Six (musical)
| Musical dates | |
|---|---|
| Title: | Six - Divorced Beheaded Live in Concert! |
| Original title: | Six - Divorced Beheaded Live in Concert! |
| Original language: | English |
| Music: | Toby Marlow, Lucy Moss |
| Book: | Toby Marlow, Lucy Moss |
| Lyrics: | Toby Marlow, Lucy Moss |
| Premiere: | 2017 |
| Place of premiere: | Edinburgh |
| Roles / people | |
Six is a British musical written by Toby Marlow and Lucy Moss. The musical is a modern retelling of the lives of Henry VIII's six wives , presented as a pop concert. Each of the women presents their lives in a song to determine who suffered most from Heinrich and who should therefore be the front woman of the group.
The musical was first presented by Cambridge University students at the 2017 Edinburgh Fringe Festival . Since then there have been professional productions in the West End and internationally.
action
The show is opened like a pop concert by the six queens with the opening number ( "Ex-Wives" ), in which they introduce themselves like a girl group and welcome the audience to the concert. You speak to the audience and explain that there should be a competition. The one of them who suffered the most under Henry VIII is said to be the front woman of the group ("Ex-Wives (Reprise)"). They sing in the order in which they were married to Henry VIII. Catherine of Aragon begins and tells of her marriage to Heinrich, its later annulment and how she was almost put in a monastery when Heinrich fell in love with Anne Boleyn ( "No Way" ). When Aragon is about to declare itself the winner, the others mention Anne ( "Anne Boleyn (Interlude)" ). Anne then sings about how she became queen and was later executed ( "Don't Lose Ur Head" ). Since she was beheaded, Boleyn automatically considers herself the winner of the competition and starts a second song ( "Wearing Yellow to a Funeral" ), but is interrupted by the others after a few syllables. Then it is Jane Seymour's turn, but the other queens make fun of her for not having it as hard as the others and for being "the only one he really loved," as Seymour himself said. Jane admits that she was lucky and stayed by Heinrich's side despite his mistakes, because she really loved him ( "Heart of Stone" ).
In a kind of parody, the queens then sing with a German accent how women can be "beautified" in order to look as good as possible on their portraits by Hans Holbein ( "Haus of Holbein "). Then, similar to a dating website, they present three candidates for Heinrich: Christina von Denmark , Amalia von Kleve and Anna von Kleve (Anna of Cleves). When Heinrich (who never appears) decides in favor of Anna, they wish them a happy, long marriage ( "House of Holbein (Playoff)" ). However, the marriage does not succeed because Heinrich refuses Anna, whereupon Anna complains ironically that she now has to live in the magnificent Richmond Palace. Anna then brags about her wealth and her life as a single woman, who doesn't have to be told anything by a man and can do whatever she wants ( "Get Down" ). When the other queens ask her that her life wasn't difficult at all, she calmly accepts that she probably won't win the competition. Katherine Howard is next in line. The other queens initially poke fun at her as the "least relevant Catherine", but Katherine takes revenge by finding a mistake in each one of why they can't win. Then she sings about her life, how she was always abused by men and was ultimately beheaded ( "All You Wanna Do" ).
When the queens argue over who should win the competition, Catherine Parr steps in. She questions the meaning of the competition and explains that they are only remembered for their husbands, not for themselves. When the others refuse to listen and accuse her of having no story to tell with Heinrich, Parr finally sings about how she had to give up her great love for Heinrich, but was later able to achieve something independently of Heinrich ( "I Don't Need Your Love " ). The other queens now realize that they could only be defined by Heinrich for a long time. They end the competition and declare that they do not need Heinrich's love to be recognized as individuals ( "I Don't Need Your Love (Remix)" ). They want to use the five remaining minutes of the show to rewrite their stories. They are now singing together and writing their own happy ending ( "Six" ).
Since July 2018, the performances have also been followed by an encore that is not included on the studio recording. The so-called "Megasix" is a mashup of all songs (except for Haus of Holbein ). The audience is requested by the queens to film this part of the performance, with the exception of the performances in the USA after the premiere in Chicago due to certain regulations.
