Divorced, beheaded, died, survived. Which one had the hardest tribulations? Who can come up with the wittiest puns? Who can strut their stuff and sing their heart out? Find the answers to these questions, meet the magnificent queens, and learn about their herstory at the spectacular production SIX THE MUSICAL.

In SIX THE MUSICAL, the six wives of Henry VIII take the microphone to remix five hundred years of historical heartbreak. In a competition to see which one had it worst with Henry, each queen bee gives a breakdown of their life and the hardships they faced complete with songs, dance numbers, and some humor. Through this comparison and competition, the queens find that they have more in common and that their own power holds more importance.

In my lifetime, I have seen a lot of unique and amazing productions, but I have never seen a show like SIX. The way the songs are performed and written made me feel like I was at a concert. Not only were some audience members sporting crowns like the queens, but the minute they came on stage, people were screaming and cheering just like they were at their favorite popstar’s show.

Most of the songs are very upbeat and fun to the point where I was jamming in my chair. Not only were the songs catchy, but the lyrics were incredibly witty. They had innuendos that made me blush and metaphors that made me giggle. In addition, they were able to incorporate some more modern concepts like profile pic for portraits and swiping left or right like Tinder. I think this added a fun and relatable layer to the show. The songs that were slower were beautiful soulful songs. I especially loved Adriana Scalice’s (Cathrine Parr) performance in “I Don’t Need Your Love.” Not only does the song give big Alicia Keys vibes, but it also helps to unite the women and remind everyone the important of reclaiming your power in life.  

Speaking of Alicia Keys, each of the six wives is modeled after different pop stars which can be seen in their song styles, costumes, hair, and makeup. These star inspirations range from Beyonce to Ariana Grande. When looking at the overall design, they meticulously work to balance the original look of these women with some signature styles in the pop stars. The costumes are absolutely breathtaking and do a wonderful job of creating a memorable look for each queen.   

From the costumes to the songs and set design, I cannot say enough good things about this production. If you are looking for a show that makes you feel uplifted and gives a new twist on the history, you think you already know you will need to see SIX THE MUSICAL. But don’t lose your head, the show is playing at the SAFE Credit Union Performing Arts Center through February 11. Learn more here.