If you’re not up to date on your Tudor history, now’s your chance.
“Six” is a musical that does for the wives of Henry VIII what “Hamilton” did for the founding fathers — turning them into a buzzy, pop-driven phenomenon catchy enough to hook theater kids and welcoming enough to lure even non-theater folks into the fandom.
Told from the (mostly doomed) wives’ perspectives, “Six” — which is playing at the Hollywood Pantages through March 8 — reimagines Tudor history as a pop concert.
The show premiered on Broadway in 2021 after famously shutting down just hours before its scheduled opening in 2020 because of the pandemic. When it finally returned, it became a smash hit, winning two Tony Awards for Best Original Score and Best Costume Design of a Musical.
And despite the frequent onstage banter about beheadings, adultery and betrayal, the show is surprisingly tween-friendly (the inappropriate lines tend to fly over their heads). My daughter saw it at 8, and soon, she and her second grade friends were playing “Six Wives of Henry VIII” at recess, bickering over who got to be “divorced,” “beheaded” or “survived.” (Anne Boleyn was always the most coveted queen. Go figure.)
Flash forward: When the group was offered the chance to interview the stars of the current Broadway touring cast, the girls jumped at the opportunity.
The cast of SIX, The Musical, from left to right, Kelly Denice Taylor (Jane Seymour), Alizé Cruz (Katherine Howard), Emma Elizabeth Smith (Catherine of Aragon), Nella Cole (Anne Boleyn), Hailey Alexis Lewis (Anna of Cleves), Tasia Jungbauer (Catherine Parr). (Photo by Joan Marcus/SIX National Tour)
Jelyn Aguinada. (Photo courtesy of the Aguinada Family)
Charlee Marie. (Photo courtesy of the Marie Family)
Atlas Carvel. (Photo courtesy of the Carvel Family)
Emily Back. (Photo courtesy of the Back Family)
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The cast of SIX, The Musical, from left to right, Kelly Denice Taylor (Jane Seymour), Alizé Cruz (Katherine Howard), Emma Elizabeth Smith (Catherine of Aragon), Nella Cole (Anne Boleyn), Hailey Alexis Lewis (Anna of Cleves), Tasia Jungbauer (Catherine Parr). (Photo by Joan Marcus/SIX National Tour)
For this column, I’m turning it over to them: kid reporters Jelyn Aguinada, Charlee Marie, Atlas Carvel and Emily Back, who interviewed four “Queens” from the Broadway touring cast of “Six.” (One note: These interviews were done via email.) Take it from here, Queens!
TO: Anne Boleyn (played by Nella Cole)
FROM: Jelyn Aguinada (Pennekamp Elementary fifth grader)
How are your family and friends supporting you on this journey?
I’ve been touring since 2021, so my friends and family have gotten pretty accustomed to having a long-distance relationship with me! It can be tough to be away from loved ones but I so appreciate how much my inner circle has made time for long FaceTime calls and visits out to tour! It makes it that much more special and memorable when I do get to see my loved ones and spend time with them!
Do you remember your first time acting in a show, and how did you manage the nervousness?
I started performing when I was about 12 years old, so I don’t necessarily remember my first time acting in a show, but I can tell you opening night jitters never go away! My best advice would be to breathe deeply, give yourself time to go slow pre-show so you’re not rushing, and connect with your castmates when you’re on stage. Actually look them in the eyes and listen to what they’re saying as deeply as you can. It will remind you that you’re not up there alone!
TO: Catherine Parr (played by Tasia Jungbauer)
FROM: Charlee Marie (El Segundo Middle School sixth grader)
If you could switch roles with another queen for one performance just for fun, who would you choose and why?
If I could switch roles with one queen for one show, I would pick Howard. That pink pony looks really fun to wear, and her song is my favorite. The arc from flirty to heartbreaking would be fun to explore as an actor!
I’m a little superstitious and do some silly things before my shows! Do you have any funny backstage traditions or pre-show rituals with the cast?
Ooo, OK, superstitious! I don’t have too many pre-show rituals. I am a minimalist in that way. But I do have to have one Grether’s Pastille every show. I cut it in half and have one tucked in my cheek at the top of the show, and then take the other half in the middle of the show. With the cast, we all hold hands and take some deep breaths together before the show, and do “two snaps” with our hands. Not sure where the two snaps came from, but we did it one day and it stuck!
TO: Anna of Cleves (played by Hailey Alexis Lewis)
FROM: Atlas Carvel (Pennekamp Elementary fifth grader)
If your queen lived today, what would she be famous for?
If Anna of Cleves were around today, I think she’d be a social media influencer — but the empowering, boss-energy kind. Her marriage to Henry didn’t work out, and she was like, “OK, but I’m still going to win.” She didn’t spiral or crash out; instead she secured her bag, kept her royal status, and walked away with property and stability — basically negotiating the smartest breakup in history. Her platform would be all about empowerment: knowing your worth, staying unbothered and turning rejection into opportunity.
What is the hardest part about playing a queen?
I think the hardest part about playing a queen is reminding myself to have instant forgiveness for myself. As a queen, there are expectations to be strong and almost perfect all the time — but you’re still human. You’re going to have flaws and make mistakes. The challenge is accepting that without being too hard on yourself. It’s about understanding that leadership doesn’t mean perfection; it means owning your mistakes, learning from them and still carrying yourself with confidence.
TO: Katherine Howard (played by Alizé Cruz)
FROM: Emily Back (Pennekamp Elementary fifth grader)
Have you ever had to use improv during one of your shows to save it?
Yes. There was one time that one of my castmates had completely forgotten her line, and a couple of seconds had gone by, and I could tell that she just could not remember it. So instead of it being her line, I kind of delivered it as my own line, if that makes any sense. I kind of intertwined her line with mine to make it seem more of a conversation.
Do you feel more pressure playing someone who actually lived and died versus a fictional character?
I think that, in my case, I play someone who died very young. The exciting part about that is that we don’t really know how she was when she grew older. So for me, getting to play someone who didn’t have a perception of who her adult self was, I can have a lot more fun in playing who I think she would be. It just makes it a little more playful and more exciting.And no, I don’t necessarily feel more pressure because I can make this character my own. I think another thing about our lovely musical “Six” is that they encourage the actor to kind of put a bit of their own personality into who they’re playing. Whereas in other shows, it’s a very fixed character and you have to play that character how it was written — we get freedom and play when it comes to creating our own versions of our characters.
Thank you for your amazing questions!
“Six” plays at the Hollywood Pantages through March 8. Tickets start at $45 and are available at broadwayinhollywood.com. After its Pantages run, “Six” will stick around Southern California, running at the Segerstrom Center for the Arts in Costa Mesa from March 10 to 15. For more information, go to scfta.org.