On March 12, 2020 Broadway came to a halt as COVID-19 cases skyrocketed. Over the past year, Broadway has had to delay its grand reopening multiple times, but after eighteen months, the curtain has been drawn and Broadway is back! Shows like “Hamilton”, “Wicked, and “The Lion King” returned on September 14, with full capacity; however, there’s one show that never got it’s moment of glory with full audiences pre-pandemic.
“Six: The Musical”, written by Toby Marlow and Lucy Moss, is a historical piece with elements of historical storytelling, similar to Hamilton, but evolves them into a powerful, feminist commentary on the six wives of King Henry VIII. The musical follows the six wives: Catherine of Aragon portrayed by Adrianna Hicks, Anne Boleyn portrayed by Andrea Macasaet, Jane Seymour portrayed by Abby Mueller, Anna of Cleves portrayed by Brittney Mack, Katherine Howard portrayed by Samantha Pauly, and Catherine Parr who is played by Anna Uzele.
The show takes us through the lives of these women in the form of a musical competition, set up for the audience to decide which queen should be the lead singer in their “Histo-remix” band, commenting on the misogyny in each of the stories and how we continue to perceive them.
This all-women show made its debut at the West End Theater and the creators announced its Broadway debut at the Brooks Atkinson Theater in late 2019. By this point, the show had already become a global phenomenon and gained a reputation for their diverse casting and advocacy for marginalized groups such as the LGBTQ+ community.
The musical is interactive and has the audience dance along for the last five minutes, which isn’t common for a Broadway show. Typically theater etiquette requires attendees to remain quiet and respectful in their seats, but Six involves the audience throughout the entire performance by asking questions, welcoming the round of applause after each number, and encouraging everyone to dance, clap, and sing along to the encore.
While this is certainly different, it’s arguably the best possible show to see when returning to Broadway. There is absolutely no reason to hold in your excitement during a Six performance, the cast members, audience, band and even the ushers are just as excited and aren’t afraid to show it. The energy is high and audience members are expected to match it.
Broadway certainly looks different during a pandemic, with mask mandates, vaccine requirements and a virtual stage door. But that doesn’t take any of the fun away from this show. In fact, the sense of community, of love and excitement that all of the employees and cast members have to be back in the theater adds an extra layer of appreciation.