—all but one brutally beheaded—as a girl group ensemble in a concert-meets-reality competition setting. Each has her say about her story in her own words, as told through a pop-rock-R&B score where each queen’s sound is inspired by a pair of modern divas (check out the chart below) that’s brought to life with beats by an all-female on-stage band, the Ladies in Waiting. This couldn’t be more up my musical theater nerd alley, so clearly I needed to find a way to see it.
NO (LADY IN) WAITING TO SEE THESE QUEENS: Almost as soon as SIX registered on my radar, it just so happened that the West End hit was making its way across the Pond for a U.S. premiere at none other than Chicago Shakespeare Theater, which was *literally* a block from my place. I snagged some discount tickets as soon as they went on sale (hey-o, TodayTix!), grabbed my husband and our good friend and theater buddy, Joe, and headed for the royal court concert.
Let’s just say that the queens most definitely did not disappoint. Running a brisk 75-minutes, the super entertaining show with shades of Hamilton crackles along as memorable, could-be-legit-hits (“Ex-Wives” and “Six” are particularly pleasant earworms) are bridged by interactions between the queens bucking for the (dis)honor of the title as the one who had it the worst in their marriage and life with ol’ Hank.
It all happens within a heightened, futuristic-feeling world created by co-directors Moss and Jamie Armitage where blazing feminism and girl power are on fabulous, full blast. The diva-worthy fashions by Gabriella Slade and a simple, sleek aesthetic from scenic designer Emma Bailey are a perfect artistic match for the fun-meets-informative sing-song historical storytelling that the very talented, multi-racial cast and band absolutely nail. Shout out, too, to lighting designer Tim Deiling, who makes sure you feel like you’re in concert-meets-theater mode from the get-go.
It’s fantastic throughout, but hits it’s height as it turns the corner for a surprisingly poignant third act and revs up for a get-on-your-feet finale that will make you realize just how much fun you’ve having as you rock out amid cast-directed Insta-ready moments. Awesome stuff from end-to-end.
And though my time with the queens sadly wrapped when the curtain came down, it might just be your turn to get in on the action next as the historical party set to song could be coming to a theater near you!
SIX IS GOING TO BE EVERYWHERE, AND YOU NEED TO BE THERE: Now a certified stateside hit after it’s sold-out Chicago stint, SIX is taking the country by storm with a Boston run that started this week, followed by a stop in St. Paul, Minnesota, a just-announced Broadway transfer, and then a return to Chicago and the launch of a national tour in 2020 (glance down for cities and dates).
But even if you can’t make it to the show, you can still have some throne-worthy fun with a quick download of the original cast album on Spotify, because with SIX, there’s something for everyone. Just gotta bring your own girl band and confetti.