Track list
- "Ex-Wives" - all queens
- "Ex-Wives (Reprise / Playoff)" - all queens †
- "No Way" - Catherine of Aragon with ensemble
- "Anne Boleyn (Interlude)" - all queens †
- "Don't Lose Ur Head" - Anne Boleyn with ensemble
- "Heart of Stone" - Jane Seymour with ensemble
- "House of Holbein" - all queens
- "House of Holbein (Playoff)" - all queens †
- "Get Down" - Anna of Cleves with ensemble
- "All You Wanna Do" - Katherine Howard with ensemble
- "I Don't Need Your Love" - Catherine Parr
- "I Don't Need Your Love (Remix)" - Catherine Parr with Ensemble ††
- "Six" - all queens
- "Megasix" - all queens †
† Not on the studio recording
†† As part of "I Don't Need Your Love" on the studio recording
Productions
Genesis and Edinburgh Fringe
Toby Marlow came up with the idea for the musical during his senior year at the University of Cambridge. Despite some doubts from his co-author Lucy Moss, they wrote part of the musical while studying for their final exams. At the end of 2016, Marlow had been selected by the Cambridge University Arts Society to write a new musical for the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, and the concept of the concert of the six wives came to him later during a poetry class. Marlow read the book "The Six Wives of Henry VIII" by Antonia Fraser, Moss watched the documentary series "Six Wives" by Lucy Worsley. The world premiere of Six took place at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival 2017.
Professional World Premiere and UK Tour (2018)
The performance in Edinburgh and another performance in Cambridge attracted the attention of producers Kenny Wax and Global Musicals. They organized the professional premiere on December 18, 2017. Originally four performances were planned, but these were increased to six performances at the Arts Theater in London. On September 13, 2018, a studio recording with the original cast was released from the Arts Theater.
Six started their first UK tour on July 11th at the Norwich Playhouse. The musical also returned to the Edinburgh Fringe on August 1, 2018. The musical later moved to the Arts Theater in the West End, opening on August 30th. The tour continued in the fall, ending in Glasgow on December 30, 2018.
West End (2019)
The musical returned to the Arts Theater on January 17, 2019, with an original running time of 16 weeks. Directed by Lucy Moss and Jamie Armitage, with choreography by Carrie-Anne Ingrouille, stage design by Emma Bailey and music supervision by Joe Beighton, the season has been extended to January 2021.
North American Tour (2019)
Six premiered in North America in May 2019 at the Chicago Shakespeare Theater. The show was produced by the London team, along with Broadway producer Kevin McCollum. Towards the end of the Chicago season, after Six broke the Chicago theatre's box office record, it was announced that she would play the 2020 show on Broadway . After the end of the season in Chicago drew Six to Cambridge (Massachusetts) , Edmonton ( Canada ) and St. Paul (Minnesota) .
Norwegian Cruise Line (2019)
On August 6, 2019, Norwegian Cruise Line announced that they would be showing performances of Six on three of their ships. The shows started on Bliss in September 2019 and will last until 2022.
Second tour of the United Kingdom (2019-2020)
A second tour of the UK was officially announced on September 5, 2019. The tour began in Guildford on October 24th . The tour should run until July 25, 2020. As the theaters had to close due to the COVID-19 pandemic , the tour had to pause. However, it has been determined that the performances of Six in the West End and on tour would resume under the previous contracts once the shutdown is over.
Australia and New Zealand (2020)
In January 2020, the Australian premiere of Six took place at the Sydney Opera House. The musical is due to move to the Comedy Theater in Melbourne in mid-2020 and to Her Majesty's Theater in Adelaide at the end of 2020 as part of the Adelaide Cabaret Festival. The Australian version was produced by Louise Withers, Michael Coppel and Linda Bewick. Later the musical will also appear in New Zealand's Opera House in Wellington.
Broadway (2020)
Six began preview performances on Broadway on February 13, 2020 at the Brooks Atkinson Theater. On the day of the scheduled premiere on Broadway, March 12, 2020, all Broadway theaters closed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Six is scheduled to open when theater operations resume. Moss and Armitage again directed, with choreography by Carrie-Anne Ingrouille, stage design by Emma Bailey, costumes by Gabriella Slade, sound by Paul Gatehouse, lighting by Tim Deiling and orchestration by Tom Curran. The line-up is the same as on the 2019 North American tour.
Chicago (2020)
On August 4, 2019, the last gig in Chicago announced that Six would be returning to the city in 2020. The opening is scheduled for November 24, 2020 after having to be postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The musical is scheduled to run until March 2021.
Actresses
Original line-ups
| role | Edinburgh premiere
(2017) |
Studio shot
(2018) |
UK tour
(2018) & West end (2019) |
North America tour
(2019) & Broadway previews (2020) |
Australia tour
(2020) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Catherine of Aragon | Megan Gilbert | Renee Lamb | Jarneia Richard-Noel | Adrianna Hicks | Chloé Zuel |
| Anne Boleyn | Ashleigh Weir | Christina Modestou | Millie O'Connell | Andrea Macasaet | Kala Gare |
| Jane Seymour | Holly Musgrave | Natalie May Paris | Abby Mueller | Loren Hunter | |
| Anna of Cleves | Tilda Wickham | Genesis Lynea | Alexia McIntosh | Brittney Mack | Kiana Daniele |
| Katherine Howard | Annabel Marlow | Aimie Atkinson | Samantha Pauly | Courtney Monsma | |
| Catherine Parr | Shimali de Silva | Izuka Hoyle | Maiya Quansah-Breed | Anna Uzele | Vidya Makan |
Current occupations
| role | West end | UK tour
(2019/2020) |
Broadway | Australia |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Catherine of Aragon | Jarneia Richard-Noel | Lauren Drew | Adrianna Hicks | Chloé Zuel |
| Anne Boleyn | Courtney Bowman | Maddison Bulleyment | Andrea Macasaet | Kala Gare |
| Jane Seymour | Natalie May Paris | Lauren Byrne | Abby Mueller | Loren Hunter |
| Anna of Cleves | Alexia McIntosh | Shekinah McFarlane | Brittney Mack | Kiana Daniele |
| Katherine Howard | Sophie Isaacs | Jodie Steele | Samantha Pauly | Courtney Monsma |
| Catherine Parr | Danielle Steers | Athena Collins | Anna Uzele | Vidya Makan |
reception
In a report on the West End production, Dominic Cavendish wrote on The Telegraph that the show was "gloriously - persuasively - coherent, confident and inventive". The Guardian's Lyn Gardner wrote, "It may be cloaked in silliness, but Six makes some serious points about female victimhood and survival."
In a review of the Chicago production, Chris Jones of The Chicago Tribune praised the show as "dynamic," with "sense of humor and spirited radicalism." Marlow and Moss are "gifted comic writers," he said, praising the performers' "musical force of the intensely committed and talented actresses". Jones recommends that the show could use 10 more minutes, which should focus on the characters' emotions. In his opinion, the orchestration could also be richer. Jones believes that one of the main reasons Six draws audiences is because it tells historical events with verve, plus the stories of women who are inevitably linked to a man's life. Hedy Weiss from WTTW praises the musical as "sensational" and singles out all the actresses. Weiss also praised the direction, costumes and lighting. Rachel Weinberg of Broadway World wrote of the musical: " Six carries out [a] joyful and anachronistic takedown of the patriarchy," praised the cast and the music. Jesse Green of The New York Times stated that the musical was "pure entertainment".
Awards
West End production
| year | Award | category | Nominee | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | WhatsOnStage Awards | Best New Musical | Nominated | |
| Best Original Cast Recording | Nominated | |||
| Best lighting design | Tim Deiling | Nominated | ||
| Best costume design | Gabriella Slade | Nominated | ||
| Best choreography | Carrie-Anne Ingrouille | Nominated | ||
| Best off-west end production | Won | |||
| Laurence Olivier Awards | Best musical | Nominated | ||
| Outstanding Achievement in Music | Joe Beighton, Tom Curran, Toby Marlow and Lucy Moss for orchestration, scoring and vocal arrangement | Nominated | ||
| Best Actress in a Supporting Role in a Musical | Aimie Atkinson, Alexia McIntosh, Millie O'Connell, Natalie Paris, Maiya Quansah-Breed and Jarneia Richard-Noel | Nominated | ||
| Best costume design | Gabriella Slade | Nominated | ||
| Best Theater Choreographer | Carrie-Anne Ingrouille | Nominated | ||
Chicago
| year | Award | category | Nominee | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | Joseph Jefferson Equity Awards | Outstanding Production – Musical (Large) | Won | |
| Outstanding Ensemble Performance in a Musical or Revue | Won | |||
| Outstanding Director – Musical (Large) | Lucy Moss and Jamie Armitage | Nominated | ||
| Outstanding Lighting Design (Large) | Tim Deiling | Nominated | ||
| Outstanding Music Direction | Roberta Duchak and Joe Beighton | Won | ||
Broadway
| year | Award | category | Nominee | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | Drama League Awards | Outstanding Production of a Musical | Nominated | |
| Distinguished Performance Award | Brittney Mack | Nominated | ||
Trivia
- The band of the musical are the so-called ladies-in-waiting (court ladies). Each of them, regardless of the production, has a role name depending on the instrument:
- Guitar: Maggie
- Bass: Bessie
- Keyboard: Joan
- Drums: Maria
- Although Anna von Kleve is usually known as Anne of Cleves in English-speaking countries , the German version Anna is used in the musical.
- Due to sick leave, Toby Marlow stepped in as Catherine Parr for two performances in the West End on July 28, 2019.
- In the music of Ex-Wives , the melody of Greensleeves is used , among other things . According to legend, the song was written by Henry VIII for Anne Boleyn.
- In an interview, Toby Marlow and Lucy Moss stated that each of the queens was influenced by well-known contemporary artists in their style and solo song. These so-called "Queenspiration" are:
- Catherine of Aragon: Beyoncé , Shakira
- Anne Boleyn: Avril Lavigne , Lily Allen
- Jane Seymour: Adele , Sia
- Anna of Cleves: Nicki Minaj , Rihanna
- Katherine Howard: Ariana Grande , Britney Spears
- Catherine Parr: Alicia Keys , Emeli Sandé
Individual evidence
- ↑ Marking her-story: SIX announces UK tour and West End run. Retrieved June 9, 2020 .
- ↑ We wrote a musical during our finals ... now it's on in the West End. In: The Jewish Chronicle. Retrieved June 9, 2020 .
- ↑ SIX - Fringe Review. August 25, 2017, accessed June 9, 2020 .
- ↑ Alex Wood: New musical about Henry VIII's wives finds its West End cast. In: WhatsOnStage. November 30, 2017, accessed June 9, 2020 .
- ^ Daisy Bowie-Sell: Six extends in the West End. In: WhatsOnStage. August 29, 2018, accessed June 9, 2020 .
- ^ Daniel Perks: Six the Musical extends until 2021 in the West End. In: WhatsOnStage. January 17, 2020, accessed June 9, 2020 .
- ↑ Divorced. Beheaded. Broadway. In: The New York Times. August 1, 2019, accessed June 9, 2020 .
- ^ "SIX" Opens on Broadway, Currently Playing on Select Norwegian Ships. March 4, 2020, accessed June 9, 2020 .
- ↑ West End Officially Extends Shutdown Until June 28. Retrieved June 9, 2020 .
- ↑ Ryan McPhee: Six Finds Its Australian Royals as Musical Continues World Domination. November 12, 2019, accessed June 9, 2020 .
- ↑ 'Six' The Musical to premiere in Wellington in July 2020. February 10, 2020, accessed on June 9, 2020 .
- ^ Sarah Whitten: New York's Broadway will go dark as restrictions tighten to prevent coronavirus spread. In: CNBC. March 12, 2020, accessed June 9, 2020 .
- ↑ Broadway In Chicago Announces Schedule Updates for DEAR EVAN HANSEN, SIX and More. May 15, 2020, accessed June 9, 2020 .
- ^ Dominic Cavendish: Six review, Arts Theater: gloriously musical meeting with all Henry VIII's wives. In: The Telegraph. August 28, 2018, accessed June 9, 2020 .
- ↑ Lyn Gardner: Six review - Henry VIII's wives form girl band to take a pop at history. In: The Guardian. January 10, 2019, accessed June 9, 2020 .
- ↑ Chris Jones: Now at Chicago Shakes, 'Six' gives these Tudor wives a voice and could be a huge hit. In: Chicago Tribune. May 23, 2019, accessed June 9, 2020 .
- ↑ Hedy Weiss: In Knockout Musical 'Six,' King Henry VIII's Wives Have Their #MeToo Moment. May 23, 2019, accessed June 9, 2020 .
- ↑ Rachel Vineyard: BWW Review: SIX at Chicago Shakespeare Theater. May 25, 2019, accessed June 9, 2020 .
- ^ Jesse Green: On Chicago's Stages, Women With Problems. In: The New York Times. June 2, 2019, accessed June 9, 2020 .
- ↑ Ryan McPhee: 2019 Olivier Award Nominations: London's Company and Come From Away Lead the Pack . March 5, 2019. Retrieved March 6, 2019.
- ↑ Chris Jones: 2019 Equity Jeff Awards: A rare double victory for Steppenwolf; Chicago Shakes 'Six' takes top honors. See the winners. . In: Chicago Tribune , October 22, 2019.
- ↑ Catherine Wright: 'Six' Creators Reveal Which Modern-Day Pop Star Influenced Each of Henry VIII's Wives in the Musical. December 23, 2019, accessed June 10, 2020 .